EPA Announces Proposed Cleanup Plan for Iron King Mine Site

3/17/23

The EPA has come out with its plan to clean up the Iron King Mine site in Dewey-Humboldt. The agency proposes digging up and removing mine and smelter wastes, and contaminated soils, and moving them to two waste repositories. The cleanup would require moving large volumes of mine wastes, contaminated soil, and clean cover soil in trucks for at least a year. However, no wastes would need to cross the highway. Both repositories would be inspected periodically to ensure they remain intact and effective. After cleanup, parts of the smelter property could potentially be converted into a park. The EPA is accepting public comments on its cleanup plan through May 15th at thompson.georgia@epa.gov. In addition, and public meeting on the plan is scheduled for March 29th at 6:30 p.m. at Humboldt Elementary School.