ILLIOPOLIS - Residents here will have a chance to meet individually with officials of Formosa Plastics Corp., the village of Illiopolis and public health authorities at an open house from 4 to 7 p.m. June 16.

The public availability session at Illiopolis High School is designed to allow members of the public to get answers to their questions about the status of environmental sampling and health concerns in the wake of the deadly explosion April 23 that destroyed much of the plant 20 miles east of Springfield.

"We at the agency feel it's important to keep citizens in the area up to speed on things," said Maggie Carson, spokeswoman for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. "We're a long way from finding answers, but as long as we keep them informed in the process, we feel it's beneficial."

Participants will include the village of Illiopolis, the Sangamon County Department of Public Health, Formosa Plastics, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

Carson said EPA and public health toxicologists will be available to answer questions about potential health effects from the explosion.

"In what they've been through, it was certainly very traumatic," she said. "At the public meeting I was at, there were a lot of concerns, not just about the short-term effects of the explosion but about the long-term effects, and that's what we're here for."

Carson said some data have been collected about the environment around the plant and that everything appears safe. More is expected to be turned over to public health officials before the meeting.

The information already collected is available at www.Illiopolis.com.

The Illinois EPA and other agencies have tested air quality during and after the fire, water in streams near the site and the safety of drinking water. Additional sampling has been performed by the Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health, an environmental firm hired by Formosa.

The EPA will continue to have a long-term presence at the site, and more similar public sessions will be held, Carson said.

The continuing investigation of what caused the accident will not be covered at the meeting.

Sarah Antonacci can be reached at 788-1529 or sarah.antonacci@sj-r.com.