More toxins found in Hernando

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The contaminated site backs up to a residential neighborhood in Brooksville.

There's new concern about the on-going cleanup of toxins at the old Department of Public Works site in Hernando County.

New testing has found more contamination, and this time it's close to a residential community in Brooksville. Homes in the neighborhood run along the back side of the county's old Department of Public Works site where a clean-up effort is underway after toxins were discovered in the ground.

Residents are concerned because a new batch of tests show more contamination has been found in a drainage ditch that runs between the old site and their homes. Consultants hired by the county to clean up the site said the toxins are petroleum by-products and they've added eight new areas of concern to their list.

Howard Delanie lives in one of the homes that's next to the site. He said he's worried about his grandchildren and other children who play in the neighborhood.

"We got grandkids and a bunch of kids live on that street and it's not good for them," Delanie said.

The consultant hired by the county said further testing is needed, but there are no immediate health risks to the residents.

County commissioners have approved another $89,000 to do more testing so they can find out the extent of the contamination. That brings the total the county has spent on its current consultant for the cleanup project to almost $200,000. Additional testing will begin in January and February.

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