REALIZING
REMEDIATION
A Summary of Contaminated Sediment Remediation
Activities in the Great Lakes Basin
Great Lakes National Program Office
March 1998
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UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
GREAT LAKES NATIONAL PROGRAM OFFICE
77 WEST JACKSON BOULEVARD
CHICAGO, IL 60604-3590
MAY 1 5 1998
MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT: Realizing Remediation, A Summary of Contaminated Sediment Remediation
Activities in the Great Lakes
FROM:- David A. Ullrich
Acting Great Lakes National Program Manager (R-19J)
TO: Carol M. Browner
Administrator
The enclosed report, Realizing Remediation - A Summary of Contaminated Sediment
Remediation Activities in the Great Lakes Basin, summarizes past, current, and planned sediment
remediation efforts within the Great Lakes Basin. The report provides information on
remediation efforts at 33 sites in 6 states. It also includes information on an additional 15 sites
that are listed as upcoming remediation sites. The report contains a summary of background
information and administrative and remedial history for each site as well as contact information
regarding the main project officer for the site. Realizing Remediation represents the first
concerted effort to summarize contaminated sediment remediation efforts in the U.S. waters of
the Great Lakes.
This report focuses attention on moving from assessment and planning to on-the-ground
remediation. Many of the projects are the result of Federal and state enforcement actions, and
therefore, emphasize the importance of a strong enforcement program. The report also stresses
the benefits of developing strong community partnerships to plan and carry out remedial actions.
These projects represent many of the latest ideas and technologies being used to assess and
remediate contaminated sediments. By communicating the successes achieved in the Great
Lakes and disseminating this information to a wide audience, we hope to continue to improve
solutions to the pressing environmental problem of contaminated sediments.
Realizing Remediation recognizes the successful efforts taking place in the Great Lakes Region,
and is intended to inform the Great Lakes community about the importance of remediating
contaminated sediments. Although much more work needs to be done, these projects represent a
Printed on Recycled Paper
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major step forward in sediment ^mediation efforts in the region and illustrate significant
progress in improving water quality and restoring a healthy and vibrant Great Lakes ecosystem.
David A. Ullrich
Attachment
cc: David M. Gardiner, Assistant Administrator, OPPE (w/attachment)
Henry L. Longest n, Assistant Administrator, ORD (w/attachment)
Robert Perciasepe, Assistant Administrator, OW (w/attachment)
Tudor Davies, Office of Science & Technology, OW (w/attachment)
Elizabeth Southerland, Office of Science and Technology, OW (w/attachment)
Sallyanne Harper, Chief Financial Officer (w/attachment)
Timothy Fields, Jr., Assistant Administrator, OSWER (w/attachment)
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REALIZING REMEDIATION: A SUMMARY OF
CONTAMINATED SEDIMENT REMEDIATION
ACTIVITIES IN THE GREAT LAKES BASIN
by
Erin White, Intern
National Network for Environmental Management Studies Program
Nicholas School of the Environment Duke University
Callie Bolattino, Project Officer
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Great Lakes National Program Office
Chicago, Illinois
DISCLAIMER
The information contained in this report is current as of January 1998. Due to the constantly changing nature of the remediation
work at these locations, it is recommended that up-to-date information be obtained from the listed site contacts.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank the numerous USEPA and state agency staff members whose efforts were
essential in providing the information for this report. Without their assistance in gathering reports,
personally answering my numerous questions and reviewing drafts, this report would not have
been possible. A special thank you goes to David Sendek, from the International Joint Commis-
sion, who was my partner in crime for amassing this information.
I am grateful to the Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) for "indoctrinating" me into
the world of government. I would particularly like to thank the GLNPO Sediment Team including
Branch Chief, David Cowgill; Environmental Scientists Marc Tuchman and Brian Stage; Environ-
mental Engineer, Scott Cieniawski for their assistance with this project; and Cynthia D. Bowman
for desktop publishing. A big thank you also goes to Environmental Scientist, Gallic Bolattino,
who guided me through this project.
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ACRONYMS
AOC Area of Concern
ARCS Assessment and Remediation of Contaminated Sediments
ASRI Alternative Specific Remedial Investigation
CDF Confined Disposal Facility
BTEX Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylene
CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
CFS Cubic Feet Per Second
CPAH Carcinogenic Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons
CSO Combined Sewer Overflow
CTF Confined Treatment Facility
CWA Clean Water Act
DDT Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane
DRO Diesel Range Organics
HBB Hexabromobenzene
HCH Hexachlorocyclohexane
GLNPO Great Lakes National Program Office
GLWQA Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement
IAG Interagency Agreement
IEPA Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
IJC International Joint Commission
MCD Modified Consent Decree
MDEQ Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
MDNR Michigan Department of Natural Resources
MPCA Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
NPDES National Pollution Discharge Elimination System
NPL National Priorities List
NYSDEC New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
OEPA Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
OMC Outboard Marine Company
PAH Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons
PBB Polybrominated Biphenyl
PCB Polychlorinated Biphenyls
PPB Parts Per Billion
PPM Parts Per Million
PRP Potentially Responsible Party(ies)
RAP Remedial Action Plan
RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
RI/FS Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study
ROD Record of Decision
RRT Requisite Remedial Technology
RRWWDP Rouge River Wet Weather Demonstration Project
TCDD Tetrachlorodibenzene-P-Dioxin
TCP Trichlorophenol
TSCA Toxic Substances Control Act
TSDF Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility
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USAGE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
USEPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
USGS U.S. Geological Service
USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
VOC Volatile Organic Compound
WDNR Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Background 1
Report Overview 2
Figure 1: Completed and Upcoming Remediation Sites 4
Contaminants 5
Cost 6
Table 1: Sediment Volumes and Remediation Costs for Current and/or
Completed Sites 7
Table 2: Estimated Sediments Volumes and Predicted Costs for Upcoming
Sites 8
PAST AND CURRENT SITES
ILLINOIS
Waukegan Harbor 9
INDIANA
Indiana Harbor - LTV Steel 11
MICHIGAN
Manistique 12
River Raisin - Ford Outfall 14
Lower Rouge River - Double Eagle Steel 16
Upper Rouge River - Evans Products Ditch 17
Newburgh Lake 19
Willow Run Creek. 20
Monguagon Creek 21
Unnamed Tributary to Wolf Creek. 22
South Branch Shiawasee River - Cast Forge 23
NEW YORK
Black andBergholtz Creeks - Love Canal 25
Gill Creek - DuPont 27
Gill Creek - Olin Corporation 28
Bloody Run Creek-Hyde Park Landfill 29
Pettit Flume - Durez-Occidental 30
Union Road. 31
Frontier Chemical - Pendleton 32
102nd Street Embayment 33
Buffalo Color - Area D 34
Niagara Mohawk - Cherry Farm / River Road Sites 35
Niagara Transformer 36
Creekside GolfCourse 37
Columbus McKinnon 38
St. Lawrence River - ALCOA 39
St. Lawrence River- General Motors 40
ii
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OHIO
Black River - USX/Kobe Steel 41
Ottawa River Tributary 42
WISCONSIN
Menominee River - Ansul Fire and Protection 43
Newton Creek/Hog Island Inlet - Murphy Oil 45
North Avenue Dam of the Milwaukee River 47
RuckPond. 49
Sheboygan River and Harbor - Tecumseh Products 50
UPCOMING SITES
INDIANA
Grand Calumet River/Indiana Harbor 52
MICHIGAN
Kalamazoo River - Allied Paper 54
Pine River - Velsicol Chemical 56
Saginaw River 57
South Branch of the Black River 58
St. Mary's River - Cannelton Industries 59
Trenton Channel 61
MINNESOTA
St. Louis River - Interlake Duluth Tar 62
NEW YORK
Iroquois Gas and Westwood Pharmaceutical 63
St. Lawrence River - Reynolds Metals 64
OHIO
Ashtabula River 65
Ashtabula Fields Brook Superfimd Site 66
WISCONSIN
Fox River 67
Manitowoc River Basin - Hayton Mill Pond. 68
Little Menomonee River 69
Contributors 71
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Realizing Remediation - Introduction
BACKGROUND
Contaminated sediments are of great concern to humans and wildlife
that live within the Great Lakes Basin. Years of industrial and munici-
pal discharges, combined sewer overflows and urban and agricultural
non-point source runoff have contributed to the creation of vast amounts
of highly polluted sediments that pose serious human and ecological
health risks. Sediments have been collecting on the bottoms of the Great
Lakes ever since they were formed by glacial scouring and melting.
The loose, unconsolidated particles that make up the sediment may origi-
nate in soil worn away by physical or chemical erosion, or they may
come from the decomposition of shells or wood chips. In areas of slow
moving water, sediments sink and accumulate on the bottom of lakes
and rivers.
Before industry came to the Great Lakes Basin, the natural processes of
sedimentation only created changes in the shapes of the lakes and their
tributaries. However, in the first century of industrial development, the
region began adding chemicals to the water, and in turn, the sediments.
Often the approach was simply to run a pipe to the nearest river bank or
lakeshore and pump the waste directly into the water. Over the decades,
heavy metals and toxic organic chemicals mixed with the particles of
rock, soil, and decomposing wood and shell in the sediments collecting
in rivers and harbors in the Great Lakes Basin.
Even after serious clean-up efforts began in the late 1960's, little atten-
tion was paid to the toxics concealed on the bottom. The first priority
was to stop the discharge of new contaminants, and little concern was
paid to sediments. It was not until the early 1980's that environmental
problems caused by sediment contamination began to generate interest.
One example was an increase in concentrations of the pesticide DDT
and the widely used group of industrial chemicals called PCBs in the
tissues of Great Lakes fish. Although both of these chemicals had been
banned from use within the Basin in the 1970's, levels were still in-
creasing in fish tissue. This development sparked interest in the possi-
bility of the sediments as sources of the toxics. Overwhelming evi-
dence now supports the theory that toxics trapped in sediment can ad-
versely impact humans and the environment. By a process known as
biomagnification the toxics contained in bottom sediments can increase
exponentially in concentration at every level of the food chain, starting
with the sediment dwelling benthos, continuing to fish and eventually
reaching birds of prey, mammals and even humans. This
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Realizing Remediation - Introduction
bioaccumulation of sediment pollutants in fish is one way for humans to be-
come affected by the in place contaminants.
In response to rising concern regarding sediment quality in the Great Lakes,
the UJS. Congress authorized a five-year study and demonstration project to
identity the best techniques for addressing contaminated sediments. The au-
thorization, contained in the Clean Water Act of 1987, called upon the Great
Lakes National Program Office of the USEPA to conduct a study and demon-
stration project relating to the appropriate treatment of toxic pollutants in sedi-
ments. Also in 1987, the U.S. and Canada ratified a second revision of their
1972 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement which directed the USEPA and
its counterpart, Environment Canada, to establish methods to quantify, man-
age and remediate contaminated sediments.
In response to both policies, USEPA created the ARCS (Assessment and
Remediation of Contaminated Sediment) Program. The specific aims of the
ARCS Program were to measure concentrations of contaminants at chosen
sites on the Great Lakes, to determine ways of gauging the effects of these
concentrations on aquatic life, to recommend ways to measure risks to wildlife
and to human health posed by the contaminants and to test technologies that
might be used to clean up the sediments. Since the onset of the ARCS Pro-
gram, state and federal agencies, environmental groups, industries and local
citizens have worked together to identify contaminated sites, develop
remediation plans and restore the sediments to safe levels for the ecosystem at
numerous locations around the Basin.
As the process of realizing remediation occurs, it is important to keep all stake-
holders apprised of actions that have been accomplished as well as to look
ahead to the future. This document presents a summary of the past, current
and future sediment remediation projects within the U.S. Great Lakes Basin.
While the future will most certainly bring more sites to light, the sites listed
here represent the majority of current, significant remediation projects. The
summary demonstrates how far sediment remediation hi the Great Lakes has
progressed since the identification of contaminated sediment problems. It is
hoped that this document will serve as a reference and promote information
networking among the many people and agencies who work on remediating
the Great Lakes sediments.
REPORT OVERVIEW
The information within this report was gathered mainly from direct communi-
cation with the project officers for the sites and supplemented with informa-
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 2
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Realizing Remediation - Introduction
tion from site publications. The sites are from seven states within the Basin.
A total of 33 sites in six states were listed as past and current sediment
remediation projects (Figure 1). These cleanups are led by either USEPA or
the state environmental agency. The amount of contaminated sediments at
these sites -ranged from 1,300 to 750,000 yds3. The majority of sites chose
dredging as the environmentally and economically preferred option to remove
the contaminated sediments.
The following information is provided for each of the past and current
remediation sites:
* Contact: Name of the main project officer who contributed to
the report and his or her affiliation.
4 Location: Short summary of the site location and the vicinity
that the contaminated sediments affect(ed).
+ Background: Describes how the site was contaminated
* Administrative History: Describes the authority and/or stat
ute under which the project remediation work was conducted.
Amount of Contaminated Sediment: Indicates the volume
of contaminated sediments and highest contaminate concentra
tion found in those sediments.
« Project Status: Update on the projects as of Janurary, 1998.
+ Total Cost: Estimate of the remediation costs. It is important
to note that some of these costs are solely for sediment remedia-
tion, whereas some sites only had cost figures available for all
remediation work, which often includes land based remediation
projects. This difference is indicated within each section.
Other information such as the type of remedy selected, dredging method and
landfill siting were also included within each section when available. Another
15 sites in six states are listed at the end of the document as upcoming sites
(Figure 1). These sites are all expected to begin remediation work within the
next one to three years. Information was presented in a slightly more con-
densed format for these sites.
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Realizing Remediation - Introduction
Massena, N.Y.sites (3)
(see below)
Manistique R.
