ISHPEMING, MI (AP)-- Officials say an $8 million project to prevent mercury contamination from reaching an Ishpeming lake has been completed.
Deer Lake is one of 43 highly toxic "Areas of Concern" designated under an agreement between the U.S. and Canada. Only two have been cleaned up enough to be removed from the list.
Ishpeming has used federal grants to divert a creek that carried polluted water from abandoned mine works to Deer Lake. The project eliminated the last source of mercury contamination and restored Partridge Creek, which once again will provide trout habitat.
Susan Hedman is regional administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. She said Tuesday the agency will work with city and state officials to remove Deer Lake from the concern list, perhaps next year.
