Diesel fuel remediation wells put in last year between Main Street and First Avenue in Mandan are beginning to decontaminate that portion of Mandan while the third and final phase wells and pipeline are being installed.

Ken Kytta, representing Leggette, Brashears and Graham, the company in charge of the diesel fuel clean up project, provided an update on remediation efforts at Tuesday's city commission meeting. Earlier in the day, Kytta met with the Morton County Commission to provide a similar report.

"Four wells were completed at the Law Enforcement Center last week. These are critical wells to get product from under the LEC," Kytta said. "We've started the piping for those."

Operation of the system built south of Main Street two years ago continues, but recently, portions of phase two, completed last year north of Main Street, are starting to come on-line.

The numbers so far this spring include:

3 Free phase diesel, that product being skimmed from the water table, has produced 6,700 gallons of diesel, up 110 gallons from last month.

3 In the vapor phase, 5,000 gallons of diesel have been collected, up 150 gallons from last month. Over 3,400 gallons of gasoline have been recovered, up 300 gallons. There have been 220 gallons of VOC, comprised mainly of solvents, recovered, up 25 gallons.

3 In the bioattenuation phase, over 25,600 gallons have been recovered, up over 2,000 gallons from last month.

3 There has also been 47,600 pounds of methane recovered, up 2,400 pounds over the last month.

"We are seeing good results north of Main Street as we add parts of the system," Kytta said. "Things are moving along."

Mayor Ken LaMont said that the project remains on schedule.

Kytta told the Morton commission that work will begin next week on the north side of the LEC, and for the next month, they will be working around the LEC and courthouse.

The Mandan Remediation Trust is still awaiting a decision on what course the county will take on the alleyway between the courthouse and LEC. A portion will be torn up and replaced by the remediation project. The county would like to replace the rest of the alley, though estimates put the cost at $75,000, with the MRT willing to provide about $57,000.

The county is awaiting further specifications before making a decision on whether to put the project out for bids.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@;bismarcktribune.com.)