Newton Creek
Sheboygan
Ruck Pond
Milwaukee River
Waukegan Harbor
LTV Steel
Massena, N.Y. sites (3)
1. ALCOA
2. General Motors
3. Reynolds Metals
Niagara R. sites (12)
1. Love Canal
2. Gill Creek
3. Hyde Park
4. Durez-Occidental
5. Union Road
6. Frontier Pendeton
7. 102nd St. Embayment
8. Buffalo Color
9. Iroquois Gas/Westwood
10. Olin Industrial Wwelding
11. Niagara Mohawk-Cherry Farm
12. Niagara Transformer
Niagara R. sites (12;
(see below)
Black River
Newburgh Lake
Willow Run Creek
Rouge R.(Lower and Upper)
Monguagon Creek
Raisin R.
Upcoming sites (numbered on map)
1. St. Louis R./lnterlake
2. Fox RAittle Lake Butte des Morts
3. Hayton Mill Pond
4. Little Menomonee R.
5. IN Harbor Ship Canal
6. Grand Calumet R./USX Gary
7. Kalamazoo R.
8. Pine R.
9. SaginawR.
10. Trenton Channel
11. Ottawa R.
12. Ashtabula R.
13. Fields Brook
Figure 1: Completed and Upcoming Remediation Sites
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 4
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Realizing Remediation - Introduction
CONTAMINANTS
The sediments described in this report were contaminated by a variety
of chemicals. Some of the most common sediment pollutants at these
Great Lakes sites include:
Polvchlorinated Biphenvls (PCBs)
PCBs are human-made industrial chemicals that were previously used
as coolants, insulating materials and lubricants. The U.S. ended PCB
production in 1979, but they still persist in the environment today. PCBs
are suspected or known human carcinogens and high exposures to PCBs
can damage the skin, eyes, and lungs. USEPA recommends PCB con-
centrations to be no higher than 0.001 ppb in stream and lake water.
Polvcvclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons fPAHs)
There are over 100 different PAH compounds. This group of chemicals
is formed during the incomplete burning of coal, oil and gas, garbage,
or other organic substances. PAHs can be human-made or occur natu-
rally. There is no known use for most of these chemicals except for
research purposes. A few PAHs are used in medicines and to make dyes,
plastics and pesticides. Based on animal testing, PAHs are suspected of
being carcinogenic.
Mercury
Mercury is a naturally occurring element found at background levels in
the air, water and land. One form used by industry, methyl mercury,
can build up in fish tissue and cause contamination at low levels. Expo-
sure to methyl mercury is more dangerous for young children than for
adults because more of it passes into children's brains where it inter-
feres with normal development. Long-term exposure to mercury may
lead to brain damage, particularly in fetuses.
2.3.7.8-tetrachlorodibenzo-D-dioxin (2.3.7,8-TCDD)
This is the most toxic dioxin. While a dose-response curve has not been
established yet, there is overwhelming evidence that 2,3,7,8-TCDD
causes cancer. This and other dioxins have been created as a by-product
in the manufacture of certain chlorinated organic products.
Hexachlorocvclohexane (HCH)
HCH, formerly known as benzene hexachloride (BCH) is another hu-
man-made chemical. Gamma-HCH was originally used as an insecti-
cide. U.S. production of this chemical ceased in 1977, however it is still
imported into the country. HCH is also a carcinogen.
5 Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Realizing Remediation- Introduction
Lead
A naturally occurring element, lead is also often released from anthropogenic
sources. It can damage the nervous system, kidneys and immune system.
Children are particularly susceptible to lead poisoning. Lead exposure can
result in a variety of detrimental effects to neuropsychological functioning.
Arsenic
Arsenic is naturally found at low levels in ground water and surface water and
created by human activities. Arsenic ingestion is linked to skin cancer and
arsenic inhalation to lung cancer. In addition, arsenic ingestion seems to be
associated with cancers of the kidney, bladder, liver, lung and other organs.
Water primarily contains inorganic arsenic species, which tend to be more
toxic than organic forms.
COST
Cost figures for remediation vary significantly among the projects. The fol-
lowing tables describe the volume of contaminated sediment at each site and
the cost figures for the projects as available. Table 1 contains information on
current or completed sites and Table 2 contains information on up and com-
ing sites.
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 6
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Realizing Remediation - Introduction
Table 1: Sediment Volumes and Remediation Costs for Current and/or Completed Sites
Sediment
Site Volume (yds3)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
Waukegan Harbor
LTV Steel
Manistique
River Raisin
Lower Rouge River
Upper Rouge River
Newburgh Lake
Willow Run Creek
Monguagon Creek
Unnamed Tributary to
Wolf Creek
Shiawasee River
Black and Bergholtz Creeks
Gill Creek - DuPont
Gill Creek -Olin
Bloody Run Creek
Petfit Flume
Union Road
Frontier Pendleton
102nd Street Embayment
Buffalo Color- Area D
Niagara Mohawk -
Cherry Farm
Niagara Transformer
Creekside Golf Course
Columbus McKinnon
St. Lawrence River -ALCOA
St. Lawrence River - GM
Black River
Ottawa River Tributary
Menominee River
Newton Creek/Hog Island
Inlet
North Avenue Dam of the
Milwaukee River
Ruck Pond
Sheboygan River and
Harbor
TOTAL
32,000
116000
120,000
27,000
34,500
7,000
400,000
375,000
25,128
13,000
1,805
17,200
8,020
7,500
27,000
15,070
5,600
56,000
28,500
35,000
48,000
11,500
1,300
2,349
3,500
13,800
50,000
10,000
10,000
2,400
750,000
7,700
3,800
2,265,672
Sediment
Volume (m3)
24,320
88,160
91,200
20,520
26,220
5,320
304,000
285,000
19,097
9,880
1,371
13,072
6,095
5,700
20,520
11,453
4,256
42,560
21,660
26,600
36,480
8,740
988
1,785
2,660
10,488
38,000
7,600
7,600
1,824
570,000
5,852
2,888
1,721,910
Sediment Sediment Total
Remediation Costs Project Costs
Costs ($US) ($US)
21,000,000
15,809,228
6,000,000
1,000,000
550,000
11,800,000
3,000,000
1,000,000
14,000,000
. 10,000,000
1,400,000
4,000,000
4,500,000
4,800,000
7,000,000
1,500,000
5-6,000,000
1,500,000
250,000
2,600,000
7,080,000
Unknown
118,289,228
14-16,000,000
70,000,000
1,302,405
40,000,000
58,000,000
23,000,000
8,000,000
18,770,000
30,000,000
8,200,000
12,000,000
5,600,000
4,500,000
5,250,000
78,000,000
5,700,000
362,322,405
Table 1: Total yds3 for the current or finished sediment remediation projects in the US Great Lakes Basin. The cost
figures are denoted either as the cost for a sediment remediation project, or for a land based cleanup and a sediment
remediation project combined.
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Realizing Remediation - Introduction
Table 2: Estimated Sediment Volumes and Predicted Costs for Upcoming Sites
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Site Name
Grand Calumet River/
Indiana Harbor
Kalamazoo River
Pine River
Saginaw River
S. Branch of the Black River
St Mary's River- Cannelton
Industries
Trenton Channel
St Louis River - Interiake
DuluthTar
Iroquois Gas and Westwood
Pharmaceutical
St Lawrence River- Reynolds
Metals Company
Ashtabula River and Harbor
Ashtabula Fields Brook
Superfund Site
Fox River
Manitowoc River Basin - Hayton
Mill Pond
Little Menomonee River- Moss
American Site
Sediment
Volume
(yds3)
5,000,000-10,000,000
unknown
250,000
300,000
6,500
unknown
unknown
unknown
11,000
77,000
1,000,000
unknown
10,900,000
10,000
15,000
Sediment
Volume (m3)
3,800,000-7,600,000
unknown
190,000
228,000
4,940
unknown
unknown
unknown
8,360
58,520
760,000
unknown
8,284,000
7,600
11,400
Sediment
Remediation
Costs
unknown
unknown
unknown
$5,000,000
unknown
$5,500,000
unknown
unknown
$7,350,000
$57,000,000
unknown
unknown
unknown
$800,000
$25,000
It is important to note that several of these sites have been successfully
remediated and the contaminants have been reduced to background levels in
the sediments. Many more are currently in the process of remediation. As
those who are involved with remediation efforts gain more experience, it is
hoped they can use their knowledge to improve the remediation process with
increasing expedience and decreasing costs. This document will hopefully
allow us to see how far we have come in the past ten years since contami-
nated sediments were identified by Congress as an issue that needed to be
addressed. It also allows us to set our goals for the future, and the future of
the Great Lakes.
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 8
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Past and Current Sites - Illinois
Waukegan Harbor - Outboard Marine Corporation Site
Contact
Michael Bellott
USEPA Region 5, Superfund Division Telephone: (312)353-6425
77 West Jackson Boulevard (SR-6J) Fax: (312) 886-4071
Chicago, IL 60604 Email: bellott.michael@epamail.epa.gov
Location
The Waukegan Harbor Superfund site in Waukegan, Illinois is within an Area of Concern (AOC) desig-
nated by the International Joint Commission (IJC). Waukegan is located approximately 50 miles north of
the city of Chicago along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
Background
Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC), a recreational marine products manufacturer, used hydraulic fluid
containing PCBs in its die-casting machines from 1959 to 1972. Some of the PCBs escaped from the oil
interceptor, diversion and pump system. The PCBs were discharged from two locations, one at the western
end of Slip 3 at the northern end of Waukegan Harbor, and one at the north end of OMC property to the
North Ditch which runs directly into Lake Michigan. By the time the discharge pipe to the harbor was
sealed in 1976, approximately 300,000 pounds of PCBs had been released into Waukegan Harbor and
another 700,000 pounds had been discharged on OMC property. PCB concentrations in some areas were
over 25,000 ppm. It was also estimated that hundreds of thousands of pounds of PCBs discharged into Lake
Michigan.
Administrative History
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency conducted effluent sampling of outfalls on Lake Michigan to
attempt to identify sources of PCB contamination. In January 1976, samples taken during 1975 at outfalls
at the Outboard Motor Corporation (OMC) of Waukegan, Illinois were found to be contaminated with
PCBs, discharging at a rate of 9 to 10 pounds of PCBs per day.
A remedy was selected in 1984 by the USEPA which authorized $21 million for the cleanup program.
Three main areas of contamination were targeted for remediation: The Upper Harbor and Slip 3; the OMC
parking lot; and the North Ditch/Crescent Ditch/Oval Lagoon area. However, components of the remedy
were modified and embodied in a 1988 Consent Decree. In March 1989, the Record of Decision (ROD) was
correspondingly modified and the Consent Decree was then entered into the United States District Court in
April 1989. By terms of the Consent Decree, OMC was to finance a Trust to implement the cleanup and to
ensure performance of the requirements of the Consent Decree.
The final remedy required the following:
A slip was built on the east side of the Upper Harbor to replace Slip 3. Larsen Marine was
relocated from Slip 3 to this new slip.
A double sheet pile cut-off wall was built to isolate Slip 3 from the Upper Harbor. A water-
tight clay slurry wall was anchored to the underlying clay till and Slip 3 became a perma
nent containment cell.
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Past and Current Sites - Illinois
A total of 8,000 yds3 of sediment in Slip 3 with PCB concentrations above 500 ppm was
removed and isolated for treatment. Approximately 30,000 yds3 of sediment in the Upper
Harbor with PCB concentrations between 50 and 500 ppm was removed and placed in the
new Slip 3 containment cell.
Two other containment cells were built with a similar design as the Slip 3 containment cell.
One encompassed the parking lot and the other the Crescent Ditch and Oval Lagoon. Be
fore construction, all areas containing PCB contamination over 10,000 ppm were removed
for treatment
Material removed from designated hotspots was treated by a low temperature extraction
procedure which removed at least 97% of the PCBs by mass to separate the PCB oils from
the sediments.
Extracted PCB oil was removed off site for destruction at a TSCA-approved facility.
Residual treated soil was placed in the containment cells which were closed and capped.
All water generated during remedial activities was treated on site.
In the Fall of 1989, during pre-design field investigation, additional contamination in the form of poly-
nuclear aromatic hydrocarbons were discovered in the soil area of the new slip. PAHs reflect coking and
wood treating operations. This contamination resulted from a previous land use prior to OMC's ownership
of the property. The discovery of PAHs required a limited investigation in the area of the new slip and
resulted in the removal of PAH-contaminated soils above 5 ppm.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volumes: 32,000 yds3 removed from Waukegan Harbor
6,300 yds3 removed from Slip #3
5,000 yds3 removed from the North Ditch
2,900 yds3 of sediment and soil removed from Oval Lagoon
3,800 yds3 of sediment and soil removed from Crescent Ditch
Mass: 1,000,000 pounds (estimate)
Highest PCB Concentration: 500,000 ppm
Project Status
Physical construction was completed as of February 1992. Operation and maintenance of the site will
continue until 1999, per the consent Decree order. Monitoring indicates that fish tissue contaminant con-
centrations in the harbor continue to decrease. Warning signs from within the harbor have been removed
because sampling has recently shown declines in concentrations to the same levels as the greater Lake
Michigan area. Compliance monitoring continues to show the remedy is meeting its objectives.
Total Cost
The clean up cost of the entire remediation effort was estimated to be approximately $21,000,000.
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 10
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Past and Current Sites - Indiana
LTV Steel Site - Indiana Harbor
Contact
Ronald Kovach
USEPA Region 5, Water Division Telephone: (312) 886-1441
77 West Jackson Boulevard (WC-15J) Fax: (312) 886-0168
Chicago, IL 60604 Email: ovach.ronald@epamail.epa.gov
Location
The LTV Steel site is located along the south shore of Lake Michigan in the city of East Chicago, Indiana.
It is part of a heavily industrialized corridor adjacent to Indiana Harbor and is part of the Grand Calumet
River/Indiana Harbor AOC.
Background
Indiana Harbor has long been used for industrial manufacturing and is considered by many to be one of the
most seriously polluted AOCs. This particular stretch of the coast was used by LTV Steel which discharged
waste oils and heavy metals into Lake Michigan. Historic pollution from numerous other sources have also
contributed to the degradation of this site. Sampling of the sediments has found contamination levels
greater than 50 ppm PCBs. The majority of the contamination is located within LTV's intake flume.
