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NORTH ATTLEBORO - With dark fabric obscuring the view through the fence at the New England Gas facility on Mount Hope Street, what is going on behind the big black curtain?

Rumors have been flying.

A new commuter parking lot? Hazardous waste dump? Archeological ruins?

None of the above, says a representative from New England Gas. The property's use as a stockpile area for the company's materials will continue to be the same - though with a few upgrades to the site.

"We're removing some soil, creating parking for our employees, putting in storm water controls and putting in an arborvitae hedge to help disguise the industrial nature of the site. The neighborhood has changed a lot over the years," said Derek Tomka, manager of environmental projects at New England Gas. The property was once home to a gasometer or gas holder house, Tomka said, similar to the one nearby on Elm Street, which was used to store coal gas, which was manufactured by burning coal.

It appears the property was once home either to a long-gone gasometer or gas holder house, similar to the one built later and still-standing on nearby Elm Street, Tomka said.

The property, at the intersection of Mount Hope Street and Commonwealth Avenue, was owned in the mid-19th and early 20th centuries by North Attleboro Gas, and was used to manufacture coal gas.

Tomka said residue from those operations remains in the soil. He characterized the material only as "waste"- specifically avoiding the the word hazardous - and said the entire project is being monitored.

"We're removing soil to a facility in New Hampshire that was impacted by coal particulate," Tomka said. "There is perimeter air monitoring along the fence line. Nothing exceeds the action levels that would indicate a risk to adjacent properties."

Theresa Barao, spokeswoman for the state Department of Environmental Protection, said New England Gas has filed with the office because the work is occurring in the riverfront area for the Ten Mile River.

She said it is not a hazardous waste removal project, but was filed as a general cleanup of a site in the riverfront area.

After questions were raised by neighbors, Town Administrator Mark Fisher said he checked with the conservation department to obtain information on what is happening on the property.

"Nothing came out as being dangerous or hazardous to anyone's health. It's old coal-to-gas plant residue," Fisher said.

Selectmen have asked Fisher to invite representatives from New England Gas to come to a future meeting to explain the project at a televised meeting. Tomka said the addition of the black fabric to the fencing is not an attempt to hide what is happening at the site, but to keep dust from spreading onto the adjacent streets and nearby properties.

"I know neighbors to the site are concerned about the fabric we've put up on the fencing. It was just to minimize the the impact to neighbors. It minimizes air flows across the site," he said.

He acknowledged that the material has resulted in the circulation of a few interesting rumors.

"We've heard all sorts of rumors, including that we are going to pave the property and use it for a commuter parking lot for Route 95," Tomka said. "Actually, we're going to be using the site for the same thing we've always used it for. We're doing some improvements to the site.

"We went to good lengths to present our plans to the planning board and the conservation commission before work started."

AMY DeMELIA can be reached at 508-236-0334 or at ademelia@thesunchronicle.com.