Readers have inquired about the work at this 13-acre site at Oak Ridge Turnpike and California Avenue, and a property owner said the land is being used to store materials for city sewer work required under a federal mandate.
Several readers have noticed what appears to be construction work at a former Chevrolet dealership on Oak Ridge Turnpike and asked what  is happening there.
On Friday, Rick Chinn, partner in R&R Enterprises, which owns the 13-acre lot, said it is being used to store materials for city sewer work required under a federal mandate.
The land, which is east of Oak Ridge Veterinary Hospital and across from California Avenue, will also be used for operations during the sewer system project.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued an order in September 2010 that requires Oak Ridge to repair all sewer system overflows by 2015. The work is expected to cost millions of dollars.
Peter Scheffler says
Thanks!
John Huotari says
You’re welcome, Peter.
Peggy Tiner says
Interesting! I wondered what was going on there. Would you consider doing an article (or articles) about what will be done in complying with the EPA mandate? I didn’t even know that sewer systems had to have overflows.
John Huotari says
Peggy, I have written stories about the EPA sewer mandate, but it’s been a while. I believe City Council is scheduled to discuss that work again on Jan. 14, so I should be writing something in the next week or so.
The sewer systems aren’t supposed to have overflows. The EPA wants the city to stop all sewer system overflows by 2015, if I recall correctly.