NEWS RELEASE
CONTACT:
Deb Dyar
515.965.6414
ddyar@ankenyiowa.gov
ANKENY, Iowa (August 7, 2008) — The former Des Moines Ordnance Plant poses no additional risk of cancer according to a recently released report from the State Health Registry of Iowa.
“The evidence contained in this communication should offer our public the assurances that this site, once remediated, will be environmentally safe for Ankeny families,” said Ankeny City Manager, Carl Metzger
The analysis and a letter from the Iowa Department of Public Health, released Wednesday, states,” It is the opinion of the Iowa Department of Public Health that if site remediation activities are completed as planned, the use of the former Des Moines (ex) Ordnance site will be safe for both adults and children living and working within the development area.”
The study was conducted in response to a request by a member of the public at an EPA hosted public comment meeting on May 29.
“One of the great things about our society is that people’s voices are heard and their opinions matter,” said Steve Van Oort, Ankeny mayor. “The public meetings held about the former ordnance plant have contributed to our democracy. We appreciate the due diligence of the Iowa Department of Public Health to offer these assurances to the Ankeny community.”
The study area and former ordnance plant was most recently the Iowa State University Research farm. A regional park is being planned for the area where most of the remediation will be done.
The report findings are available here.