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Cleanup Efforts Of Arden Hills Ammunition Plant Reach Milestone

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. (AP) — Work to clean up and clear what once was Minnesota's largest contaminated Superfund site has reached a milestone.

Ramsey County officials say the former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant in Arden Hills has been cleaned to standards for residential development, paving the way for the Rice Creek Commons development.

Ramsey County bought the heavily contaminated property for $28 million in 2012. The county says it is working with the state and federal pollution control agencies to certify the cleanup and remove the site from the Superfund list. Officials say 93 percent of the materials removed from the 427-acre site have been recycled or reused in new roads.

Employment at the small arms ammunition plant was at its peak in 1943 when about 26,000 people worked there. More than half were women.

(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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