Administrative History
Actions were taken against LTV Steel for their violations of the Clean Water Act (CWA). The remediation
of the LTV site is now being performed under a 1991 CWA Consent Decree. The lead agency on the
remediation work is USEPA, Region 5.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 116,000yds3
Recovered 40,000 cubic gallons of oil
Project Status
This project has been completed. The contaminated sediment was excavated using a hydraulic dredge and
the oil was separated and recovered from the sediment.
Total Cost
The costs are estimated to be between $14-16 million for the project.
II Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Past and Current Sites - Michigan
Manistique River and Harbor
Contact
James Hahnenberg
USEPA Region 5, Superfund Division Telephone: (312) 3 53-4213
77 West Jackson Boulevard (SR-6J) Fax: (312) 886-4071
Chicago, IL 60604 Email: hahnenberg.james@epamail.epa.gov
Location
The site is located within the City of Manistique in Schoolcraft County, Michigan. Manistique is in the
Upper Peninsula of Michigan, at the point where the Manistique River drains into Lake Michigan. The
remediation site is along a 1.7 mile stretch and spans the entire width of the Manistique and is one of the
designated AOCs.
Background
Historically, the site received water from sawmills, a paper mill, industry and a municipal wastewater
treatment plant. Wastes such as paper, wood, chemicals, de-inking waste and oil from industrial users
were discharged into the area. Undecomposed sawdust and woodchips still remain in the sediments from
logging over a hundred years ago. The PRPs (Potentially Responsible Parties) involved with this site are
Manistique Paper, Inc., Edison Sault Electric and Warshawsky Brothers Iron and Metal.
The she has been monitored and evaluated by state and federal agencies since the 1970's. The principal
sediment contaminant identified by these agencies has been PCBs.
Administrative History
The Manistique site is being remediated under a Superfund Emergency Removal Action. USEPA deter-
mined it could not wait for remedial action by the companies involved because approximately 100 pounds
of PCBs were being washed into Lake Michigan through natural erosion processes annually. USEPA's
Decision of response was made within an Action Memorandum which approved dredging as the environ-
mentally preferable option.
In December 1996, USEPA and the PRPs entered into an Administrative Order of Consent. This legally
required the PRPs to commit financial resources for the project. The Order also included a covenant not to
sue for any further remedial costs for the dredged areas incurred in the future.
The final settlement agreement was signed between the PRPs and USEPA on April 21, 1997. This settle-
ment resolved the PRPs of liability in exchange for $6.4 million and other services, such as access to land
and material during the dredging.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 120,000yds3
Mass: 115,000 pounds
Highest PCB Concentration: 2,510ppm
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 12
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Past and Current Sites - Michigan
Project Status
The Manistique River and Harbor site is currently in the remedial process. The contaminated sediments are
being removed, primarily through the use of a hydraulic cutterhead dredge as well as some diver assisted
hydraulic dredging. The North Bay site (farthest up river from the harbor) was completed in 1996. All
sediment exceeding 10 ppm PCBs are being removed and taken off site for disposal. Non-TSCA materials
are take to Wood Island Landfill in Munising, Michigan. In 1996, TSCA materials were transported to
Idaho for disposal. Currently, TSCA materials are sent to Environmental Quality/Wayne Disposal in
Belleville, Michigan.
In 1996 alone, 2,116 tons of sediment and other waste were sent for disposal and 35 million gallons of river
water was treated. The second phase of removing contaminated sediments from the downstream area is
currently in progress. The harbor clean up will be the last phase of the project, and is scheduled for comple-
tion in 1998.
Total Cost
A price ceiling of $14,809,228 has been set by the Superfund Division of Region 5 USEPA.
13 Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Past and Current Sites - Michigan
River Raisin - Ford Outfall Site
Contact
Pablo Valentin
USEPA Region 5, Superfund Division Telephone: (312)353-5592
77 West Jackson Boulevard (SR-6J) Fax: (312)886-4071
Chicago, IL 60604 Email: valentin.pablo@epamail.epa.gov
Location
The River Raisin Area of Concern is located in the southeastern portion of Michigan's lower peninsula in
Monroe County. The AOC has been defined as the lower (2.6 miles) portion of the River Raisin, down-
stream from the low head dam (Dam #6) at Winchester Bridge in the City of Monroe, extending one-half
mile out into Lake Erie following the Federal Navigation Channel and along the nearshore zone of Lake
Erie, both north and south, for one mile.
The Ford Outfall site is located within the AOC. It is part of the industrial area of Monroe, Michigan on
property associated with the Ford Monroe Stamping Plant. The site is bordered along the north by wetlands
and Sterling State Park, the east by Lake Erie, the south by the River Raisin and the west by more wetlands.
Background
The Ford Monroe Plant began manufacturing automotive parts at the site in 1949. Until the 1970's all
wastewater from the plant was discharged through several outfalls directly into the River Raisin, which
empties into Lake Erie at Monroe Harbor. The majority of the wastewater was generated by cleaning,
painting and plating processes containing PCBs. After the early 1970's, the outfalls were closed and new
ones were constructed further downstream. The industrial waste from this site has contributed to a loss of
fish and wildlife habitat within the AOC.
Since 1973, the site has been investigated by either USEPA or the Michigan Department of Natural Re-
sources (MDNR, now the Michigan Department of Environment Quality -MDEQ). Several studies found
PCBs in the wastewater, as well as in fish in the river. In the 1970's and 1980's, PCBs were detected in the
river sediments in the 1-25 ppm range. However, another study conducted by Michigan State University in
1991 found PCB levels up to 42,167 ppm in the sediment near the outlet of a former Ford Motor Company
wastewater discharge pipe. This pipe is located on the north side of the River Raisin just downstream from
the turning basin. USEPA staff (at the request of MDNR) conducted additional sediment sampling in the
AOC in September of 1992. Through the use of U.S. EPA's research vessel, the R/V Mudpuppy, a number
of sediment core profile and grab samples were taken at, above and below the PCB hot spot area. EPA staff
also collected samples for PCB analysis on Ford's property. USEPA's study confirmed the results of the
study previously conducted by Michigan State.
Administrative History
This site is being remediated under a Superfund Emergency Removal Action. EPA selected a final remedy
plan in August 1996. This remediation included the following:
Dredging the contaminated sediment using a mechanical closed-bucket clamshell
dredge. All sediment of levels 10 ppm or greater will be removed.
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 14
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Past and Current Sites - Michigan
Containing sediment resuspension through the use of a double silt curtain.
Conducting follow up sampling of residual sediment to ensure the removal goals
are met.
Conducting follow up sampling of residual sediment to ensure the removal goals
are met.
Solidification/stabilization of contaminated sediment at a Toxic Substances
Control Act (TSCA) approved on-site disposal facility.
Sampling of the sewer system to determine PCB levels.
Remediating sewer materials from in-plant sewers.
Monitoring air quality for PCBs before and during the dredging process.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 27,000 yds3
Highest PCB Concentration: 49,000 ppm
Project Status
The in-plant sewer material was remediated with a combination of hydraulic, mechanical and pneumatic
methods during July 1996. The sediment remediation phase began in July 1997 and was completed in
October 1997. As previously mentioned, the sediment was removed by mechanical dredging, stabilized/
solidified, and then contained in an on-site TSCA certified facility.
Total Cost
The sediment remediation cost approximately $6,000,000.
15 Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Past and Current Sites- Michigan
Lower Rouge River - Double Eagle Steel
Contact
Mark Oemke
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Telephone: (517) 335-4206
Surface Water Quality Division Fax: (517) 373-9958
Knapps Building Email: oemkem@state.mi.us
300 S. Washington Square
Lansing, MI 48909-7773
Location
The oldest and most heavily populated and industrialized area in southeast Michigan is located within the
Rouge River Watershed. The Rouge River has four main branches totaling 125 miles of waterways prima-
rily flowing though Wayne and Oakland counties, with some headwaters in Washtenaw County. The Rouge
drains a 438 square mile area that includes more than 400 lakes and ponds, and more than 50 miles of park
land along its banks.
The entire Rouge River basin is designated as an AOC. It flows into another AOC, the Detroit River, which
eventually empties into Lake Erie. The Double Eagle Steel Coating Company is located in Dearborn,
Michigan on the Lower Rouge River.
Background
From Spring until August 1986, due to a design malfunction in the Double Eagle Steel Coating Company's
wastewater treatment plant, levels of zinc far in excess of the company's NPDES permit were discharged
into the Rouge River, including quantities of up to three tons per day. Sampling by the MDNR did not find
markedly high levels of zinc in the river sediments. However, MDNR later determined that stormy weather
caused scouring of the river bed and dispersed the zinc downstream.
Administrative History
The case was referred to the Michigan Attorney General's Office for enforcement action. A Consent De-
cree was signed in October 1986. By the terms of the Consent Decree, Double Eagle Steel agreed to
undertake a dredging program in the Rouge River to remove the excess zinc deposits.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 34,500yds3
Mass: 55,080 tons
Highest Zinc Concentration: 2,500 ppm
Project Status
Per the consent Decree, the sediment was removed from the company's outfall to approximately 200 yards
down river. This was done using mechanical dredging to a depth 0.3 meters and across 0.25 kilometers of
the Rouge River. The sediment was disposed of at the Army Corps of Engineers' Pointe Mouille Facility on
southwestern Lake Erie. The dredging was completed in October 1987. Post-monitoring of effluents have
showed no indication of renewed zinc discharge violations.
Total Cost
All dredging and disposal activities had totaled approximately $1,000,000 by the end of the project.
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 16
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Past and Current Sites - Michigan
Upper Rouge River - Evan's Products Ditch Site
Contact
Mark Oemke
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Telephone: (517) 335-4206
Surface Water Quality Division Fax: (517) 373-9958
Knapps Building Email: oemkem@state.mi.us
300 S. Washington Square
Lansing, MI 48909-7773
Location
The oldest and most heavily populated and industrialized area in southeast Michigan is located within the
Rouge River Watershed. The Rouge River has four main branches totaling 125 miles of waterways prima-
rily flowing though Wayne and Oakland counties, with some headwaters in Washtenaw County. The Rouge
drains a 438 square mile area that includes more than 400 lakes and ponds, and more than 50 miles of park
land along its banks.
The entire Rouge River basin is designated as one of the IJC's Areas of Concern. The Evan's Products
Ditch Site is slightly upstream of Newburgh Lake, which is located on the Middle Rouge River in the City
of Livonia, Michigan.
Background
In 1988, a routine fish collection from Newburgh Lake in the Upper Rouge River found PCB levels in the
fish tissue as high as 26 ppm. In 1992, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)
identified the PCB source as a storm water ditch located on the bankrupt Evan's Products Company prop-
erty. The current owners, Premier Realty, stopped the PCB discharge by pouring cement into the power
house pipes. By this time, however, there has been widespread contamination of the Rouge River and of the
sediments in Newburgh Lake, particularly in the western end.
Administrative History
Since the PRP involved had filed for bankruptcy, the burden of remediation fell to the state. The remediation
effort was led by MDEQ. This project was completed using State of Michigan Bond Funds.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 6,989.68yds3
Mass: 9,505.96 tons
Highest PCB Concentration: 22,000 ppm
Project Status
Remediation began in January 1997, under management of MDEQ. All of the contaminated sediments
were removed by April 7,1997. The 1,787.36 tons of TSCA level material was sent to Model City, NY for
disposal. The rest of the removed sediments (7,718.60 tons) were taken to a Type II landfill in Michigan.
The entire stormwater ditch was excavated to a depth of at least 3 feet and ditch banks were excavated up to
15 feet away from the original channel. Clean sediments were verified and excavations were covered with
3 feet of clean soils. The northern half of the waterway was also diverted to avoid any undetected PCBs in
the sediments. Completion of this project also paved the way for remediation to begin at Newburgh Lake.
17 Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Past and Current Sites - Michigan
Total Cost
MDEQ was responsible for obtaining funding for the remediation. The preliminary estimated cost for
remediating Evan's Products Ditch Site was $550,000.
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 18
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Past and Current Sites - Michigan
Newburgh Lake
Contact
Mark Oemke
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Telephone: (517) 335-4206
Surface Water Quality Division Fax: (517) 373-9958
Knapps Building Email: oemkem@state.mi.us
300 S. Washington Square
Lansing, MI 48909-7773
Location
Newburgh Lake is located on the Middle Rouge River in the City of Livonia, Michigan. The lake is approxi-
mately 100 acres and was used by Detroit residents for recreation and fishing. It is also a part of the Rouge
River basin AOC.
Background
The Rouge River Watershed is the oldest and most heavily populated and industrialized area in southeast
Michigan. Newburgh Lake was created in the 1930's as part of Henry Ford's "Village Industries" on the
Rouge River. Large amounts of PCBs were discovered in the lake sediments by MDEQ in 1988. These
PCBs were released from the Evan's Products Ditch Site, just upstream from Newburgh Lake. Due to the
elevated levels of PCBs in the sediments, the Michigan Department of Public Health has issued a fish
consumption advisory for Newburgh Lake.
Administrative History
Newburgh Lake's remediation is being coordinated by the Wayne County Department of Environment. It
is being remediated as part of the Rouge River Wet Weather Demonstration Project (RRWWDP), which
involves the implementation of a water quality model to predict pollutant source loadings on the watershed
level. The RRWWDP will take approximately 2 years and $ 10,000,000 to complete.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 400,000yds3
Mass: 544,000 tons
Highest PCB Concentration: 51 ppm
Project Status
In the spring of 1997, Environmental Consulting and Technology, Inc. conducted a fish kill to remove the
PCB contaminated fish. The remediation project is in the construction phase, which should last between 7
to 10 months. The sediment removal is expected be completed by May 15,1998. Approximately 700,000
yds3 of sediment are expected to be removed. The contaminated sediment totals 400,000 yds3. However, in
order to control overgrowth of aquatic plants, another 300,000 yds3 of sediment will be dredged to create a
minimum lake depth of eight feet. Following dredging, the contaminated sediment will be taken off site for
disposal. However, some excavated clean sediment will be used to re-nourish the shoal areas and an exist-
ing island. The final restoration work should be finished by July 15,1998.
