The Kansas Department of Health and Environment and a southeastern city have partnered to clean up and re-purpose contaminated property for use in future commercial development.
The Joplin Globe reports that the coordinated cleanup that’s underway in Pittsburg is targeting contaminated soil left behind by a former zinc-smelting plant, Weir City Zinc Works. The plant operated from around 1880 to 1920 and left concentrations of arsenic, cadmium and zinc on the property.
Deputy City Manager Jay Byers says the cleanup is the first step for Pittsburg to put the land into productive use.
After completion of the cleanup, the city hopes to build a roadway extension in the area to connect existing businesses in the city’s tax increment financing district.
Cleanup operations should finish in the next few weeks.
(Read more: KWCH News)