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Spirit Lake Great Lakes Legacy Act Cleanup

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Cleanup Status and Progress

  • 2022 Progress

    Capping operations continue in the Shallow Sheltered Bay.

    Completed dredging, capping and enhanced natural recovery

    Progress

  • 2023 Activities

    View of site from Morgan Park when project is completed.

    Activities planned for 2023.

    Learn more

EPA and the United States Steel Corporation have entered a partnership to clean up impacted sediment and soil within the Spirit Lake area of the St. Louis River in Duluth, Minnesota. This work is being conducted as part of the Great Lakes Legacy Act project agreement between EPA and U.S. Steel. The site is located within the St. Louis River Area of Concern and is south of the Morgan Park neighborhood in Duluth. The site has in-water cleanup areas which include Spirit Lake, Unnamed Creek, and Wire Mill Pond as well as onshore clean up areas.

The purpose of the project is to address chemical constituents of concern, primarily polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, and associated heavy metals including lead, copper and zinc in the Spirit Lake area. The large environmental cleanup includes dredging, capping and monitoring impacted sediment. The cleanup will support the eventual delisting of the St. Louis River AOC and will result in benefits to people and the ecological system. The cleanup operations began in October 2020. They are being performed by contractors to EPA and U.S. Steel.

 Documents

Photo Galleries 

 

Remediation Work: Week of Jan. 3, 2023
  • Pile driving has been completed for the new Unnamed Creek railroad bridge.

    Pile driving has been completed for the new Unnamed Creek railroad bridge.

  • Aerial view of the Unnamed Creek corridor, Delta Upland Cap, and Shallow Sheltered Bay.

Remediation Work: Week of November 14, 2022
  • - Installation of the Turf Reinforcement Mats on the upland slopes of Wire Mill Pond has been completed.

    Installation of the Turf Reinforcement Mats on the upland slopes of Wire Mill Pond has been completed.

  • Overview of Shallow Sheltered Bay and the completed clay cap on the Upland Confined Disposal Facility.

    Overview of Shallow Sheltered Bay and the completed clay cap on the Upland Confined Disposal Facility.

  • The clay cap is being placed over the OU-J Confined Disposal Facility.

    Placing the clay cap over the Confined Disposal Facility area.

Remediation Work: Week of November 7, 2022
  • Logs for erosion control continue to be placed in the water near the shoreline of the Shallow Sheltered Bay.

    Logs for erosion control continue to be placed in the water near the shoreline of the Shallow Sheltered Bay.

  • Erosion control straw matting is placed on the shoreline of the Shallow Sheltered Bay to protect the soil and seeded areas.

    Erosion control straw matting is placed on the shoreline of the Shallow Sheltered Bay to protect the soil and seeded areas.

Remediation Work: Week of Oct. 31, 2022
  • Turf Reinforcement Mats (TRMs) are placed along the upland slopes of Wire Mill Pond. The mats help to reduce erosion while providing a stable environment for vegetation growth.

    Turf Reinforcement Mats (TRMs) are placed along the upland slopes of Wire Mill Pond. The mats help to reduce erosion while providing a stable environment for vegetation growth.

  • A segment of the pedestrian trail is constructed along the Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad near Falcon Street in the Morgan Park neighborhood.

    A segment of the pedestrian trail is constructed along the Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad near Falcon Street in the Morgan Park neighborhood.

  • Connected timber logs are installed along the shoreline of the Shallow Sheltered Bay. The logs provide shelter to the soft shoreline and reduce the erosion potential in these areas.

    Connected timber logs are installed along the shoreline of the Shallow Sheltered Bay. The logs provide shelter to the soft shoreline and reduce the erosion potential in these areas.

Remediation Work: Week of Oct. 24, 2022
  • Seeding on the Delta Upland Cap is complete and construction of recreational features on the cap is underway.

    Seeding on the Delta Upland Cap is complete and construction of recreational features on the cap is underway.

