Soil and groundwater testing has started this week at the former NAPA Auto Parts site on East Robert Toombs Avenue across from First Baptist Church, the City of Washington announced Monday.

The testing is a component of the City of Washington’s petroleum assessment grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Main Street Director David Jenkins said. “The Phase II testing involves soil testing and groundwater testing. A group of workers from Concurrent Technologies Corporation, using trucks and other testing vehicles, are on-site to drill temporary test wells.

Jenkins said that there are no known problems on the site. “The testing is taking place in order to secure possible clean-up funding and later redevelopment funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It will also help the owners to get funding from any financial institution to improve the property.”

The testing is expected to continue all week.