Manufactured Gas Plants
Did anyone know that we have a former Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) right in our very own backyard? The Tidewater site in Pawtucket is a former MGP. An MGP produced gas that was used for lighting, cooking, and heating. MGP’s used coal and petroleum-based products to generate electricity. Burning coal and gas had numerous side-effects that caused unintended environmental damage. Now MGP’s are a national threat due to the chemicals left behind. Rhode Island in particular has a large quantity of former MGP’s that should be rehabilitated.
The by-products of Manufactured Gas Plants pose serious health risks. MGP’s produce coke, ash and clinker non-aqueous materials that are capable of moving slowly through the subsurface. Additional by-products, such as benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) have harmful side-effects and can lead to cancer. Waste such as cyanides, metals, solvents and oily tars are often found at old MGP sites. Its clear that former MGP’s are a dangerous to the communities that they are located in.
"Most Rhode Island MGP’s ceased operating in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Approximately 20 former MGP’s have been identified in the state" (Tide Water Site Project 1). It is critical that Rhode Island residents take inconsideration the danger of MGP’s due to the fact that we have 20 in our own state. Site of the first former Manufactured Gas Plant was first recognized in 1890 in Newport Rhode Island by a man named David Melville. "In February of 1985 there was a reporting from the United States Environmental Protection Agency estimated that there were 1,502 MGP sites in the United States. 196 of these sites are characterized as “larger” sites meaning the average amount of gas produced at the site exceeded 200 million standard cubic feet per year" (Eng 1).
The process of cleaning up MGPs was a top priority at a time in Rhode Island. The environmental protection agency (EPA) got involved in the cleaning up former manufactured gas plants (FMGPs). "Today the bulk of responsible cleanup activities at FMGP's are being directed by State environmental agencies" (Rise of Environmental Concern). But, a high amount of FMGP's are dodging remediation through the application of NIFRAPPING (No Further Remedial Action Planned) as has been planned as not to indicate a sufficient degree of human and environmental damage.
Work Cited:
1) Tide Water Site Project. "MGPs and Power Plants in Rhode Island." Web. 11 Apr. 2013.
2) Survey of Town Gas and By-Product Production and Locations in the U.S. (1880 -
1950), by Robert Eng, Radian Corporation, for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA
Report No. EPA/600/7-85/004