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Hazard cleanup at smelter: Mercury, PCBs removed: KNHP official

CALUMET – Cleanup efforts at the former Quincy Smelting Works property in Ripley are continuing with the intention of turning it over to the National Park Service, according to Scott See.

During his Tuesday report to the Keweenaw National Historical Park’s Advisory Commission, See, commission executive director, said the environmental cleanup at the site included removal of mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls and hazardous and non-hazardous materials piles.

“The $650,000 project was funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, and administered by the National Park Service and the United States Army Corps of Engineers,” See said. “The final project report should be available later this week.”

See said he also worked with the NPS on plans to remove several debris piles and do preservation projects at the smelter site.

Cleanup projects have been going on at the smelter site for years. See said he’s often asked by people if it’s finally clean.

“What I always say is, ‘It’s cleaner,'” he said.

In October 2012, the Franklin Township Board and the Advisory Commission came to an agreement for the sale of the site to the National Park Service for $335,000, plus the forgiveness of $11,437 in loans from the commission to the township. The commission made a down payment of $2,000 on Oct. 22, 2012. The original agreement gave the NPS until Sept. 30, 2015, to pay off the $335,000 sale price, but the final payment was made in August 2014. The intention is that in the future, the site will be turned over to the NPS to operate.

See said although the smelter site is significantly cleaned up, more work is needed.

“We’re expecting that work to continue in the spring,” he said.

On another topic, See said the commission’s Heritage Grant program will have $150,000 available for grants. The official announcement for grants will be made in December, and applications will be due in early April.

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