  • Construction of the pedestrian trail is underway adjacent to the Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad.

    Construction of the pedestrian trail is underway adjacent to the Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad.

Remediation Work: Week of Oct. 17, 2022

  • Capping in the Upland Confined Disposal Facility near the relocated Unnamed Creek channel continues.

  • Capping operations continue in the Shallow Sheltered Bay.

  • Rock is placed along the shoreline of the North Dredge Area with hi-rail equipment to protect the area against erosion.

Remediation Work: Week of Oct. 10, 2022
  • Capping continues over the Geotubes® in the Upland CDF.

    Capping continues over the Geotubes® in the Upland CDF.

  • Overview of the completed capping operations in Wire Mill Pond. The center and northern pond areas will be reconnected to the St. Louis River once all major operations in the area are complete and will be restored as emergent wetland.

    Overview of the completed capping operations in Wire Mill Pond. The center and northern pond areas will be reconnected to the St. Louis River once all major operations in the area are complete and will be restored as emergent wetland.

  • Newly dispersed upland plant seeds are protected by fiber matting along the Delta Upland Cap.

Remediation Work: Week of Oct. 3, 2022
  • Gravel is placed along the Delta Upland Cap to create part of the pedestrian walking trail .

    Gravel is placed along the Delta Upland Cap to create part of the pedestrian walking trail .

  • A cap is placed over the graded surface in the southern portion of the Wire Mill Pond.

  • The clay cap is placed over the subgrade in the Upland Confined Disposal Facility (CDF).

Remediation Work: Week of Sept. 12, 2022
  • A cap is placed over the OU-J Confined Disposal Facility (CDF)

    A cap is placed over the OU-J Confined Disposal Facility (CDF), located in the upstream Unnamed Creek area of the site.

  • View of work in Shallow Sheltered Bay (SSB).

    Capping continues in the Shallow Sheltered Bay (SSB).

  • Large machinery places a Reactive Core Mat (RCM)

    A Reactive Core Mat (RCM) is placed as part of the underwater cap in Wire Mill Pond. The RCM is laid out in sections over the sediment surface and contains materials to treat residual impacts in the sediment.

Remediation Work: Week of Sept. 5, 2022
  • Dump truck transporting material

    A hi-rail dump truck transports shoreline protection material along the Shallow Sheltered Bay (SSB) and North Dredge Area shorelines.

  • Dredeged material placed on top of geotubes

    Dredged material from the sediment processing area (SPA) is placed around and on top of the Geotubes® in the Upland Confined Disposal Facility (CDF) to create the final subgrade prior to capping the CDF.

  • Hi-Rail excavator moves along railway, with water on the left side

    A hi-rail excavator moves along the railroad in the North Dredge Area to complete critical shoreline protection activities.

  • Shoreline view of grading and cover placement

    Grading and cover placement is performed along the spit of land adjacent to the Shallow Sheltered Bay (SSB). The spit of land will support part of the recreational trail and other features designed in coordination with the City of Duluth.

Remediation work: Week of Aug. 22 - 26, 2022

  • Grading is performed along the spit of land adjacent to the Delta Upland Cap. The spit will support planned recreational features.

  • Capping in the Shallow Sheltered Bay and construction of the Delta Upland Cap continues.

Remediation work: Week of Aug. 15 - 19, 2022
  • Rock continues to be placed along the Wire Mill Delta shoreline for erosion protection.

    Rock continues to be placed along the Wire Mill Delta shoreline for erosion protection.

  • Clean cap material is placed near the shoreline of the Shallow Sheltered Bay.

  • Material placement and grading continues in the OU-J Confined Disposal Facility.

Remediation work: Week of Aug. 8-12, 2022
  • View of sunset over the US Steel Duluth Project site.

    A section of shoreline protection is completed along the Wire Mill Delta.

  • View of the frozen Wire Mill Delta.

    A thin layer of clean sand (dredge residual cover) is placed over the dredged sediment surface in the North Dredge Area.