Total Cost
The project was funded through the Rouge River National Wet Weather Demonstration Project. The costs
of the entire project are $10,000,000 for construction and $1,800,000 for engineering and management.
19 Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Past and Current Sites - Michigan
Willow Run Creek
Contact
Brett Wiseley
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Telephone: (517) 780-7934
301 East Louis Click Hwy Fax: (517) 780-7855
Jackson, Michigan 49201 Email: \viseleyb@state.mi.us
Location
The Willow Run Creek is located in Wayne County, Michigan. Willow Run Creek flows into the northwest
comer of Belleville Lake and discharges to Lake Erie via the Huron River. It is a natural wetland area
consisting of Willow Run Sludge Lagoon, Edison Pond and Tyler Pond.
Background
From 1942 to 1964, the Willow Run Sludge Lagoon, Edison Pond and Tyler Pond were contaminated with
PCB laden municipal wastewater treatment plant sludge and was also used a dump site for a bomber plant.
The main contaminates which have been identified are PCBs, but there are also heavy metals present in the
sediment. The PRPs that have taken responsibility for remediation are Ford Motor Company and General
Motors Corporation.
Administrative History
Action was taken by USEPA Region 5 under Superfund to initiate clean up of the site. However, the
remediation project is under the lead of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 350,000-400,000 yds3
Highest PCB Concentration: 15,000 ppm
Project Status
The remediation process is currently in the operations phase. The contaminated sediments are being re-
moved and being disposed of at a TSCA approved landfill on site. The landfill is located less than a mile
from the Wayne County landfill and received its final TSCA approval from USEPA Region 5 on June 19,
1997. The site will be restored as a natural wetland area after the remediation is completed. The project is
scheduled to finish during the Fall of 1997.
Concerns were raised regarding the release of PCB air emissions during the remediation process. A letter
was sent to the PRPs on July 15,1997, stating that unless practices to prevent the release of PCB contami-
nated dust were in place within 48 hours, operations would be ceased. However, the PRPs have taken steps
to remedy the situation. They are now using a foam suppression system to control air emissions from the
landfill.
Total Cost
The entire project cost estimate is approximately $70,000,000.
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 20
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Past and Current Sites - Michigan
Monguagon Creek
Contact
Roger Jones
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Telephone: (517) 373-4704
Surface Water Quality Division Fax: (517)373-9958
Knapps Building Email: jonesrjj@state.mi.us
300 S. Washington Square
Lansing, MI 48933
Location
Monguagon Creek is a tributary to the Detroit River, which is one of the most heavily polluted AOCs.
Monguagon Creek joins the Detroit River south of the cities of Detroit and Windsor in Riverview, Michi-
gan.
Background
Sediments in Monguagon Creek were contaminated by historical point and nonpoint source discharges
associated with steel and chemical manufacturing activities. Contaminates included polynuclear aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs), amines, phenols, PCBs, lead and zinc.
Administrative History
The cleanup was done under a December 1996 voluntary agreement between the Michigan Department of
Environmental Quality, Elf Atochem North America, Inc., Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. and Jones Chemi-
cals, Inc. The project was privately financed by the aforementioned companies.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 25,182yds3
Highest PCB Concentration: 3.2ppm
Project Status
The remediation project was completed on June 30, 1997.
Total Cost
The sediment remediation cost about $3,000,000.
21 Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Past and Current Sites - Michigan
Unnamed Tributary to Wolf Creek
Contact
Roger Jones
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Telephone: (517) 373-4704
Surface Water Quality Division Fax: (517)373-9958
Knapps Building Email: jonesrjj@state.mi.us
300 S. Washington Square
Lansing, MI 48933
Location
This unnamed tributary to Wolf Creek originates in Montcalm County just east of Edmore, Michigan.
Background
Prior to 1973, as verified by MDNR, a General Electric plant discharged mercury contaminated wastewater
to this watershed. The plant was sold to the Hitatchi Magnetics Corporation in the mid 1970's.
In 1984, MDNR classified sediments as heavily polluted with mercury for about one mile downstream of
the facility's outfall, and also reported high levels of cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, lead, zinc, and oil
and grease within 1,700 to 2,400 feet downstream of the outfall.
Administrative History
After negotiations between MDNR, Hitatchi and General Electric in 1986, General Electric agreed to pay
for the investigation and cleanup.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 13,000 yds3
Highest Mercury Concentration: l,960ppm
Project Status
Cleanup commenced in August 1986. Sediments contaminated with mercury at levels at or greater than 1
ppm were hydraulically dredged and disposed of at a Michigan licensed landfill. Verification testing indi-
cated mercury at levels at 1.0 to 1.4 ppm in the tributary.
PCB contamination was also encountered in association with mercury levels above 1 ppm. These sedi-
ments were dredged and disposed of at a Michigan licensed landfill if at less than 50 ppm or at an out of state
federally licenced TSCA disposal if at greater than 50 ppm. Verification testing indicated average PCB
concentrations at .13 ppm. The cleanup was completed in April 1987 and was overseen by MDNR.
While this cleanup is considered a success, sediments in this waterbody have again become contaminated
with mercury. Negotiations between the MDEQ and Hitatchi Magnetics Corporation are currently under-
way regarding the need to determine the extent of mercury contamination now present.
Total Cost
The 1986 sediment remediation effort cost $1,000,000.
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 22
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Past and Current Sites - Michigan
South Branch Shiawassee River - Cast Forge
Contact
Robert MacLeod
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Telephone: (517) 373-6808
Superfiind Section Fax: (517)335-4887
Knapps Building Email: macleodr@state.mi.us
300 S. Washington Square
Lansing, MI 48909-7926
Location
The Cast Forge site is located on the east bank of the South Branch of the Shiawassee River west of Howell,
Michigan in Livingston County. The Cast Forge plant is currently owned by Hayes Wheel International,
Inc.
Background
The Cast Forge Steel Company manufactured aluminum wheel rims at this plant. The company used oils
containing PCBs in their die-casting process from 1969 to 1972. From 1969 through 1976, wastewater and
sludges containing PCBs were discharged from on site lagoons to the Shiawassee River.
The PCB contamination problem was identified by the MDNR through surveys conducted in 1974 and
1977. Widespread PCB contamination of the river was found downstream from the plant. Analysis offish
populations downstream of the plant identified the presence of elevated PCB levels in their tissue. High
concentrations of PCBs were detected in river sediments from the plant site to approximately 10.5 miles
downstream of the plant. The highest concentrations of PCBs were within the first mile downstream. The
highest concentration of PCBs identified was 4,800 ppm.
Administrative History
In June 1981, a Consent Judgment was promulgated between Cast Forge Steel Company and the State of
Michigan. This judgment required the removal of contaminated sediment to reduce PCB contamination to
less than 10 ppm in sediments eight miles downstream of the Cast Forge plant. Cast Forge was required to
pay $750,000 to the state for cleanup of the river. However, these funds were exhausted after only 1.5 mile
of river sediment was remediated. Approximately 2,600 pounds of PCBs were removed in approximately
2,300 yds3 of river sediment, sand and gravel.
In 1981, Cast Forge sold the property to Kelsy-Hayes/Western Wheel, a manufacturer of aluminum wheel
rims for the automotive industry. The Kelsy-Hayes/Western Wheel has sold the operation to a subsidiary,
Hayes Wheel International Inc., which now occupies the plant.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 1,805 yds3 of river sediment and 500 yds3 of sand and gravel
Mass: 2,531 pounds of PCBs were removed
Highest PCB Concentration: 4,800 ppm
An unknown amount of contaminated sediments remain in the river.
23 Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Past and Current Sites - Michigan
Project Status
In September, 1983, the South Branch Shiawassee River was determined to be an uncontrolled hazardous
waste site and was put on the NPL list of Superfund sites. The MDEQ has acted as the lead agency in
managing the CERCLA Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS). The RI was completed in 1992
and the FS will be completed in 1997. A ROD is expected for the site in 1998.
Total Cost
The cooperative agreement total for the project from the RI/FS through the ROD is $ 1,302,405.
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 24
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Past and Current Sites - New York
Black and Bergholtz Creeks - Love Canal
Contact
Abul Barkat
NYSDEC Telephone: (716)851-7220
270 Michigan Avenue Fax: (716)851-7226
Buffalo, NY 14203-2999
Location
Love Canal is a 16-acre landfill in the southeast corner of the City of Niagara Falls, New York, about 0.3
mile north of the Niagara River.
Background
In the 1890's, a canal was excavated to provide hydroelectric power. However the project was not com-
pleted, and the canal was later used by Hooker Electrochemical for disposal of over 21,000 tons of various
chemical wastes, including dioxins. Dumping ceased in 1952, and in 1953 the disposal area was covered
and deeded to the Niagara Falls Board of Education. Extensive development occurred near the site, includ-
ing construction of an elementary school and numerous homes.
First reported at the site during the 1960s, problems with odors and residues increased in the 1970's as the
water table rose, bringing contaminated ground water to the surface. Studies indicated that numerous toxic
chemicals migrated into surrounding areas. Run-off from the Love Canal area drains into the Niagara River
at a point 2.8 miles upstream of the intake tunnels for Niagara Falls' water treatment plant, which served
about 77,000 people at the time. The river sediment had also become contaminated at the discharge point.
From 1983, investigations were conducted in order to assess the extent of the contamination in local water-
ways including: Black, Bergholtz and Cayuga Creeks, and the Niagara River 102nd Street delta.
Administrative History
Love Canal is a Superfund Site and on the National Priorities List (NPL). The PRP involved with the site is
Occidental Chemical Corporation (formerly known as Hooker Chemical and Plastics).
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 17,200yds3
Highest 2,3,7,8 TCDD Concentration: 45.8 ppb
Project Status
The sediment remediation was completed in 1990, after sediment was excavated from the Black and Bergholtz
Creeks and stored at Occidental Chemical's Buffalo Avenue Plant. Occidental will incinerate a portion of
the wastes and dispose of the rest at a RCRA landfill. No remedial action was found necessary in Cayuga
Creek and the 102nd Street delta has been remediated through a separate project (see 102nd Street
Embayment).
Total Cost
Between 1977 and 1980, New York State and the Federal government spent about $45 million at the site:
$30 million for relocation of residents and health testing, $11 million for environmental studies, and $4
25 Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Past and Current Sites - New York
million for a demonstration grant (under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act) to build a leachate
collection and treatment system.
Since 1979, the following remedial work has been completed: clay cap installed, perimeter leachate collec-
tion system and activated carbon treatment plant constructed, cap extended incorporating a synthetic mem-
brane, offsite sewers cleaned and Black and Bergholtz Creeks cleaned.
The sediment remediation of the Black and Bergholtz Creeks cost an estimated $14 million.
In accordance with settlement agreements reached with New York and the federal government, Occidental
paid the state $98 million and the federal government $129 million. Occidental also took over operation
and maintenance of the collection and treatment system.
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 26
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Past and Current Sites - New York
Gili Creek - DuPont Plant Site
Contact
Michael Hinton
NYSDEC Telephone: (716) 851 -7220
270 Michigan Avenue Fax: (716) 851 -7226
Buffalo, NY 14203-2999
Location
The DuPont facility is located on Buffalo Avenue in the City of Niagara Falls, New York. It consists of 50
acres and is separated from the Niagara River by the Robert Moses Parkway. The site is transected into two
halves by Gill Creek. Much of the site is built on filled land. Groundwater discharges into Gill Creek and
the Falls Street Tunnel.
Background
DuPont's plant has been used for chemical manufacturing since 1898. Chemicals disposed of on the site
include: chloroform, methylene chloride, trichloroethylene, PCBs, and other organic and inorganic com-
pounds.
During the Niagara River Toxics Investigation, the United States Geological Service (USGS) drilled six
monitoring wells along the Robert Moses Parkway in 1982. Well samples indicated high levels of chlori-
nated organics in the groundwater. This groundwater had also migrated into Gill Creek, causing sediment
contamination.
Administrative History
Gill Creek was partially remediated in 1982 under a State Consent Order, however, contamination from
both the DuPont and Olin facilities still remained. The DuPont site ROD was issued in 1989.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 8,020yds3
Highest PCB Concentration: ll,000ppm
Project Status
The Gill Creek remediation project was a joint effort with Olin Corporation. The dredged material was
disposed off site at a commercial disposal facility. It was completed in December 1992 and the creek has
been restored. Annual monitoring of creek sediments is performed by DuPont and Olin.
Total Cost
DuPont has spent $40,000,000 for total site remediation. The Gill Creek remediation cost an estimated
$ 10,000,000, with a portion of that cost shared by Olin Corporation.
27 Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Past and Current Sites - New York
Gill Creek- Olin Industrial Welding Site
Contact
Abul Barkat
NYSDEC Telephone: (716)851-7220
270 Michigan-Avenue Fax: (716)851-7226
Buffalo, NY 14203-2999
Location
The site is located on Packard Road near 30* Street in the City of Niagara Falls, New York. The site is about
VA mile north of the Niagara River.
Background
This site facility was used by the High Energy Fuel Division of Olin during the 1940's and early 1950's to
operate a research laboratory and pilot process plant. It is a low lying area which has been filled with brine
sludge (containing mercury), industrial scrap, fly-ash and possibly waste transformer oil containing PCBs.
The buildings on the site have all been demolished. Contamination has been found in the groundwater, the
soil and the sediments of Gill Creek.
Administrative History
Under a State Consent Order, a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study was completed in December
1993. In November 1994, a ROD was signed as was an order to dredge the creek's contaminated sediments.
The RI reported low levels of mercury, hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) and PAHs in the sediments of Gill
Creek.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 7,500yds3 (estimate)
Highest Mercury Concentration: 11 ppm
Project Status
This project is in the remedial design stage. The dredged material will be landfilled on site. Remediation
work is expected to be done during the summer or fall of 1998.
