The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the completion of a four-year, $186 million sediment cleanup and habitat restoration project at Spirit Lake near Duluth, Minnesota. The EPA contributed $92 million to the project, with funding provided through the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, in partnership with U.S. Steel.
The completion of this work facilitated the construction of a new two-mile-long waterfront trail, which was officially opened to the public today by Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore, Mayor Roger Reinert, and project partners.
“With today’s grand opening, we’re seeing firsthand how Great Lakes Legacy Act partnerships are transforming affected land and water into restored ecosystems and recreational opportunities,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator and Great Lakes National Program Manager Debra Shore. “Thanks to this investment from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and the support of our many partners, a significant portion of a legacy contaminated site has been cleaned up and restored to beautiful habitat, and we’re one step closer to restoring the entire St. Louis Area of Concern.”
“For decades, excessive pollution in and around the St. Louis River watershed kept Minnesotans away," said Sen. Tina Smith. "Completing the cleanup at Spirit Lake and opening a new pedestrian trail is a huge step toward reviving public access to this natural resource and keeping the St. Louis River watershed and Lake Superior clean for generations to come."
“This vital project and investment moves us one step closer to our ultimate goal of removing one of the Great Lakes’ most important waterways from the Great Lakes Area of Concern List,” said Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Deputy Commissioner Peter Tester. “In partnering with federal, state, local, and Tribal governments, as well as other stakeholders, our work to restore and revitalize the St. Louis River will support healthy families, recreation, and a vibrant local economy well into the future.”
“U.S. Steel is excited to join EPA and our local partners in celebrating the official opening of the new recreational amenities along the Spirit Lake project site on the St. Louis River,” said U.S. Steel Senior Director of Environmental Remediation Mark Rupnow. “The significant environmental improvements to the St. Louis River Estuary and the former site of Duluth Works were only made possible by the collaboration and perseverance of the project partners. The area will provide an environmentally engaging space for years to come.”
The Spirit Lake site is located south of the Morgan Park neighborhood in Duluth within the St. Louis River Area of Concern. The project's purpose was to address chemicals in sediment, primarily polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and heavy metals including lead, copper, and zinc. Work began in 2020 and continued throughout 2023; 1.3 million cubic yards of impacted material were remediated in total.
Additionally, 460,000 cubic yards of sediment were dredged and placed into two newly built disposal facilities at the site while protective caps were placed over 96 acres of aquatic habitat. The project resulted in extensive restoration efforts including creating a new 42-acre shallow sheltered bay for fish spawning habitat.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to restore and delist the St. Louis River as a Great Lakes area of concern under EPA's management through voluntary cleanup programs funded by federal initiatives like the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding.
Some portions of EPA’s funding come from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s $1 billion investment aimed at accelerating cleanup efforts across remaining United States areas of concern—22 sites remain—including those within St. Louis River Area.
Further details about this project can be found on EPA’s Spirit Lake webpage.
