ABSTRACT

The last manufactured gas plants in the United States ceased operation in the early 1970s, and remnants of these plants remain throughout the country. 1 Many of these plant sites are still owned by utility companies and are used as electrical substations, storage yards, truck garages, office buildings, and facilities of major generating stations. Many still contain gas regulating facilities, due to their access to the gas distribution system. Some are simply abandoned industrial property, but others have been turned into commercial/retail properties, schools, and even residences. Because of the manufacturing process, most such sites contain significant amounts of hazardous wastes, particularly coal tar, and are the focus of government-mandated clean-up activities. 2