State approves plan to remove contaminated soil

PROVIDENCE—Rhode Island’s Department of Environmental Management has formally approved a plan to remove contaminated soil from about 100 residential properties in North Tiverton to a depth of two feet.

Homeowners have agreed to accept environmental land-use restrictions to guard against disturbing contaminants below that depth.

Terry Gray, the department’s associate director for air, waste, and compliance, said the agency must still sign off on a work plan that specifies exactly how each pocket of contamination will be addressed.

Residents will get $11.5 million from the Texas-based utility Southern Union to finance the remedial work, which is expected to take about 12 weeks.

A state investigation found the pollution was a byproduct created when a utility converted coal into gas decades ago.