Aerial view of the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) complex in Lead. (Courtesy of SURF)
Sioux Falls, Fort Sisseton Historic State Park, Box Elder and the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead will benefit from $3 million in cleanup funds awarded Monday by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The money comes from the EPA’s Brownfields program, which offers grants to state and local partners for the assessment and recovery of contaminated sites around the country. President Biden’s Infrastructure Reinvestment and Recovery Act boosted the program’s funding by 400%, according to a news release from the EPA.
Initial test finds ‘forever chemical’ in Mount Rushmore drinking water at level exceeding new limit
The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources will use its $2 million share of the grant funding for cleanup at:
For Falls Park, the needs are tied to contamination from former landfills. The work will involve environmental assessments, dredging and soil sampling, as well as water quality testing and testing for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS, or “forever chemicals”) at Falls Park and quarry lake. At the fairgrounds, the money will pay to test for methane, PFAS and other risks to the Big Sioux River.
At Fort Sisseton, the money will enable the construction of a new visitor center, the news release said, which involves environmental testing and asbestos and lead paint studies in historic buildings. The Villa Ranchaero site, 4 acres near Ellsworth Air Force Base, will see environmental assessments for safety, as the area is now home to several retail shops.
The South Dakota Science and Technology Authority manages the research facility in Lead, which is the deepest underground science lab in the U.S.
Its $1 million share of the money will be used to clean up properties contaminated by asbestos and assess environmental concerns related to hydrocarbons, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), volatile organic compounds, lead-based paint and metals such as lead, mercury and arsenic.
Redevelopment plans include a new main entrance to the facility and returning to “safe use of contaminated spaces” on the grounds, the press release said. The lab is located on the site of the former Homestake Gold Mine.
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by John Hult, South Dakota Searchlight
May 20, 2024
by John Hult, South Dakota Searchlight
May 20, 2024
Sioux Falls, Fort Sisseton Historic State Park, Box Elder and the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead will benefit from $3 million in cleanup funds awarded Monday by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The money comes from the EPA’s Brownfields program, which offers grants to state and local partners for the assessment and recovery of contaminated sites around the country. President Biden’s Infrastructure Reinvestment and Recovery Act boosted the program’s funding by 400%, according to a news release from the EPA.
Initial test finds ‘forever chemical’ in Mount Rushmore drinking water at level exceeding new limit
The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources will use its $2 million share of the grant funding for cleanup at:
For Falls Park, the needs are tied to contamination from former landfills. The work will involve environmental assessments, dredging and soil sampling, as well as water quality testing and testing for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS, or “forever chemicals”) at Falls Park and quarry lake. At the fairgrounds, the money will pay to test for methane, PFAS and other risks to the Big Sioux River.
At Fort Sisseton, the money will enable the construction of a new visitor center, the news release said, which involves environmental testing and asbestos and lead paint studies in historic buildings. The Villa Ranchaero site, 4 acres near Ellsworth Air Force Base, will see environmental assessments for safety, as the area is now home to several retail shops.
The South Dakota Science and Technology Authority manages the research facility in Lead, which is the deepest underground science lab in the U.S.
Its $1 million share of the money will be used to clean up properties contaminated by asbestos and assess environmental concerns related to hydrocarbons, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), volatile organic compounds, lead-based paint and metals such as lead, mercury and arsenic.
Redevelopment plans include a new main entrance to the facility and returning to “safe use of contaminated spaces” on the grounds, the press release said. The lab is located on the site of the former Homestake Gold Mine.
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SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST.
South Dakota Searchlight is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. South Dakota Searchlight maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Seth Tupper for questions: info@southdakotasearchlight.com. Follow South Dakota Searchlight on Facebook and Twitter.
Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our website. AP and Getty images may not be republished. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of any other photos and graphics.
John is the senior reporter for South Dakota Searchlight. He has more than 15 years experience covering criminal justice, the environment and public affairs in South Dakota, including more than a decade at the Sioux Falls Argus Leader.
South Dakota Searchlight is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
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South Dakota Searchlight provides free news and commentary on critical issues facing the state. We seek to serve the public interest with accuracy, fairness, insight and civility.
We’re part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our website.
© South Dakota Searchlight, 2024