News Release

Kennecott and McCarthy Community Meeting Dust Abatement Project Proposal

Date: June 7, 2018
Contact: Margie Steigerwald, 907-822-7251

Wrangell-St. Elias staff will host a community meeting on Wednesday June 13th from 5-8 pm in the Kennecott Rec Hall to discuss a project proposal to apply a dust abatement product, EnviroKleen®, within the road easements at the Kennecott Mill Site. The NPS would like to hear from the community on this proposal. Updates regarding the Contaminated Site Management Plan produced for the NPS will also be discussed.

The Kennecott Mill Site has heavy metals, consistently present in elevated quantities, in the mine tailings and within the soil. Exposure to these heavy metals can be harmful to human health. The presence of these heavy metals is a result of the 38 years of industrial mining and ore processing activity that occurred in the area. The safety of employees, visitors and residents in Kennecott is the park’s highest priority.

Over the past year, we worked with outside experts to help us better understand the nature of the contamination and to continue to identify ways to mitigate these hazards. We still have more to learn and will continue to gather data this year through additional environmental testing. We will keep the community informed as we learn more and as we define and implement additional safety actions. In addition to attending the public meeting, people may e-mail comments to [e-mail].

For further information contact Stephens Harper, Unit Manager at 907-707-9739 or Morgan Gantz, Outdoor Recreation Planner, at 907-822-7213.

Roads to Receive Dust Abatement

Map of Roads to Receive Dust Abatement