Total Cost
Estimated sediment remediation cost for this section of Gill Creek is $1.4 million.
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 28
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Past and Current Sites - New York
Bloody Run Creek - Hvdc Park Landfill
Contact
Gerald Pietraszek
NYSDEC Telephone: (716)851-7220
270 Michigan Avenue Fax: (716)851-7226
Buffalo, NY 14203-2999
Location
The Hyde Park Landfill is a 15 acre site located less than 1/2 mile from the Niagara River in northwestern
Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York. The site is a few blocks east of a 500 home residential commu-
nity. The drainage from the landfill formerly flowed through Bloody Run Creek, which flows north along
the perimeter of a portion of the residential community and discharges into the Niagara River gorge.
Background
The landfill is owned by Occidental Chemical Corporation (formerly Hooker Chemical and Plastics). Ap-
proximately 80,000 tons of hazardous materials were dumped at the site from 1953 to 1974. These materi-
als included: 2,4,5 - trichlorophenol (TCP), dioxins and chlorinated organic wastes. Early investigations of
Bloody Run Creek indicated that the creek had high levels of organic chemicals, requiring the installation of
a clay cap and shallow leachate collection system around the landfill area in 1979. Since that time, addi-
tional work has been completed including a deeper leachate collection system around the existing landfill.
Monitoring data showed that surface water and ground water along Bloody Run Creek had been contami-
nated by wastes leaching from this landfill. Dioxin was found in the sediment taken from Bloody Run
Creek.
Administrative History
This site is on the NPL and governed by a pre-CERCLA settlement agreement. On January 19, 1981, the
Federal and State Governments and Occidental Chemical Corporation signed a Consent Decree. This agree-
ment, which became effective on July 1, 1982, specified the process by which OCC would remedy the
problems at the site, maintain these remedies, and ensure that they remain effective. The agreement also
required a 35 year minimum period of remedial maintenance from the date of judgment. Remediation work
began after the Agreement on a Requisite Remedial Technology (RRT) was approved in 1986. Numerous
mitigation activities have been completed on the site under the agreement, including the excavation of
Bloody Run Creek sediments.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 27,000yds3
Highest 2,3,7,8-TCDD Concentration: 3.5 ppb
Project Status
Sediment remediation on Bloody Run Creek began in October 1992 was completed in March 1993.
Total Cost
As of May 1997, the entire remediation project (including well installation, a landfill cap, leachate treat-
ment/storage facilities and sediment remediation) has cost $58,000,000. Of this total, the federal govern-
ment provided $11,000,000 and the PRP financed the remainder. It is also estimated that operation and
maintenance expenditures for the PRP will be about $2,000,000/year for the next 30 years.
29 Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Past and Current Sites - New York
Pettit Flume - Durez-Occidental
Contact
John Hyden
NYSDEC Telephone: (716)851-7220
270 Michigan Avenue Fax: (716)851-7226
Buffalo, NY 14203-2999
Location
This plant site is owned by Occident Chemical Corporation (formerly Hooker Chemical and Plastics). It is
on Walck Road in the City of North Tonawanda, Niagara County, New York. The area borders residential
and light commercial properties on three sides. The fourth side is adjacent to another manufacturing com-
pany. The manufacturing site is no longer active. Storm sewers from the plant site drain to the Pettit Flume,
which discharges to the Niagara River.
Background
The chemical plant located here disposed of its wastes on site, including phenol tar and phenol bearing
material. Contaminants from the site migrated via the storm sewer system and contaminated sediments at
the Pettit Flume outfall area.
Administrative History
This site was remediated under a State Consent Order. The selected remedy included containment of the
plant site, cleaning of the storm sewers and contaminated sediment excavation from the storm sewer outfall
area. These sediments were sent to Occidental's Niagara Falls plant for storage pending final disposal.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 15,070yds3
Highest 2,3,7,8 TCDD Concentration: 15ppb
Project Status
The remediation project began in 1989 and was completed in 1995. In the Pettit Storm Sewer Outfall area,
the contaminated sediments were dredged. By April 1996, final site restoration was completed.
Total Cost
The entire project cost approximately $23,000,000.
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 30
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Past and Current Sites - New York
Union Road
Contact
David Locey
NYSDEC Telephone: (716)851-7220
270 Michigan Avenue Fax: (716) 851 -7226
Buffalo, NY 14203-2999
Location
The site is located on Losson Road in the City of Cheektowaga, Erie County, New York.
Background
Prior to 1955, the area was used as a railroad maintenance and classification yard by the New York Central
Railroad. Coal ash, grease and oil from locomotive and rail car maintenance were frequently dumped into
a marshy pit on site. The existence of the pit was not brought to the attention of state and county environ-
mental agencies until the early 1980's, when it was discovered that some of the wastes had migrated into
nearby Deer Lik and Slate Bottom Creeks. Tar samples taken from the pit indicated a leachable lead
concentration of 13 0 ppm.
Administrative History
The remediation project is under State Superfund authority, which completed the RI/FS in the summer of
1991. A ROD was signed in March of 1992. The ROD required the following: waste containment with a
subsurface barrier and cap, extraction and groundwater treatment, excavation of soils and sediments in
select areas and covering these select areas with clean fill and vegetation.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 5,600yds3
Highest Lead Concentration: 84,900 ppm
Project Status
The remediation project was completed in 1996.
Total Cost
The remediation work for the entire site cost about $8,000,000.
31 Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Past and Current Sites - New York
Frontier Chemical - Pendleton
Contact
Abul Barkat
NYSDEC Telephone: (716)851-7220
270 Michigan Avenue Fax: (716)851-7226
Buffalo, NY 14203-2999
Location
The Frontier Chemical site consists of approximately 70 acres of land adjacent to Bull Creek, which is about
4.25 miles from the Niagara River. This site is located in the town of Pendleton on Townline Road, New
York.
Background
From 1958 to 1974, Frontier Chemical Waste Process, Inc. used this facility to treat and dispose of chemical
wastes. While in operation, the site processed various wastes including solvents, oils, acids, dyes, paint
wastes and heavy metal sludges. Quarry Lake, located on the site, was used to store discharges from these
operations. Barrels containing wastes were buried underground on the site. In 1984 and 1985, over 50
barrels containing pyridine were excavated.
Administrative History
Although Consent Orders were issued in 1984,1985 and 1988, to remediate Quarry Lake, Frontier did not
comply with these orders. Therefore, the New York State Department of Environmental Quality (NYSDEC)
proceeded with the clean up under State Superfund.
The RI/FS study was completed in 1991 and determined that the bottom of Quarry Lake was contaminated
with heavy metals. The remedy selected included dredging of lake sediments, containment of the process
area, groundwater collections and treatment, and control of run- off. Since Frontier Chemical was no longer
a viable firm, companies which shipped wastes to the site including Olin, Dow and Allied Signal were
identified by the state as PRPs. The ROD was issued in March 1992 and a Consent Order requiring comple-
tion of site remediation was signed with the PRPs.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 56,000yds3
Highest Chromium Concentration: 1,100 ppm
Highest Cadmium Concentration: 87 ppm
Project Status
Project was completed in 1996 and long term monitoring has begun.
Total Cost
The total cost of the site remediation project including 30 year operation and maintenance estimates is
approximately $18,770,000.
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 32
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Past and Current Sites - New York
102nd Street Embavment
Contact
Abul Barkat
NYSDEC Telephone: (716)851-7220
270 Michigan Avenue Fax: (716) 851 -7226
Buffalo, NY 14203-2999
Location
This site is located along the Niagara River banks within the eastern section of the City of Niagara Falls,
New York.
Background
The 102nd Street site was used as a landfill from 1943 to 1971 for approximately 159,000 tons of wastes.
These wastes included phosphates, HCHs, chemical and demolition wastes, and fly ash. It is owned jointly
by Olin Chemical Corporation and Occidental Chemical Corporation.
Administrative History
The site is listed on the National Priorities List. It is administered as a joint EPA/NYSDEC lead Superfund
site. In September of 1990, a ROD was issued. The ROD encompassed containment of the landfill includ-
ing: slurry wall construction, capping, removal of contaminated sediments, removal of off site contami-
nated soil, storm sewer re-routing, and long term monitoring. In 1991, USEPA issued an Administrative
Order for the PRPs to begin implementing the clean up.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 28,500yds3
Highest HCHs Concentration: 867 ppm
Highest 2,3,7,8 TCDD Concentration: 3.3 ppb
Current Status
Sediment removal was completed in 1996. Landfill construction for sediment disposal is currently under-
way. Monitoring has not indicated any bioaccumulation of site chemicals in the Niagara River fish. How-
ever, a state Department of Health fish advisory is in effect for sport fish in the Upper Niagara River, due to
elevated levels of PCBs found in the fish tissue. Remediation work is expected to finish in 1998. Operation
and maintenance systems will be in place for the ensuing 30 years.
Total Cost
The entire remediation project as specified in the ROD is expected to cost approximately $30,000,000.
33 Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Past and Current Sites - New York
Buffalo Color - Area D
Contact.
Gerald Pietraszek
NYSDEC Telephone: (716)851-7220
270 Michigan Avenue Fax: (716) 851-7226
Buffalo, NY 14203-2999
Location -
Area D of the Buffalo Color Plant is in the City of Buffalo, New York. The site is bounded on three sides by
the Buffalo River, approximately four miles upstream from the confluence of the Buffalo and Niagara
Rivers.
Background
Area D was used for chemical manufacturing, handling and disposal from 1905 to 1974. It was originally
owned and operated by Contact Process Company and National Aniline Chemical Company. In 1920, these
companies merged into Allied Chemical and Dye Corporation (now Allied Signal). Buffalo Color Corpora-
tion purchased the site in 1977 and it has remained idle since. Remedial investigations of the site have
found evidence of PAHs, chlorinated benzenes and heavy metals in the site fill layer. Volatile organics,
chlorinated benzenes, heavy metals and non-aqueous phase liquid have been found in the groundwater.
The main contamination of the Buffalo River and its sediments has occurred by a migration of shallow
ground water and erosion of the shoreline.
Administrative History
This is a NYSDEC lead site. A Consent Agreement was signed in April 1982 to undertake field investiga-
tions. Buffalo Color and Allied Signal completed the Remedial Investigation in 1989. A ROD was signed
in November 1991, outlining the following actions:
The shoreline will be protected and adjacent river sediments will be dredged.
Installation of a soil bentonite slurry wall around the entire perimeter of the site.
Collection and treatment of shallow groundwater from within the site.
Installation of a flexible membrane liner covered with soils and vegetated.
Creation of a wetlands area to promote aquatic and other wildlife in the area.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 35,000 yds3 (estimate)
Highest PAH Concentration: 360 ppm
Highest Chromium Concentration: 1,990 ppm
Project Status
Remediation work began in July 1996, and is expected to finish by the end of 1998.
Total Cost
The entire remediation project is expected to cost $8,000,000, which is being borne by the PRPs. The state
will also expend about $200,000 on the project
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 34
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Past and Current Sites - New York
Niagara Mohawk-Cherry Farm / River Road Sites
Contact
Michael Hinton
NYSDEC Telephone: (716)851-7220
270 Michigan Avenue Fax: (716)851-7226
Buffalo, NY 14203-2999
Location
This site is located in Erie County within the Town of Tonawanda, New York. It is a 80 acre area between
River Road and the Niagara River.
Background
The Cherry Farm and River Road sites were used for the disposal of waste from steel manufacturing from
1908 to 1963, and were operated as a disposal landfill for industrial waste from facilities in the area from
1963 to 1970. Flyash, foundry sand, sludge, liquid boiler cleaning wastes, concrete rubble and other fill
were disposed on these sites.
Administrative History
Under the State Superfund process, a Consent Order was signed by a PRP group in April 1988. The RI/FS
was completed and a ROD was issued for the site by NYSDEC in February 1991. After further testing, the
ROD was amended in 1993. A ROD for the River Road site was signed in March, 1994. A joint Consent
Order was signed on September 27, 1994 to design and implement a remedial program for these sites. In
1996, the project was expanded to included the removal of contaminated sediments.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 48,000 yds3 (estimate)
Highest PAH Concentration: l,500ppm
Project Status
Remediation work is currently underway. The project is expected to be finished by December 1998.
Total Cost
The project cost estimate is about $8,000,000 for the remediation land based work on the Cherry Farm/
River Road sites. The removal costs for the contaminated sediments from the Niagara River is approxi-
mately $4,000,000.
35 Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Pctst and Current Sites - New York
Niagara Transformer
Contact
David Locey
NYSDEC Telephone: (716)851-7220
270 Michigan Avenue - Fax: (716)851-7226
Buffalo, NY 14203-2999
Location.
The site is located at 1747 Dale Road in the City of Cheektowaga, Erie County, New York. The drainage
ditches at the site flow into the Sloan Sewer Drain. This drain emerges to the surface and travels through a
residential district before it eventually discharges into the Buffalo River.
Background
Owned and operated by the Niagara Transformer Corporation, this site houses a facility that manufactures
electrical transformers. From 1958 until the late 1970's, transformer oil wastes containing PCBs were
discharged on site, in order to control dust in the parking lot and kill weeds.
In April of 1990, an oily leachate in one of Niagara Transformer's drainage ditches was found to contain
approximately 80,000 ppm PCBs. High levels of PCBs were also detected in the sediments downstream in
the drainage system. In the residential area, stream sediments were found to have PCB contamination in the
range of 1-30 ppm.
Administrative History
Under the State Superfund process, Niagara Transformer agreed to complete a RI/FS. The RI Report found
that PCB contamination had migrated into the perimeter drainage ditch. Elevated PCB levels were also
discovered in the surface soil on a cemetery adjacent to the site. On December 30,1993, a ROD was signed
which called for excavation and off-site disposal of the drainage ditch sediments.
