Site of Swift Falls fire nearly clean, to become a park

SWIFT FALLS, Minn. (AP) After years of work, a hazardous materials site in Swift Falls is nearly cleaned up, and officials are turning the three-acre site into a park along the Chippewa River.

Residents have been trying to get Midwest Cylinder to clean up its property since 1999. The property stored thousands of old liquid propane tanks. The cleanup became more urgent after a fire in 2002.

Swift County eventually bought the land and now has to contain just about seven yards of lead-contaminated soil before the site can receive an all clear from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Residents say the land is looking much better, and new grass is growing.

The county says the project took so long because it stayed on budget and used grants to get the job done.

Information from: West Central Tribune, http://www.wctrib.com (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 05-30-09 0900CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list