Lincoln MAC hears about explosives site cleanup

Efforts continue to clean up perchlorates found in the ground at the Alpha Explosive site northeast of downtown Lincoln."Perchlorates are used in the making of explosives," said Mark Fowler, a member of the Rural Lincoln Municipal Advisory Council.The Lincoln MAC received its annual report on the perchlorates at the Alpha Explosives site, located north of Coon Creek and east of Highway 65 at its monthly meeting Monday.According to www.dictionary.com, perchlorate is an ester or salt of perchloric acid.For several years, Fowler explained, Alpha Explosives has been trying to clean up the contaminant. The business is located adjacent to the Teichert aggregate plant. "MAC members feel good about Alpha Explosives' efforts to solve a problem it inherited," Fowler said, noting the previous owner of the site, Hercules, was responsible for the contaminant.Fowler said Alpha and Hercules have worked out an agreement where Hercules will help fund the removal of the perchlorate. Several test sites have been drilled and samples taken and recorded, Fowler said.Alpha is removing the perchlorate using onsite biological control, Fowler said. It is using bacteria native to the area to help consume the perchlorate.Fowler also reported that it appears an underground plume, or a space in the soil containing pollutants released from a point source has been located. In addition, it appears the perchlorate is slowly moving away from Coon Creek in a westerly direction.In other business, MAC members also heard a report on the condition of county roads."We all know the severe winter and spring storms have been tough on county roads," Fowler said, adding the county's roads crews are using the "chip and seal" technique to repair the potholes.Fowler said portions of Virginiatown, Wise, Moore, East Cattlett and Sunset roads have numerous potholes.Also, MAC members heard a report from a county Sheriff's representative about problems near Camp Far West Lake. Fowler noted numerous people are parking cars near the lake, sometimes blocking traffic on nearby roads. The people then are trespassing on private property to access cliffs overlooking the lake. They like to jump off the cliffs into the lake.And, MAC members heard a report from the California Highway Patrol that large groups of motorcyclists, numbering 20 or more, have been speeding up and down Highway 193."The CHP is looking at trying to solve the large group of motorcyclists racing on 193," Fowler said.