Gadsden Times reported that the second phase of the cleanup of the former Gulf States Steel property has begun and federal Environmental Protection Agency officials expect it will take 2 to 3 years to complete.

Mr Jordan Garrard on scene coordinator for the EPA's Emergency Response and Removal Branch in Atlanta said that the cleanup involves demolition and removal of the plant's power house and removal or burying onsite of about 3 million cubic yards of slag.

It may be noted that the Gulf States Steel plant closed in 2000. The first cleanup phase involved the removal of the coke plant and work on mitigating problems at four lagoons on the property. That work was completed in December 2008.

Mr Garrard said that the second phase of cleanup will cost about USD 15.7 million.

(Sourced from Gadsden Times)