The Peru Gazette

Plattsburgh, NY – Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it has finalized its Grasse River Superfund plan for Massena New York.  As part of the plan, Alcoa is expected to assume $243 million in costs associated with the project.  The announcement comes on the heels of Alcoa’s recent commitment to invest $52 million for modernization at their Massena operation and to support local economic development.

Congressman Bill Owens issued the following statement on EPA’s announcement:

“Finalizing a plan to clean up the Grasse River is another positive step forward for Alcoa, for workers and labor at the facility and for their families in the community,” said Owens.  “Today’s announcement eliminates a roadblock that has created uncertainty around Alcoa’s modernization, and I applaud this progress.”

Alcoa’s work on the Grasse River stems from a superfund order issued by the EPA in the late 1980’s.  According to the EPA’s announcement, the plan includes a cleanup along a 7.2 mile stretch of the Grasse River contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs.  The cleanup effort will include a mix of dredging and capping activities.