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Alex Cabrero Reporting"The state government should be more connected, and the city's position is the state left them high and dry."
There may be something in the air over Mapleton, and it's not just another Utah County inversion. An air quality study found toxic chemicals floating above the community. Now they're asking the state to shut down burning operations at the nearby Ensign-Bickford explosives company.
The air and dust samples taken found TNT, RDX, and HMX, all types of chemicals that can cause serious health problems.
Dean Allan, Mayor of Mapleton: "I am concerned about the welfare of our citizens."
Dean Allan has lived in Mapleton all his life. Now that he's the mayor, he wants to protect it.
Dean Allan: "The private company that we had hired from Boise to check the air quality had found dangerous chemicals, samples, that were around the community.
City officials believe those chemicals are coming from the Ensign-Bickford plants, where they're burning contaminated soil from their explosives-making operation.
Doug Thayer, Mapleton Attorney: "They've had to know that this stuff gets out when they burn in the open and it floats."
Dough Thayer is the attorney hired by the city to check into it. He's written a letter to the Department of Environmental Quality, asking them why they haven't been looking into it, and to shut down the burning operation right away.
Doug Thayer, Mapleton Attorney: "To not monitor the air, to not monitor long-term health effects, to me is unconscionable."
Mayor Allan also spoke with the Department of Environmental Quality late this afternoon, and they promised him they would look into it right away.
Mayor Allan: "They're going to do their sampling and check that against the private company.
DEQ officials admit they helped place an incinerator at the Ensign-Bickford site to burn the toxic soil, but say it's not dangerous.
Brad Maulding, Dept. of Air Quality: "No, not from our standpoint. Again, we're over-sighting this thing. We have people on site. Periodically we also have real-time monitoring where we can monitor the operation from a treatment unit."
The mayor is happy, for now, that the state will it another look.
Dean Allan: "We should be concerned, but until we have more answers, I think we'll be okay.
An Ensign-Bickford representative says he hasn't seen the attorney's letter yet, so he can't comment on it at this time.
This isn't the first time the city of Mapleton has had run-ins with Ensign-Bickford. They are currently in the middle of a lawsuit alleging the company has contaminated the city's water supply. It's also important to know, the company has already stated it will shut down operations at the end of this month.
