The Kiskiminetas River flows along the town of Vandergrift, Pennsylvania, Sept. 28, 2023. Residents who grew up in the area remember a time when the water had an orange tint from acid mine drainage, making the river too dangerous for swimming or other recreation activities. Thanks to environmental efforts in the region and the Clean Water Act of 1972, the water quality is now safe for the public to enjoy. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has plans to clean up and remediate the Shallow Land Disposal Area in Vandergrift beginning 2025. The site encompasses 44 acres of privately owned land with 10 trenches of buried radiological and non-radiological waste. The nation’s early atomic weapons and energy program used the SLDA to dispose low-level radioactive material used for nuclear-powered submarine and power-plant fuel. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh and Buffalo districts are working together to inform the local communities about the cleanup project. The Buffalo District is the lead for designing and completing the remediation project. The Pittsburgh District is responsible for public outreach to update communities about the project’s progress. The districts will host multiple public information sessions before and throughout the remediation process. Residents who want to submit questions or want to know more about the project can visit the SLDA project page for more information. The Pittsburgh District website provides an interactive guide and answers to frequently asked questions: https://www.lrp.usace.army.mil/Missions/Planning-Programs-Project-Management/Key-Projects/Shallow-Land-Disposal-Area (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District photo by Michel Sauret)