RANTOUL – Approximately 6,000 feet of asbestos-laden steam pipes will soon be removed from the former Chanute Air Force Base.

Removal of the steam pipes has long been a bone of contention between the Air Force and the village for more than a decade, with both sides arguing that the other side was responsible for them.

"Because the property is under lease to the village of Rantoul, there has been some discussion concerning responsibility for the piping," Paul Carroll said. "But the Air Force decided to proceed with the removal and cleanup to protect against potential exposure and human health concerns."

Carroll is the Air Force real property agency environmental coordinator. He told the Chanute Restoration Board that the Air Force has awarded a $150,000 contract to Cincinnati-based Quality Management to remove and dispose of abandoned steam piping in the southeast portion of the former base.

The work is expected to begin in December, Carroll said.

Most of the pipes run parallel to Titan Drive on Rantoul's southeast side.

Asbestos is a toxic mineral that was formerly used by many manufacturers and builders because of its resistance to heat, electricity and chemicals and sound absorption.

According to Carroll, the pipes connect the abandoned former Air Force steam plant with three other former Chanute buildings.

Rantoul Public Works Director Greg Hazel said the steam pipes haven't been used since the Pentagon shut down the south steam plant before base closure in 1993.

"We're very pleased that the Air Force has taken the initiative to remove the pipes and the asbestos that went with them," Hazel said.

After Quality Management takes out the pipes, engineers will study the underlying soil around the pipes to see if they have been contaminated by asbestos.

Then the contractor will dig up and dispose of the contaminated soil.

After the soil has been removed, the contractor will replace it with clean soil, Carroll said.

Following Thursday's meeting, Carroll took Owen Thompson of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Christopher Hill of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency on a tour of the site.