Apr 05, 2013 — Update: The EPA released its final plan for the Alcoa Grasse River cleanup late this morning. More information is at The Inbox.

Just ahead of the release of a plan to clean up toxic chemicals from the Grasse River near Massena, the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe blasted federal officials for putting the economy ahead of the environment.  Go to full article

Apr 01, 2013 — The company that built Massena will keep its plants open there for at least another 30 years.

Alcoa announced Saturday it will invest $42 million to modernize its East plant and build a new smelting the line. The company will also guarantee at least 900 jobs. In return, Alcoa will get low cost electricity from the hydropower dam on the St. Lawrence River.

The deal hinges on how the Environmental Protection Agency decides to clean up PCBs Alcoa and Reynolds dumped in the Grasse River decades ago.

David Sommerstein joined Martha Foley for more on the deal.  Go to full article

Massena, NY, Feb 25, 2013 — Senator Gillibrand was in Massena Friday, talking about her "Made in America Act", her first bill in the 113th Congress. The senator said she chose to appear at the Alcoa East Plant for its symbolic significance.  Go to full article

Massena, NY, Oct 04, 2012 — The St. Regis Mohawks say the federal government's plan to clean up toxic chemicals from the Grasse River has improved, but it's still not good enough. The Alcoa aluminum plant in Massena dumped cancer-causing PCBs into the river before they were banned in the 1970s.  Go to full article

Massena, NY, Apr 03, 2012 — State fire investigators and the Alcoa corporation are looking for the cause of a fire that broke out at the Alcoa West plant near Massena Thursday.

Alcoa spokeswoman Laurie Marr says investigators were able to start looking closely at the cast house, where the fire took place on Friday.  Go to full article

Massena, NY, Apr 02, 2012 — Smelting operations at both the Alcoa East and West plants are continuing as usual Monday, and an investigation into the cause of a fire in the casthouse of the West plant last week is underway.

A preliminary survey of the casthouse Friday found areas that are structurally safe. That allowed state fire investigators to get to work in the building.

Alcoa spokeswoman Laurie Marr said it's too soon to determine the extent of the damages, or the long-term impact on the plant's operations.  Go to full article

Mar 30, 2012 — UPDATE: Alcoa now says a preliminary survey of the casthouse Friday "determined areas that are structurally safe. This allowed state fire investigators to begin their investigation. It is too soon to determine the extent of damage to equipment and the long-term impact on processes. It is unknown how long the investigation process will take."

Firefighters were still working Friday afternoon to extinguish small flare-ups called "hot spots." at the Alcoa West plant near Massena. The fire began Thursday afternoon.  Go to full article

Massena, NY, Mar 30, 2012 — Officials with Alcoa say flare ups from a large fire at their West Plant casthouse building, near Massena, were out by 4:30 this morning. Alcoa spokesperson Laurie Marr says firefighters from multiple fire departments were on the scene through the night.

She says no one was hurt in the fire. Thick black smoke drifted over Massena. Marr says they don't think the smoke contained hazardous materials.  Go to full article

Massena, NY, Mar 21, 2011 — The leader of one of the world's largest aluminum producers came to Massena Friday with good news. 115 workers are back on the job after a year-and-a-half shutdown of Alcoa East's three pot lines. Senator Chuck Schumer joined Alcoa CEO Klaus Kleinfeld for a hero's welcome. As David Sommerstein reports, the visit brought hope about Alcoa's long-term future in the North Country.  Go to full article

Massena, NY, Feb 01, 2011 — The resumption of production at Alcoa's east smelter in Massena is a huge boost to a region that's been battered by the recession. 120 people are back on the pot lines. Alcoa's planning to invest millions of dollars in modernizing the facility.

But there's a sliver of bad news. Alcoa's share of low cost power was going to businesses and farms across the North Country. Yesterday, the New York Power Authority announced those discounts will be phased out. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article