Amonnt of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 11,500yds3
Highest PCB Concentration: 3,200 ppm
Project Status
Remediation efforts are essentially complete. The project is expected to be finished by December 1997.
Total Cost
The total remediation project cost approximately $5,600,000.
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 36
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Past and Current Sites - New York
Creekside Golf Course
Contact
John Hyden
NYSDEC Telephone: (716)851-7220
270 Michigan Avenue Fax: (716)851-7226
Buffalo, NY 14203-2999
Location
The Creekside Golf Course (now the Evergreen Golf Course) is located in the Town of Amherst, Erie
County, New York. The hazardous waste site is along the northern edge of the former golf course's third
hole and adjacent to Tonawanda Creek.
Background
The developer of the golf course was additionally an owner of a scrap business. The scrap business often
hauled waste for local facilities, including the Occidental Durez Plant in North Tonawanda. During the
early 1950's, numerous drums of waste from the Durez Plant were used as a stream erosion control mea-
sure. Occidental was not aware of this activity and no accurate records were kept of the number of barrels
used at the golf course. Deterioration of the drums over time resulted in the contamination of Tonawanda
Creek bank soils and bottom sediments.
Administrative History
NYSDEC began to investigate the site in 1982 and again in 1985. After sampling the creek sediments, the
surface barrels were removed in 1985. NYSDEC and Occidental both conducted several more investiga-
tions of the site from 1986 until 1990. In August of 1992, under the State Superfund process, a Consent
Order was signed between the State and Occidental Chemical Corporation to implement the ROD issued by
the State in 1991.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 1,300yds3
Highest 2,3,7,8-TCDD Concentration: 0.33 ppb
Highest Phenol Concentration: lOppm
Current Status
Remediation work on the site was completed in 1993. A total of 631 drums were removed from the creek
bank and bottom. Only 5% of these drums were found to be wholly intact. Approximately 1,300 yds3 of
contaminated sediments were also excavated from the creek bottom. All wastes were disposed of at a
treatment, storage and disposal facility (TSDF) in Model City, New York.
Total Cost
The Creekside Golf Course sediment remediation project cost approximately $4,500,000.
37 Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Past and Current Sites - New York
Columbus McKinnon
Contact
AbulBarkat
NYSDEC Telephone: (716)851-7220
270 Michigan Avenue Fax: (716) 851-7226
Buffalo, NY 14203-2999
Location
The Columbus McKinnon Corporation's facility is located at One Fremont Street in the City of Tonawanda,
New York. The facility is adjacent to Ellicott Creek.
Background
Prior to 1984, Columbus McKinnon used this facility for manufacturing a variety of chain products. Since
that time, site has been used for forging, metal production, heat treatment operation and storage of metal
products. In the past, PCBs were released on the site which contaminated site soils and sediments in nearby
Ellicott Creek.
Administrative History
This site was listed by NYSDEC on the New York State Registry of Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal
Sites and it was found to present a significant threat to public health and the environment. Under the State
Superfund process, Columbus McKinnon entered into an Order on Consent with the NYSDEC to conduct a
RI/FS in October of 1989. The RI was completed in June of 1991 and the FS was finished in April 1992.
NYSDEC signed a ROD on October 30,1992, which outlined the final remediation plan.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments:
Volume: 2,349yds3
Highest PCB Concentration: 87ppm
Current Status
The remediation work was completed in 1995. Contaminated sediments were excavated from Ellicott
Creek using a horizontal augerhead hydraulic dredge and disposed of in an off site TSCA/RCRA approved
landfill in New York.
Total Cost
The entire remediation project for this site cost $5,250,000.
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 38
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Past and Current Sites - New York
St. Lawrence River - ALCOA Site
Contact
Anne Kelly
USEPA Region 2 Telephone: (212) 637-4264
290 Broadway Fax: (212)637-3966
New York, NY 10007-1866 Email: kelly. anne@epamail. epa.gov
Location
The Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA) facility is located on 2,800 acres of land within the Town
of Massena. The facility is adjacent to the St. Lawrence River to the north, the Town of Massena and a
power canal to the west, and the Grasse River to the South. This site is part of the Massena AOC.
Background
ALCOA has used this site since 1903 for the production of aluminum. From the late 1950's until the early
1970's PCBs were used in the facility's hydraulic fluids and electrical equipment. The smelting process
also created a waste by-product, spent potliner, which is a listed hazardous waste. Consequently, waste
PCBs, potliner, and other hazardous wastes were generated and disposed of at the site.
Administrative History
USEPA issued an Administrative Order under Superfund in 1989 to ALCOA for study and remediation of
the St. Lawrence River and the Grasse River sediment. ALCOA is'responsible for 8.5 miles of the Grasse
River before it joins the St. Lawrence River.
Although this site is not on the National Priorities list, USEPA is responsible for the cleanup of the Grasse
River portion of the contamination. NYSDEC is the lead agency on the soil remediation. ALCOA began
sediment remediation in 1995. At that time, they excavated approximately 3,500 yds3 of sediment from a
hotspot on the Grasse River near their facility during a demonstration project. However, there is still an
unknown amount of contaminated sediment left in the river.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume Dredged: 3,500 yds3 removed
Volume Remaining: Unknown
Highest PCB Concentration: 72 ppm
Current Status
The site is still in the Analysis of Alternatives stage. Current studies are investigating the feasibility of
dredging approximately 8.5 miles of the Grasse River.
Total Cost
The 1995 Grasse River remediation effort cost $4,800,000. No estimate for the future remediation work is
available at this time.
39 Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Past and Current Sites - New York
St. Lawrence River - General Motors Site
Contact
Anne-Kelly
USEPA Region 2 Telephone: (212)637-4264
290 Broadway Fax: (212)637-3966
New York, NY 10007-1866 Email: kelly.anne@epamail.epa.gov
Location
The General Motors (Central Foundry Division) Site is a 165-acre aluminum casting facility on the St.
Lawrence River, in Massena, St. Lawrence County, New York. It is part of the Massena AOC. The site is
near the St. Lawrence River, Raquette River and the St. Regis Mohawk Nation at Akwaesasne.
Background
The site contains two areas that have received an estimated 30,000 yds3 of PCB- contaminated sludges
generated from hydraulic oil used in the plant's machinery from 1959 until 1973. Several areas on the
property are contaminated, including the industrial landfill and east disposal site. Analyses during the RI
indicate that ground water and surface water are contaminated on the site. PCB contamination has been
detected in the sediments of both the Raquette and St. Lawrence Rivers and a cove attached to the Mohawk
reservation.
Administrative History
This project is administered under Super-fund and is on the National Priorities List. USEPA issued a ROD
in 1990 requiring a $78 million clean up of the site, except for 2 areas which were covered in a second 1992
ROD. These RODs outlined remediation activities including a combination of excavation, sediment re-
moval and treatment to remove chemicals such as PCBs.
In 1995, GM dredged 13,800 yds3 of sediments from the St. Lawrence River. The dredging goal was to
restore the sediments to 1 ppm PCBs, however this goals were not met. An average of 3 ppm PCBs still
remain in the river sediments, with one sample measuring 6,000 ppm PCBs. Hot spots remaining in the
dredged area were capped.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume Dredged: 13,800 yds3 dredged in 1995
Volume Remaining: Unknown
Highest PCB Concentration: 6,000 ppm (in the sediment still remaining after the 1995
dredge)
Project Status
The project is awaiting ROD amendment regarding the disposal of the 1995 dredged sediments. Currently,
the dredged materials are stockpiled on site. Further remediation of the site is also on hold until the final
ROD Decision. Dredging of sediments in the cove adjacent to the Akwaesasne lands and the Raquette
River still remains to be done.
Total Cost
The 1995 dredging cost approximately $7,000,000. The total estimated cost for the entire project is
$78,000,000.
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 40
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Past and Current Sites - Ohio
Black River - USX/Kobe Steel Company
Contact
Philip Gehring
USEPA Region 5, Cleveland Office
25089 Center Ridge Road (ME-W)
Westlake, OH 44145
Telephone: (216)522-7260
Fax: (216)522-2295
Email: gehring.philip@epamail.epa.gov
Location
The USX/Kobe Steel Company (formerly USS Lorain) is located in Lorain, Ohio on the banks of the Black
River, an IJC Area of Concern. Discharges from this facility have contributed to the degradation of the
Black River.
Background
Sampling conducting during the 1970's and 1980's by USEPA and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
(OEPA) indicated significant sediment contamination. The river was identified as having the high concen-
trations of steelmaking coke plant wastes commonly referred to as polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAHs). PAHs are of concern because they have been shown to produce tumors and lesions in benthic fish
populations. Sediment sampling took place on the river and high concentrations of PAHs were found at
levels as high as 390 ppm. Cadmium was also found at levels exceeding 30 ppm and studies found tumors
in Black River fish.
Administrative History
In January 1979, a civil action was brought against USS by the USEPA. The action claimed that USS was
in violation of the terms of its NPDES permit issued pursuant to the CWA. Negotiations were entered into
and led to a Consent Decree issued in June 1980.
By the terms of this Consent Decree, USS agreed to pay a $4 million penalty. Of this amount, $1.5 million
was to be spent on a dust suppression program at the facility. Because of operation closures at the Lorain
Plant, USS did not spend $1.5 million on dust suppression.
In order to resolve the outstanding $1.5 million expenditure, USS and the USEPA entered into negotiations
which resulted in the 1985 agreement which required USS to remove and dispose of 50,000 yds3 of sedi-
ments from the Black River.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 50,000yds3
Highest PAH Concentration: 390 ppm
Project Status
The remediation is completed. Dredging of the river was initiated in the fall of 1989. But due to delays
from bad weather conditions and mechanical failures, the project fell behind schedule. Over 50,000 yds3 of
sediments along a 0.8 river mile stretch were finally removed during the summer and fall of 1990. The
contaminated sediment was removed and placed in an on site TSCA certified landfill.
Total Cost
The sediment remediation project cost $1,500,000 and was funded entirely by the PRP.
41 Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Past card Current Sites - Ohio
Ottawa River Tributary
Contact
Marc Tuchman
USEPA Region 5, GLNPO
77 West Jackson Boulevard G-l 7J
Chicago, IL 60604
Telephone: (312)353-1369
Fax: (312)353-2018
Email: tuchman. marc@epamail. epa.gov
Location
The Ottawa River Tributary flows north to the Ottawa River in the city of Toledo. The tributary is located
upstream near the Stickney Avenue and Dura Landfills and is across the river from the Tyler Street Landfill.
The GenCorp facility was sited approximately 1,000 feet to the east of the tributary.
Background
GenCorp utilized this 40 acre site for manufacturing plastic coated fabrics such as vinyl upholstery. From
1967 to 1972, PCB-containing oil was used in their manufacturing process as an internal heat exchange
fluid. The property was sold to Textileather Corp. in 1990.
Administrative History
A Consent Agreement was signed between GenCorp and OEPA in March of 1992, which called for only
land based remediation. However, further studies in 19S8 and 1994 indicated elevated PCB levels in the
tributary sediments. GenCorp agreed to conduct further remediation studies of the sediments, although it
was not the only PRP involved. This site is now being remediated under a voluntary partnership with
GenCorp, Ohio EPA, the City of Toledo and GLNPO.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 10,000yds3
Highest PCB level found: 74,000 ppm
Project Status
A remedial options evaluation report was completed in June, 1997. Remediation began in January, 1998
and project completion is slated for June, 1998.
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 42
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Past and Current Sites - Wisconsin
Menominee River - Ansul Fire and Protection Site
Contact
Robert Smith
USEPA Region 5, RCRA
77 West Jackson Boulevard (DRE-8J)
Chicago, IL 60604
Telephone:
Fax:
Email:
(312)886-7568
(312)353-4788
smith.robert@epamail.epa.gov
Location
The Menominee River AOC is centered in the lower end of the river where it enters the waters of Green
Bay, approximately 50 miles north of the city of Green Bay, Wisconsin. It includes the lower three miles of
the river from the Upper Scott Paper Company dam to the river's mouth and approximately three miles
north and south of the mouth along the adjacent shoreline of Green Bay. It also includes Green Island, which
is located in Wisconsin waters approximately five miles southeast of the river mouth. The Menominee
River forms the boundary between the northeast comer of Wisconsin and the southern tip of the Upper
Peninsula of Michigan. The twin cities of Marinette, Wisconsin and Menominee, Michigan are adjacent to
the AOC.
The Ansul facility is located at One Staton Street, Marinette, Marinette County, Wisconsin. Marinette
County in the northeastern part of the state, adjacent to the Menominee River. The river empties into Green
Bay approximately 1.2 miles downstream of the Ansul site.
Background
Pollutants such as mercury, PCBs, oil and grease, etc., have also resulted in impaired beneficial uses in the
Menominee River AOC. However, one of the primary reasons the Menominee River is classified as an
AOC is because of the arsenic contamination in the turning basin and in sediments along the right bank of
the river below the Ansul Fire Protection Company, which is located on the Wisconsin side of the river.
Since 1934, the Ansul facility has been the site of fire suppressant products manufacturing. From 1957-
1977, Ansul also produced agricultural herbicides. Manufacturing of these herbicides produced a salt by-
product that was 2% arsenic by weight and stored in uncovered, unlined waste piles. These salt piles were
covered in 1973. By 1977, approximately 95,000 tons of arsenic salt were stored in three locations at the
Ansul plant: the salt vault, Building 59 and the dock waste pile.
WDNR became involved with the situation in 1971. In 1973, they issued a Consent Decree requiring Ansul
to monitor arsenic discharges into the Menominee River and the soil and ground water conditions. Also,
WDNR required Ansul to implement a long term plan for handling and disposing of newly generated ar-
senic salt piles.
Administrative History
The Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Consent Agreement between Ansul Fire
Protection Company, the State of Wisconsin and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) was
initiated in 1990. During the following seven years, Ansul was evaluating old monitoring wells in prepara-
tion for the agreement. A total of 15 damaged monitoring wells were closed. On July 1, 1997, USEPA
ordered Ansul to remove as much as 15,000 yards of contaminated sediment from a boat slip located adja-
cent to its facility. The sediment contained levels as high as 22,000 ppm arsenic.
