City officials notified ITM they are in "serious default" of their lease of their property in Forest Park because of their "unlawful handling of hazardous chemicals", according to a press release from the city. Noblesville is giving ITM 60 days to contain all chemicals and 90 days to develop a plan for the permanent removal of all contamination, and to give the city contact information for a licensed environmental firm or individual who will supervise all the work to make sure the cleanup is handled properly.

“Despite numerous efforts over the years to encourage ITM to address some housekeeping concerns they have allowed within their property, the Parks Board had no idea what hazardous conditions existed on the other side of the fence,” Scott Noel, president of the Noblesville Parks and Recreation board of directors, said in a statement. “We are disappointed that ITM has violated the terms of its lease with the Parks Board and by allowing their carelessness to endanger one of the greatest assets in the City of Noblesville – Forest Park.”

"The pronouncement by the City of Noblesville and the Noblesville Parks Department about alleged environmental issues at the Indiana Transportation Museum site comes to us as a complete surprise. It is significant that Mayor Ditsler’s office cancelled a meeting scheduled for this morning (Wednesday, 5/31) with new ITM leaders where this could have been discussed and resolved. We were not aware of their concerns until the city’s news release and we have not been contacted by city officials."

"This is another example of local political leaders' unwillingness to work with the ITM and its new leadership to resolve differences. This latest release is simply another trumped up charge to reduce the significant public outcry against the cities of Fishers and Noblesville to rip up the rails."

"The ITM has been in Forest Park since 1990. The site is a maintenance facility for vintage locomotives and other railroad historic artifacts. Museum maintenance personnel store and handle fuels and lube oils in the maintenance and operation of equipment. There are no known violations on the park property. To the best of our knowledge there have been no violations or complaints registered with IDEM. ITM pledges full cooperation with IDEM and their contractors to resolve any issues. Our new ITM management and staff will be addressing possible ground contamination issues with Hamilton County and IDEM to establish a plan to resolve any issues."

"The Indianapolis Transportation Museum continues to believe in the economic and historic benefits of the Museum’s Nickel Plate trains and the entertainment, dreams and memories they offer. Our trains, crews and track have been certified by the Federal Railroad Administration and we continue to be bewildered at the opposition local leaders have to a true community asset."

Why is this such a repititious concept?

I'm hearing echoes of a Kingston Mayor...watch out for parked fire trucks,...

Why is this such a repititious concept? Did anyone from the city walk into the museum and take samples? Otherwise its looking like bloated politicalism.

Did anyone from the city walk into the museum and take samples?