The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and City of Des Moines say the DICO superfund site could be cleared of contaminated buildings and ready for redevelopment by the end of 2021.
Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie, Iowa Department of Natural Resources Director Kayla Lyon, and EPA Administrator Michael Regan announced an update on the site on Tuesday. The EPA said the city should take possession of the site later this month. They will bring in contractors to demolish the remaining superfund buildings before the city takes over demolition.
The site was declared a Superfund site in the 1980's due to high levels of ground pollution. Mayor Cownie said demolition should be done by the end of the year, with redevelopment beginning in Spring of 2022.