Health concerns halt tours at popular caverns near Stanton

ST. LOUIS -- Tours of the popular Meramec Caverns near Stanton have been suspended while the owner tries to reduce levels of a potentially harmful chemical vapor.

The Environmental Protection Agency has discovered traces of trichloroethylene vapors, which it says can cause cancer. Trichloroethylene is a solvent used mainly to remove grease from metal parts, but it also is found in products such as adhesives and paint removers.

The EPA says the vapors probably came from a landfill in Sullivan, about four miles away from the caverns. The report also notes a former auto-parts facility as a possible contamination source.

"There were some pollutants in the groundwater there that have dissipated down through our area and other areas of Franklin County," said Lester Turilli, vice president of the Meramec Caverns.

Both of the locations are associated with a Superfund site that has been on the EPA's national priorities list since 2002.

The Franklin County site shut down in March, and its website posted a notice March 22 that said it "hoped to re-open in two to three weeks."

Each year, the area gets about 100,000 visitors, who primarily come to tour the caves.

"The cave is the anchor that draws all the other business to this area," Turilli said. "If the cave is not open, unfortunately, not a lot of people want to camp."

Roughly 70 people have been laid off because the contamination closure has lost business for the area.

Turilli said the remediation will be completed by July or August at the latest.