ST. LOUIS - City of St. Louis officials acted quickly today to notify residents and businesses within 1,000 feet of the St. Louis Demolition Landfill, 8700 Hall Street, that higher than acceptable levels of landfill gas have been detected in its three methane testing wells and that the emissions might migrate into nearby homes.

Starting this morning, St. Louis Fire Department personnel began going door-to-door, testing for methane in the nearby homes and businesses, and installing a permanent methane detector. They will not stop until they have inspected every home within 1,000 feet of the landfill. No levels of methane were found in any of the homes visited today.

The City of St. Louis has been working closely with and cooperating completely with the experts, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, to complete closure of this landfill since it stopped accepting trash and debris in 1997. As part of the process of properly closing the landfill, the three gas-monitoring wells were installed.

The City is mapping out a remediation plan, will be installing more wells, and will continue to monitor levels.

A public meeting to discuss the issue and answer questions will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21 at the Starlight Room, 8350 N. Broadway.