Northern Indiana Public Service Co. will begin a project to remove soil from its Hale Avenue operating facility Monday as part of an environmental remediation project.

The location was originally the site of a manufactured gas plant that operated from 1924 until the 1950s by a preceding company. The site heated coal to produce “town gas,” which was used primarily for cooking and street lighting. Byproducts of this process were found to exceed allowable levels in some areas of soil around the building.

This will force the company, which provides natural gas and electricity, to remove about one foot of soil, according to a company statement. The area is generally south of Taylor Street between Brooklyn Avenue and Broadway.

“We are committed to addressing environmental issues as they are identified to protect the health and safety of the public, our employees and the local community,” NIPSCO public affairs manager Larry Graham said. “As environmental remediation projects go, this is a small project. But, it still needs to be addressed.”

The project is being done in cooperation with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management as part of a voluntary remediation program. The work is expected to take no more than two weeks.

The company asked residents driving in the area to use caution because of additional truck traffic and equipment in the Hale Avenue and Riedmiller Street areas.