  • Contractor constructing ice roads in the Shallow Sheltered Bay to prepare for mechanical dredging.

    High strength fabric is placed as part of Delta Upland cap construction.

Remediation work: Week of Aug. 8-12, 2022
  • Rocky shoreline called Wire Mill Delta shows rocks and vegtation on the left and calm waters on the right

    A section of shoreline protection is completed along the Wire Mill Delta.

  • Overview of clean sand over the dredged sediment surface in the North Dredge Area

    A thin layer of clean sand (dredge residual cover) is placed over the dredged sediment surface in the North Dredge Area.

  • thick fabric serves as a cap over the soil.

    High strength fabric is placed as part of Delta Upland cap construction.

Remediation Work: Week of Aug. 1, 2022
  • Large equipment placing rocks along the shoreline

    Rock is placed along the shoreline of the Wire Mill Delta for erosion protection.

  • Vegetation growing in the forefront with a long view of the construction of the Delta Upland Cap and a cap placement in the shallow Sheltered Bay with large machinery in the backgroun and wispy clouds above.

    Construction of the Delta Upland Cap and cap placement in the Shallow Sheltered Bay continue.

  • Vegetation in the foreground and mounds of dirt in the middle with wispy clouds in the background. A large machinery working in the center of the view.

    Capping of the OU-J Confined Disposal Facility (CDF) continues.

Remediation Work: Week of Jul. 25, 2022
  • aerial view

    Construction of Wire Mill Delta shoreline protection is underway.

  • Stone installation using large machinery

    Stabilization stone installation in the Shallow Sheltered Bay Spit area.

  • Wire Mill Delta shoreline with water on the left and land in the right, beautiful sky with puffy clouds

    Construction of Wire Mill Delta shoreline protection is underway.

Remediation Work: Week of July 11, 2022

  • Capping continues in the Shallow Sheltered Bay.

  • A clay cap is placed over the dredged material in the OU-J Confined Disposal Facility.

  • Subgrade is installed on the Delta Upland Cap area.

Remediation Work: Week of July 4, 2022

  • Capping continues in the Shallow Sheltered Bay.

  • A clay cap is placed over the dredged material in the OU-J Confined Disposal Facility.

  • Subgrade is installed on the Delta Upland Cap area.

Remediation Work: Week of June 20, 2022

  • Capping continues in the Unnamed Creek Offshore area.

  • Hydraulic and mechanical dredging occurring in the Shallow Sheltered Bay. Hydraulic dredging operations in this area are now complete.

Remediation Work: Week of June 13, 2022

  • Gravel material for the remedial cap root barrier is placed on the capping conveyor. The root barrier will be placed in portions of the Shallow Sheltered Bay and offshore areas.

  • Grading continues in Wire Mill Pond to prepare for remedial cap placement.

  • Stockpiled material from winter operations is placed in the OU-J Confined Disposal Facility (CDF).

Remediation Work: Week of June 6, 2022

  • Gravel material for the remedial cap root barrier is placed on the capping conveyor. The root barrier will be placed in portions of the Shallow Sheltered Bay and offshore areas.

  • Grading continues in Wire Mill Pond to prepare for remedial cap placement.

  • Stockpiled material from winter operations is placed in the OU-J Confined Disposal Facility (CDF).

Remediation Work: Week of Jan. 3, 2023
  • Pile driving has been completed for the new Unnamed Creek railroad bridge.

    Pile driving has been completed for the new Unnamed Creek railroad bridge.

  • Aerial view of the Unnamed Creek corridor, Delta Upland Cap, and Shallow Sheltered Bay.

Remediation Work: Week of Jan. 3, 2023
  • Pile driving has been completed for the new Unnamed Creek railroad bridge.

    Pile driving has been completed for the new Unnamed Creek railroad bridge.

  • Aerial view of the Unnamed Creek corridor, Delta Upland Cap, and Shallow Sheltered Bay.

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Last updated on January 27, 2023