Today in History, 2004: Long overdue cleanup of toxic spill begins in West Fargo

By Kate Almquist Today at 12:01 AM Listen Comments Share Share this article Behind the story Behind the story Clarifies why and how a story was reported. The Trust Project What is this? On this day in 2004, officials announced a $2.6 million to $2.8 million cleanup of toxic soil contamination at a former West Fargo dry cleaning business would begin in January. Here is the complete story as it appeared in the paper that day: ADVERTISEMENT W. Fargo cleanup to begin January Dry cleaning site had a toxic spill By Jeff Zent [email protected] The long-delayed cleanup of a West Fargo dry cleaning site's toxic spill will begin in January, officials said Friday. Workers are busy preparing the former Camelot Cleaners site at 602 Sheyenne St. for a ground decontamination project that's expected to take six months, said Environmental Protection Agency spokeswoman Joyce Ackerman. Most of the tools and pre-construction work is in place for the cleanup to begin the first week of January, Ackerman said. Perchloroethylene, a chemical in solvents used at the former dry cleaning business, can be found as far as 44 feet below ground. The contamination extends into a nearby residential property. See more history at Newspapers.com Nov 13, 2004 The Forum (Fargo, North Dakota) Newspapers.com The North Dakota Department of Health discovered the ground contamination in 1998. Long-term exposure to the chemical, otherwise known as PCE, can cause liver and kidney damage. Behind a chain-link fence, workers are constructing a large building that will cover a maze of pipes leading from underground electrodes to two large holding chambers. ADVERTISEMENT The construction is part of a cleanup method called "thermally enhanced soil vapor extraction." Electrodes placed as far as 56 feet below the surface will heat the ground and vaporize the toxin. A vacuum will pull the vapor through the pipes and into the holding chambers, Ackerman said. The building now under construction will be heated to keep above-ground pipes from freezing, she said. A series of delays have made cleanup problematic. The EPA initially planned to hire a contractor by July 2003 and begin the cleanup last winter, Ackerman said. Pennsylvania-based Current Environmental Solutions wasn't awarded the job until April. The project was stalled when the landowner, John Woodhams of Naples, Fla., and Camelot Cleaners petitioned the EPA to consider alternative cleaning methods, City Commissioner Brenda Warren said. ADVERTISEMENT The cleanup, rescheduled to begin late this month, was again delayed when initial plans for the onsite building's construction didn't meet city codes, Warren said. "I think we're seeing daylight now," she said Friday. "It looks like this will be the last delay." CATCH UP ON THE LATEST TODAY IN HISTORY ARTICLES Today in History, 1898: Play adapted from Mark Twain novel to be staged in Fargo 1d ago Today in History, 1965: Fargo North stages first play in new theater 2d ago Today in History, 1998: Skeletal remains found in car pulled from Red River 3d ago Today in History, 1925: Thousands of farmers to flock to Moorhead for day of entertainment, chicken dinner 4d ago Today in History, 1984: Democrats sweep North Dakota’s statewide elections 5d ago The cleanup is expected to cost between $2.6 million and $2.8 million, Ackerman said. The EPA has agreed to pay the cleanup costs and is in talks with lawyers representing Woodhams and Camelot Cleaners to reimburse the government, she said. Woodhams declined to comment for this story. He referred questions to Fargo attorney Paul Hubbard, who could not be reached for comment at his home or office late Friday. Baerbel Schiller, a Kansas City, Mo., attorney representing Camelot Cleaners, could not be reached for comment. Dry cleaners still use solvents that contain PCE, but the industry has now generally begun better waste management practices, Ackerman said. ADVERTISEMENT Comments Share Share this article Behind the story Behind the story Clarifies why and how a story was reported. The Trust Project What is this? Tags Tags FROM THE ARCHIVES TODAY IN HISTORY By Kate Almquist Kate Almquist is the social media manager for InForum. After working as an intern, she joined The Forum full time starting in January 2022. Readers can reach her at [email protected]. Listen to this article Conversation ADVERTISEMENT What To Read Next Arts and Entertainment Pangea brings world culture to Moorhead's Hjemkomst Museum 18h ago · By John Lamb Lifestyle Female veterans find healing on Honor Flight 1d ago · By Danielle A. 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