CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it has resumed cleanup at the Cuyahoga River in Gorge Metro Park after dredging was paused over the winter because of below-freezing temperatures.
What You Need To Know
- The EPA explained that the cleanup is addressing several chemicals and materials that are in the sediment
- The dredging is part of the overall project to remove the Gorge Dam
- The EPA said it expects to remove more than 850,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment from the river throughout the project
The EPA explained that the cleanup is addressing several chemicals and materials that are in the sediment, which was trapped in the dam pool upstream of the Gorge Dam. Chemicals being removed include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), oil, grease and various heavy metals, including cadmium and lead.
The dredging is part of the overall project to remove the Gorge Dam, which has been in the works for years. The material that’s dredged from the dam pool will be transported through a pipeline to a specially constructed placement area two miles downstream, the EPA explained. The material will then be stabilized and safely stored…