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Contamination Prompts Ky. Cave Shutdown

Posted on: Friday, 3 November 2006, 18:00 CST

MAMMOTH CAVE NATIONAL PARK, Ky. - A section of Mammoth Cave National Park has been closed to tourists after elevated levels of fecal coliform and E. coli bacteria were found in groundwater, officials said Friday.

A Western Kentucky University researcher was collecting water samples at the cave's waterfall, Charons Cascade, for water chemistry testing on Oct. 20 and found the presence of the contaminants. Park scientists and public health officials were still looking for the source.

"This is not something we expected," Superintendent Patrick Reed said in a statement. "Now that we know of the problem, we are exploring every possible source. We're proceeding in a deliberate manner, pulling in experts from Western Kentucky University, Caveland Environmental Authority, and the U.S. Public Health Service. Our primary concern is to protect the public, employees, and the cave."

Park staff retested Charons Cascade and additional locations along the historic tour route. The results received Oct. 28 showed levels at Charons Cascade had fallen, but other location still had levels that exceeded public health standards. Tours into the historic section of the cave were then canceled.

Test results received Oct. 29 showed a return to safe levels at all locations, but Reed decided to keep the historic section of the cave closed until he is confident the area can be toured safely.

"We want to be cautious," Reed said. "We apologize for any inconvenience to our visitors, but our first responsibility is their health and safety and that of our employees."

Reed said staff will monitor the groundwater in the cave and begin tests to determine the strain of E. coli. It could be from wildlife or a human source, Reed said.

All tours have been temporarily transferred to the Frozen Niagara section, which is three miles away from the historic section entrance, said Mike Adams, chief of interpretation at the cave.

"We will continue to monitor the groundwater where we are conducting tours to ensure public safety," he said.

Reed said monitoring devices show no change in sewage flow at the park.

"Right now we still have a lot of unknowns," he said. "Initial tests of the water flowing out of parking lot runoff filters show they might be a source. Our goal is to find the source and stop the contamination."

Source: Associated Press/AP Online

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