Cleanup manager says old Chevrolet plant site in Muncie safe enough for various uses as it's readied for solar panels over much of its 53 acres

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management is working with Revitalizing Auto Communities Environmental Response, or RACER, Trust to further clean the Muncie site and take soil samples in the neighborhood around it.

"IDEM is working with RACER to develop a protective environmental restrictive covenant (ERC) to address environmental concerns," IDEM said in a statement to The Star Press. "The City of Muncie is the owner of the property and must file/record the ERC."

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While contamination has been cited as a barrier to development of the site, the person in charge of the cleanup for RACER said the property at 1200 W. Eighth St. doesn't pose a danger in casual use and much of it could be used again as an industrial or commercial site.

Bob Hare, cleanup manager for all RACER sites in Indiana, said most of the acreage there could have been used for about anything other than for residential use.