TISKILWA – A notice of a potential excavation hazard has been sent to property owners in a 3-acre area surrounding the 2011 train derailment site just east of Tiskilwa in Bureau County.

According to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency notice, groundwater 13 to 15 feet below the surface contains ethanol and methane in concentrations that could cause an explosion if excavation were to be done in the area.

There are no homes or commercial buildings in the area, only agriculture fields and railroad right of way. Nonetheless, Iowa Interstate Railroad is working with the IEPA to develop appropriate signage for the area, said Michelle Tebrugge, IEPA community relations coordinator.