43
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Past and Current Sites - Wisconsin
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Within the Ansul facility, there are four areas which have been identified for sediment remediation. Each
has different arsenic concentrations and in general, the higher concentrations were found near the shore.
Sixth Street Slip: Highest level found was 188 ppm
Menominee River: Highest level found was 115 ppm
Turning Basin: Highest level found was 18,200 ppm and the average concentration was
150 ppm
Eighth Street Slip: Concentration range was between 2,400 and 22,000 ppm
Total Volume: 10,000yds3
Project Status
USEPA ordered Ansul to remove 10,000 yds3 of sediment on July 1,1997. The manner in which Ansul was
to remove the sediment is to be proposed by Ansul and approved by USEPA. Ansul has seven months from
July 1,1997 to remove the sediment from the Eighth Street Slip.
Total Cost
USEPA has estimated the remediation cost to be approximately $1,500,000.
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 44
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Past and Current Sites -Wisconsin
Newton Creek/Hog Island Inlet
Contact
Kim Walz
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707
Telephone:
Fax:
E-mail:
(608) 264-9220
(608) 267-2800
walzk@dnr.state. \vi. us
Location
The Newton Creek System includes the Newton Creek Impoundment, Newton Creek, Hog Island Inlet, and
Superior Bay at the inlet mouth. The Newton Creek system is located on the Superior Plain within the City
of Superior, Wisconsin, and discharges into Lake Superior. This system is one of five areas identified
within the St. Louis River AOC as having elevated levels of contaminants in the sediment. The Murphy
Oil, USA site is located at the headwaters of Newton Creek.
Background
Murphy Oil, USA, an oil refinery, used the Newton Creek Impoundment to discharge its treated wastewater
which is covered under a Wisconsin Pollution Discharge Elimination System (PDES) permit. The im-
poundment has a water control structure to contain any petroleum spills which may have discharged into the
impoundment. Over a period of many years, contaminated sediment accumulated in the impoundment;
with possible impact further downstream. Newton Creek has also been impacted by a former municipal
CSO. An additional source is known to have impacted the Hog Island Inlet.
Sampling completed by WDNR found high elevated levels of PAHs, oil and grease, a variety of metals
(including antimony, arsenic, copper, lead, nickel, selenium, and zinc) and Diesel Range Organics (DRO).
High concentrations exceeding 80 ppm PAHs and 10,000 ppm DRO were found in the Newton Creek
Impoundment. The sediment of Newton Creek impoundment typically contained between 10 to 20 ppm
PAHs. Hog Island Inlet exhibited much lower levels averaging between 5 to 9 ppm PAHs.
Administrative History
The WDNR investigated the Newton Creek System over a two year period, 1993 and 1994, to determine the
extent of contamination in the system. Information from these studies was used to negotiate a clean up with
Murphy Oil, USA. This remediation project is a result of a negotiated Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) between the WDNR and Murphy Oil, USA regarding clean up of the Newton Creek Impoundment
and 780 feet of Newton Creek immediately downstream of the impoundment. The MOU was signed in
April of 1996 and the remediation began in August 1997. Additional clean up of the remainder of Newton
Creek and Hog Island Inlet will be addressed in the near future.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume in Newton Creek Impoundment: 2,400 yds3
Volume in Newton Creek: 1,850-3,150 yds3
Highest PAH Concentration: 80 ppm
Project Status
Murphy Oil, USA has agreed to remove contaminated sediment from the impoundment and the first 780
feet of Newton Creek immediately downstream of the impoundment. Approximately, 2,400 yds3 of con-
taminated sediment from the impoundment and 120 yds3 of contaminated sediment from the first reach of
45
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Past and Current Sites - Wisconsin
Newton Creek were removed. This material was combined with cement and disposed of on Murphy Oil's
property into two existing waste water lagoons which were converted into the disposal site. This work
began in August 1997 and should be completed in November 1997. The remediation of the remainder of
Newton Creek and Hog Island Inlet is being pursued by the WDNR.
Total Cost
The sediment remediation cost was approximately $250,000.
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 46
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Past and Current Sites - Wisconsin
North Avenue Dam of the Milwaukee River
Contact
William Wawrzyn
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Telephone: (414) 263-8699
Box 12436 Fax: (414)263-8483
2300 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive Email: wawrzw@dnr. state, wi. us
Milwaukee, WI 53212
Location
The North Avenue Dam is located on the Milwaukee River approximately 3.2 miles upstream from the
river's confluence with Lake Michigan.
Background
The North Avenue Dam was constructed over 150 years ago and creates an artificial boundary between the
80 acre Milwaukee River Impoundment and the Milwaukee River Estuary.
The impoundment sediments are contaminated with PCBs, PAHs, heavy metals and oxygen demanding
substances.
Administrative History
This remediation project is a voluntary action funded by the state, City of Milwaukee and USEPA. Ease-
ments are being provided by up to 15 landowners at no cost. The project has had input from the Milwaukee
Country Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture, the WDNR, the City of Milwaukee, the Southeastern
Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District and the Village
of Shorewood. Beginning in 1990 and continuing to the present, frequent informational meetings were also
held for elected officials and the public.
The decision to cooperate and implement is based on a desire to restore the environment and provide new
and enhanced recreating opportunities for the most densely populated area in the state, The City of Milwau-
kee has invested millions of dollars in constructing public riverwalks along the Milwaukee River Estuary
and would like to see the remediation efforts improve the quality of the river.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments:
Volume: 750,000yds3
PCB Concentration Range: <0.5to29ppm
Project Status
Site construction started August, 1997. The majority of remediation work, including dam abandonment and
mechanical dredging (8,000 yds3), are expected to be completed by the end of 1997. The remainder of work
consisting offish habitat restoration, stream bank protection (using a combination of rip rap and bioengineered
systems), upland plantings and wetland restoration will finish during the Spring of 1998. The remaining
contaminated sediments will be managed in place (742,000 yds3).
47 Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Past and Current Sites - Ohio
Total Cost
Costs for the first phase of the project are:
Dam abandonment: $374,000
Water intake replacement: $1,500,000 or less
Sediment management and habitat restoration activities: $2,600,000
Approximate total is $4,600,000.
Contaminated Sediments in the Gnat Lakes Basin 48
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Past and Current Sites - Ohio
Ruck Pond
Contact
William Fitzpatrick
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Telephone: (608) 266-9267
Bureau of Water Resources Management WT/2 Fax: (608) 267-2800
Box 7921 Email: Jitzpw@dnr.state, wi.us
101 S. Webster Street
Madison, WI 53707
Location
Ruck Pond, part of the Cedar Creek watershed, is located in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, approximately 25 miles
north of Milwaukee. Cedar Creek has a series of five small millponds and dams. Four out of the five
impoundments have been impacted by PCB contaminated sediment. Ruck Pond is the furthest upstream
contaminated impoundment in the Cedar Creek system.
Background
As Cedar Creek travels through Cedarburg, Wisconsin, its waters are exposed to sediments contaminated
by PCBs, a class of chemicals known for their carcinogenic, teratogenic, and mutagenic properties. Within
the Cedar Creek system, Ruck Pond contained 80 to 85% of the PCB mass, as well as the highest concentra-
tion of PCBs. Ruck Pond is also the farthest upstream contaminated pond in the system. Therefore, it was
selected as the priority impoundment for remediation.
Administrative History
An emergency removal action agreement was signed with Mercury Marine, as a result of a Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) enforcement action.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 5,900 m3 (7,700 yds3)
Mass: 355 kilograms of PCBs
Highest PCB Concentration: 150,000 ppm
Average PCB Concentration: 474 ppm
Project Status
The area was remediated by dry excavation of the contaminated sediments. It was dammed off and the
sediment was allowed to dry to a mud consistency. The contaminated sediment was then removed and
landfilled. The TSCA material was sent to a chemical waste landfill in Utah and the non-TSCA material
was landfilled at a Wisconsin facility.
The project was completed during the Fall of 1994 with 96% of the PCB mass removed. According to the
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, there has been no evidence of any reoccurring contamination
at the site. Fish tissue PCB concentrations dropped 85% (caged minnows 37 day exposure) after remediation.
Long term water column PCB concentrations are projected to have decreased by 94% as a result of the
cleanup. Negotiations are continuing for additional sediment remediation downstream.
Total Cost
The sediment remediation cost was approximately $1,200 per m3 or $7,080,000.
49 Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Past and Current Sites - Wisconsin
Sheboygan Harbor and River Superfund Site - Tecumseh Products Company
Contact
Steve Padovani
USEPA Region 5, Superfund Division Telephone: (312) 353-6755
77 West Jackson Boulevard (SR-6J) Fax: (312)353-5541
Chicago, IL 60604 Email: padovani.stephen@epamail.epa.gov
Location
The Sheboygan Harbor & River site extends approximately 14 miles through the communities of Sheboygan
Falls, Kohler, and Sheboygan. The site area includes Sheboygan Harbor, located on Lake Michigan, and the
lower Sheboygan River, which discharges into the Sheboygan Harbor.
Background
In 1977, the State of Wisconsin detected polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) during routine sampling offish.
Since then, PCBs have been detected in fish, wildlife, surface water, sediments in the harbor and river and
in flood plain soils. The highest concentrations of PCBs have been detected in sediments immediately
downstream from a die-casting plant ((named as a Potentially Responsible Party (PRP)) in Sheboygan
Falls. Concentrations decline farther downstream from the plant. The PRP excavated PCB contaminated
soils from its property along the river and disposed of them off site in 1978. The Sheboygan River drains
into Lake Michigan, the source of drinking water for approximately 58,000 people within the Sheboygan/
Sheboygan Falls/Kohler metropolitan area. People who come in direct contact with or ingest contaminated
soil, sediments, or surface water may be at risk. Because fish and wildlife are contaminated with PCBs,
people who eat contaminated fish or waterfowl also may suffer adverse health effects. In 1978, the State
advised residents not to eat fish from the Sheboygan River and two tributaries, the Mullet and Onion Rivers,
because of PCB contamination. In 1987, the State also issued an advisory not to eat wildlife from the area.
The advisories are still in effect.
Administrative History
The site was proposed for the National Priority List (NPL) in September 1985, and was finalized in June
1986. In 1986, the U.S. EPA and the State singed a Consent Order with the PRP, requiring the PRP to
conduct an investigation at the site to determine the nature and extent of contamination and to identify and
evaluate remedial alternatives to address the problem. Investigative studies were concluded in 1996. The
studies concluded that sediments are contaminated with PCBs and a wide variety of heavy metals. In
addition, soils near the waters edge (flood plain soils) and surface water are contaminated with PCBs and
heavy metals including arsenic, chromium, copper, lead, and zinc. People who come in direct contact with
or ingest contaminated soil, sediments, or surface water may be at risk. Because fish and wildlife are
contaminated with PCBs, people who eat contaminated fish or waterfowl also may suffer health effects.
From 1989 to 1990, the PRP dredged approximately 3,800 cubic yards of contaminated sediments from the
upper Sheboygan River. The PRP has stored the sediments in two containers on site: a confined treatment
facility (CTF) and a sediment management facility (SMF). The CTF is being used for biodegradation
studies to evaluate the feasibility of biodegradation of PCBs in place.
The SMF is designed for temporary storage of the remaining dredged sediments until they can be disposed
of properly. During the period between 1989 and 1990, eight other sediment deposits were "armored" in the
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 50
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Past and Current Sites - Wisconsin
upper Sheboygan River. These areas were covered with several layers a geotextile fabric, run of bank
material, cobble and wire cages filled with rock (gabions) in order to prevent the PCB contaminated sedi-
ment from moving downstream. These activities were summarized in a report entitled Alternative Specific
Remedial Investigation Report (ASRI). The ASRI was prepared by the PRP and finalized in October 1995.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 3,800 yds3
Highest PCB Concentration: 4,3 00 ppm
Project Status
Currently, cleanup options for the entire river are being evaluated by the PRP and will be presented in a
Feasibility Study (FS) Report. The FS Report is anticipated to be completed by summer 1998. A final
cleanup decision is expected by December 1998.
51 Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Upcoming Sites - Indiana
Grand Calumet River/Indiana Harbor
Contact
Ronald Kovach
USEPA Region 5, Water Division Telephone: (312) 886-1441
77 West Jackson Boulevard (WC-15J) Fax: (312)886-0168
Chicago, IL 60604 Email: kavach.ronaldd@epamail.epa.gov
Location
The Grand Calumet River, originating in the east end of Gary, Indiana, flows 13 miles (21 km) through the
heavily industrialized cities of Gary, East Chicago and Hammond. The majority of the river's flow drains
into Lake Michigan via the Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal, sending about 500 million gallons of water into
the lake per day. The AOC begins 15 miles (24 km) south of downtown Chicago and includes the east
branch of the river, a small segment of the west branch and the Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal. Today, 90%
of the river's flow originates as municipal and industrial effluent, cooling and process water and storm
water overflows. Although discharges have been reduced, a number of contaminants continue to impair the
AOC.
Background
The Grand Calumet River and Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal contain 5 to 10 million yds3 of contaminated
sediment up to 20 feet (6 m) deep. Contaminants include toxic compounds (e.g., PAHs, PCBs, and heavy
metals), and conventional pollutants (e.g., phosphorus, nitrogen, iron, magnesium, volatile solids, oil, and
grease).
Project Status
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) and USEPA are actively working on cleanup
projects pursuant to these agreements, as well as developing new major agreements through voluntary
cooperation and legal action. The major parties to cleanup agreements on the waterway include:
U.S. Steel Gary Works (USX) - Sediment remediation work is expected to start in the near future. This
site will be using a hydraulic dredge to remove the contaminated sediments.
Inland Steel Corporation - Inland is using a mechanical dredge, as well as an electric magnet to remove
iron ore pellets.
