The U-S Army Corps of Engineers is accepting public comments through mid-December about the on-going clean-up of a former missile site in western Iowa. Jessica Messerschmidt — a program manager at the Corps of Engineers’ office in Omaha — says the site near Missouri Valley was used for maintenance, storage and potential launch of missiles during the Cold War.

Messerschmidt, who is a geologist, says work began in 2013 to determine the extent of groundwater contamination in the area from T-C-E. It’s a synthetic chemical that has been shown to cause kidney cancer after prolonged exposure.

The Corps of Engineers has installed 28 filtration systems for residents who get their drinking water from wells in the area.

The Corps regularly tests over 140 wells for contamination. The Corps’ clean up plan is also focused on removing contaminants from the soil.

The Corps hosted a public meeting in Missouri Valley last Thursday.

The 178-acre area was part of Offutt Air Force Base and known as Site 3 for the potential launch of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles. It was deactivated in 1964.