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| The site as it appears today Author's Photo |
The tenet was Metal Wire Recovery Corp., a company that recycled the inner copper wire from telephone cables.While their mission sounded beneficial, how they accomplished it was anything but that. To access the wire, the outer coatings were burned off, releasing a cornucopia of toxins into the air and soil.
Before coming to Quehanna, the company had been kicked out of several locations for their excessive pollution. Driftwood, Cameron County had been one of those unfortunate communities. Residents were forced to endure what can only be described as a toxic nightmare. Thick clouds of smoke hung in the air. Contained within the fumes were toxins and acids potent enough to bleach nearby trees and corrode aluminum patio chairs. Its affect on the human body was just as devastating. Increased cases of asthma and respiratory issues were found within the local population.
The new location in Quehanna provided a site free from people and their complaints. Fortunately, the operation didn't last long, thanks in part to local environmentalist Marion Brooks. Though a victory, irreversible damage to the soil had already been done.
Investigation of the site by the state in the late 1980's revealed high concentrations of heavy metals and other contaminants in the soil. To effectively clean up the site, entire layers of soil were removed and taken away for disposal. Fresh dirt was then trucked in and spread over the site.
Remediation of the site was complete by 1991. However, it was just one of five contaminated locations within Quehanna. Clean up was not officially declared finished until 2008.
Scrub brush and grass now cover the former industrial site. According to Ralph Harrison's book "Quehanna The Blemished Jewel Restored" each clean up site in the area was given a marker. The small stone post pictured below is believed to be this site's marker.
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| The stone marker at the site Author's Photo |
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