ITHACA -- Results from a second round of indoor air testing for homes down hill from the Emerson Power Transmission site, and plans for the next batch of testing, will be discussed today at a public information meeting hosted by the state Departments of Environmental Conservation and Health.

The program, the third of its kind since the state started investigating TCE, or trichloroethene, contamination from the factory last year, will present its findings and answer questions from residents.

"I'd like to get a clear picture of what the process is going to be from this point forward and I have several questions," Molly Brewton, who lives near the factory, said of her expectations of the event.

Diane Carlton, a spokeswoman for the DEC, said the department is planning to outline the environmental investigation at the plant and how the neighborhood test area may change shape. Representatives from Emerson also will give a presentation on the progress of the investigation at the former Morse Chain site, according to David Baldridge, a spokesman for Emerson.

Representatives from the DOH declined to elaborate on the content of their presentation.

In the most recent round of tests, completed in early 2005, 54 homes were examined for six site-related compounds and 33 non-site related compounds. Those tests showed generally higher numbers of non-site related compounds than had been seen before, including acetone and benzene and MTBE -- two known elements of gasoline.

Neighbors have expressed confusion over these non-site related compounds and the protocol surrounding them. How they were determined as non-site-related and who is responsible for mitigating them is unclear.

Carlton said site-related status was a process approved by the DOH.

"As for who is responsible, it's something we'd have to look at as it just came out with this round of testing," she said.

New testing started last year after evidence suggested chemical use at the plant decades ago, when it was owned by Morse Chain, could be affecting nearby homes. The first chemical of concern was TCE, a potential carcinogen, that when inhaled in large quantities can affect the nervous system. It was used to degrease chain made on site. Since the early tests, a number of chemicals in widely varying concentrations have shown up in homes. Neighbors are now deep into the process of trying to understand what the test numbers indicate and debating whether continued testing or mitigation is the best way to proceed.

Some of those neighbors will be on hand at the "availability session" to share information they have compiled on the test results. By seeking input from residents willing to share levels of contaminants found in their homes, maps were created on a site-specific basis and will be on display. The maps contrast starkly with the DOH-provided maps that are required to present information in a way that cannot be traced back to an individual property, thus eliminating the site-specificity neighbors have found helpful in identifying potential patterns of contamination.

"We really don't want to be competing with the DEC because they're the authoritative source," said Timothy Weber, who compiled much of the data. "At the same time, they're kind of constrained about what information can be presented. We can give a little more detail."

The "availability session," where residents may ask questions privately, is scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. and the presentation of findings is scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. Both will be held at the Women's Community Building, 100 W. Seneca St.

Contact: jdaley@ithaca.gannett.com

Originally published Wednesday, June 22, 2005