Additionally, as part of the phase II RAP development for the Grand Calumet River/Indiana Harbor Canal
AOC, the State of Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) requested assistance from
the USACE to develop potential methods of sediment cleanup and habitat restoration in the GCR in Lake
County, Indiana.
The report, "Grand Calumet River - Indiana Harbor Canal Sediment Cleanup and Restoration Alternatives
Project", is intended to provide stakeholders with the information necessary to begin development of sedi-
ment cleanup alternatives. This document presents a methodology for analyzing sediment cleanup and
habitat restoration options for the river. The intent is not to recommend a single best approach but rather to
make the reader aware of the range of considerations and options available for sediment cleanup and habitat
restoration.
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 52
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Upcoming Sites -Indiana
Copies of this document are available by contacting:
Indiana Department of Environmental Management
Attn: Scott Ireland
Sediment Remediation Program Coordinator
Office of Water Management - Water Quality Standards, Room 1255
IGCN - 100 North Senate Avenue
P.O. Box 6015
Indianapolis, IN 46206-6015
53 Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Upcoming Sites - Michigan- _
Kalamazoo River - Allied Paper
Contact
Scott Cornelius
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Telephone: (517) 373-7367
Superfund Division Fax: (517)335-4887
Knapps Building Email: cornelis@ftate.mi.us
300 S. Washington Square
Lansing, MI 48933
Location
The Kalamazoo River flows across the southwestern portion of the lower peninsula of Michigan. The river
flows in a westerly direction and discharges into Lake Michigan near the town of Saugatuck. The lower
eighty miles of the Kalamazoo River have been identified as an AOC, due to historic releases of PCBs from
de-inking operations at local paper mills.
The Allied Paper, IncTPortage Creek/Kalamazoo River Site involves PCB contamination of: (1) an Allied
Paper, Inc., property in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, (2) a 3-mile stretch of Portage Creek
from Kalamazoo to where the creek meets the Kalamazoo River and (3) a 35-mile stretch of the Kalamazoo
River.
Background
Allied Paper, Inc., a subsidiary of SCM Corporation, has operated paper mills on a 80-acre property at 2030
Portage Road in Kalamazoo since 1925. From 1957 to 1971, the company recycled and de-inked paper,
including carbonless copy papers, which contained 3.4 percent PCBs by weight.
In 1986, MDNR detected PCBs in several places in the 80-mile stretch of the Kalamazoo River between
Kalamazoo and Lake Michigan. Contamination is primarily in the sediments, although the water column
and fish are also affected. According to MDNR, the contamination begins at the point were Allied's Bryant
Mill Pond discharges to Portage Creek.
Administrative History
Since the PCB contamination was identified as a problem in 1971, several actions have been taken to
improve conditions. The discharge of PCBs has been substantially reduced due to the ban on PCB produc-
tion, and other regulatory point source controls, such as the NPDES permit program. However, contami-
nated sediments in the upstream areas still serve as a source of PCBs to the Kalamazoo River.
On December 2, 1987, the State filed a complaint under CERCLA Sections 107 and 113, the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, the Toxic Substances Control
Act and three Michigan laws. The complaint called for Allied Paper and SCM Corporation to stop the
release of hazardous substances into the environment and pay cleanup costs. In response, the companies
have undertaken studies of the extent of the PCB contamination, the quantities of PCBs in Bryant Mill
Pond, and possible remedial actions.
In August 1990, the Allied Paper, IncTPortage Creek/ Kalamazoo River Superfund site was included on the
National Priority List pursuant to CERCLA. The site includes Portage Creek, from Cork Street just above
the Bryant Mill Pond to its confluence with the Kalamazoo River; and the Kalamazoo River from this
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 54
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Upcoming Sites - Michigan
confluence downstream to the Allegan City Dam. The area listed includes a three mile stretch of Portage
Creek and a 35 mile stretch of the Kalamazoo River. However, because the data indicate the PCBs have
migrated downstream, the Superfund remedial investigation includes the area from Morrow Dam to the
mouth of the Kalamazoo River.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Highest PCS Concentration: 300 ppm
Project Status
MDEQ is currently considering various remediation alternatives for the site. The parties involved are work-
ing on finalizing the terms of an agreement.
55 Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Upcoming Sites - Michigan
Pine River - Velsicol Chemical
Contact
Beth Reiner
USEPA Region 5, Superfiind Division
77 West Jackson Boulevard (SR-6J)
Chicago, IL 60604
Telephone: (312)353-6576
Fax: (312)886-4071
Email: reiner.beth@epamail.epa.gov
Location
This site is located at North Avenue and Watson Street in St. Louis, Michigan. St. Louis is in the central
part of the lower peninsula of Michigan. The Pine River flows along the site on both the eastern and
northern sections of the site.
Background
This was the former location of the Vesicol Chemical Company Plant, which manufactured chemicals
including DDT, hexabromobenzene (HBB) and polybrominated biphenyl (PBB). DDT was produced on
site until 1959. HBBs and PBBs were produced until the mid 1970's. Sampling of the Pine River Reservoir
in the early 1980's indicated high levels of these chemicals present in the sediments. Further sampling in
1996 showed that contaminant levels are decreasing, but still very high. In 1974, a no consumption advi-
sory for all species of fish in the Pine River from the St. Louis Impoundment to its confluence with the
Chippewa River was issued and continues to remain in effect today.
Administrative History
This remediation project is being completed under Superfiind. There has been no ROD as of yet, as the
project is still in the investigation stage.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 250,000yds3
Highest Total DDT Concentration: l,175ppm
Project Status
USEPA and MDEQ are working together in order to collect more data and sediment samples from the St.
Louis Impoundment. Sampling using USEPA'sRfV Mudpuppy was completed on July 25,1997. A human
health risk assessment from fish consumption is currently in draft form. Also, an ecological assessment of
estimated impacts to wildlife from contaminated sediments is being developed. USEPA and MDEQ will
begin the process of choosing the most cost-effective and timely option for remediation once the data
collection is completed.
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 56
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Upcoming Sites - Michigan
Saginaw River
Contact
Roger Jones
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Telephone: (517) 373-4704
Surface Water Quality Division Fax: (517) 373-9958
Knapps Building Email: jonesrjj@state.mi.us
300 S. Washington Square
Lansing; MI 48933
Location
The Saginaw River discharges into Saginaw Bay, which is a southwestern extension of Lake Huron located
in the east central portion of Michigan's lower peninsula. This AOC watershed encompasses 8,709 square
miles in 22 counties and includes all of Saginaw Bay (1,143 square miles) out to its interface with open Lake
Huron at an imaginary line drawn between Au Sable Point and Point Aux Barques.
Background
Environmental problems in the Saginaw AOC are caused by eutrophication (nutrients), toxic substances
(PCBs, dioxin and heavy metals), bacterial contamination, sedimentation and commercial/residential de-
velopment. Much of this ecosystem degradation results from poor land use practices. The sources that
continue to contribute contaminants to the Saginaw River and Saginaw Bay include industrial and munici-
pal discharges, combined sewer overflows (CSOs), contaminated sediments in the river and bay bottom,
urban stormwater runoff, agricultural nonpoint sources, old waste disposal sites and the atmosphere.
Administrative History
As part of a 1997 natural resource damage settlement, General Motors and the cities of Bay City and
Saginaw have agreed to provide funds for the dredging and disposal of PCB contaminated sediments in the
lower river.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 300,000yds3
Highest PCB Concentration: 87ppm
Project Status
Dredging is expected to begin during the summer of 1998.
Total Cost
The estimated cost for the remediation project is $5,000,000.
57 Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Upcoming Sites - Michigan
South Branch of the Black River
Contact
Roger Jones
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Telephone: (517)373-4704
Surface Water Quality Division Fax: (517)373-9958
Knapps Building Email: jonesrjj@state.mi.us
300 S. Washington Square
Lansing, MI 48933
Location
This site is located at the north end of the village of Bangor. It is a former mill pond which was formed by
a dam on the Black River at County Road 681. The dam was removed for safety reasons and has not been
replaced to date.
Background
Sediments in the former mill pond were contaminated by discharges from a nearby facility, Du-Wel, Bangor.
The Du-Wel, Bangor facility discharged treated wastewater under a NPDES permit issued by the Surface
Water Quality Division (SWQD) of the MDEQ. PCBs and various metals, including chromium, are present
in sediments at levels of concern. Historical, non-permitted releases have contributed to the documented
fish kills and Fish Consumption Advisories issued for the Black River at the site.
Administrative History
This is a state lead site. A Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study have been completed by Du-Wel.
Negotiations are currently underway with the potentially liable party to fund an escrow account that would
cover at least part of the clean-up. The village of Bangor would like to refill the mill pond to create
recreational opportunities at the site. If this action is funded, the site should be remediated by December,
1998.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 6,500 yds3
Project Status
Sediment removal will be started and completed within 1998.
Total Cost
It is unlikely that proposed escrowed funds will cover the cost of remedial activities at the site. $ 1,000,000
in state funds may be needed to complete remedial activities, including excavation, transportation, disposal
of contaminated sediments and confirmatory sampling for future site closure.
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 58
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Upcoming Sites - Michigan
St. Mary's River - Cannelton Industries
Contact
Rosita Clarke-Moreno
USEPA, Region 5 Superfund
77 West Jackson Boulevard (SR-6J)
Chicago, IL 60604
Telephone: (312)886-7251
Fax: (312)886-4071
Email: darke.rosita@epamail.epa.gov
Location
The St. Mary's River is the 70 mile connecting channel between lakes Superior and Huron. The Area of
Concern extends from the head of the river at Whitefish Bay (Point Iroquois) downstream through St.
Joseph Channel to Humbug Point on the Ontario side and to the outlet of Lake Munuscong at Point aux
Frenes on the Michigan side.
The Cannelton Industries, Inc., site covers 75 acres along the south bank of the St. Mary's River about 1.5
miles west of the downtown area of Sault Sainte Marie, Chippewa County, Michigan.
Background
Starting in 1900, the Northwestern Leather Company manufactured leather products on the site, dumping
tannery wastes on 5 acres located in the 100-year floodplain of the St. Mary's River. The waste was dis-
posed of to a depth of 6 to 8 feet and left uncovered. An estimated 10,000 yds3 were disposed of, as observed
from the depth of wastes along the bank and the area void of vegetation. In 1954-55, Fibron Limestone Co.
(a subsidiary of Algoma Steel Corp., Ltd., of Canada) purchased the 75 acres. Subsequently, the property
was transferred to Cannelton Industries, Inc., another Algoma subsidiary. The property was intended for
construction of a manufacturing plant that was never built. Algoma dismantled various structures that were
considered hazardous. The site is now idle.
The Algoma Slip sediments are contaminated mostly with metals and PAHs. In addition, sediments are
contaminated with various heavy metals, oil and grease, PCBs, and PAHs in local areas along the Ontario
shoreline, the north shore of Sugar Island, in Little Lake George and in Lake George, all downstream of
Ontario point source discharges. Communities of benthic organisms are impaired along the Ontario shore-
line downstream of industrial and municipal discharges.
Administrative History
In 1986, Algoma Steel agreed informally with the State to construct (1) a wall along the shore of the St.
Mary's River to prevent wave and ice action from removing solid material from the site and (2) an imper-
meable clay cap to prevent erosion and prohibit rainwater from infiltrating the site. In the spring of 1989,
under a Consent Order with U.S. EPA, Algoma Steel installed a sprinkler system as a temporary measure in
a 2-acre barren zone with a history of fires. In November 1989, Algoma Steel completed a wall to control
erosion along the shoreline of the barren zone.
The remediation efforts are now being conducted under a Superfund Emergency Removal Action. In 1992,
a ROD was signed which called for the excavation and dredging of tannery waste, contaminated soils and
sediments.
59
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Upcoming Sites - Michigan
Project Status
New information collected in the pre-design studies indicate that the measures called for in the 1992 ROD
are not necessary. Soil leaching has been minimized and sediment toxicity and bioaccumulation studies do
not show contaminated levels high enough to threaten aquatic organisms. USEPA and MDEQ have agreed
that the majority of sediments can be managed in place, which will limit dredging and lower costs.
Cost
The entire remediaton project for both the land based and sediment activities for the new plan will cost
about $5,500,000.
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 60
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Upcoming Sites - Michigan
Trenton Channel
Contact
Art Ostaszewski
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Telephone: (517)335-4491
Surface Water Quality Division Fax: (517) 373-9958
Knapps Building Email: ostaszea@state.mi.us
300 S. Washington Square
Lansing, MI 48933
Location
The Detroit River AOC is part of the international boundary between the United States and Canada. This 32
mile long channel conveys the flow from Lake Saint Clair and the upper Great Lakes to Lake Erie. Over 700
square miles of land in both Michigan and Ontario drains directly to the Detroit River or one of its tributar-
ies. The Rouge River, a Michigan tributary to the Detroit River, is listed as a separate AOC.
Background
The known causes of the impairments to the channel include urban and industrial development in the water-
shed, which has led to the destruction of over 95% of the Detroit River's wetland habitat since the early
1900's. CSOs and municipal and industrial discharges continue to be point sources of contaminants within
the AOC. Storm water run off, the tributaries, and upstream inputs from Lake Saint Clair are also contami-
nant sources. The magnitude of the contributions from air deposition and the resuspension of contaminated
sediments are currently under study.
Project Status
The Trenton Channel Project has been initiated to characterize the sediments in the Trenton Channel, de-
velop a fate and transport model for mercury and PCBs and evaluate remedial technologies for Trenton
Channel sediments. The project is funded by the USEPA and MDEQ. Public comment is currently being
sought on a proposed remediation of contaminated sediments at the Black Lagoon site along the Trenton
Channel. The Black Lagoon project is slated for completion in late 1998.
Amount of Contaminated Sediment
Estimated Volume of Black Lagoon site: 20,000 yds3
61 Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Upcoming Sites - Minnesota
St. Louis River - Interlake Duluth Tar Site
Contact
Brenda Winkler
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
520 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155
Telephone: (612)296-7813
Fax: (612)296-9707
Email: winkler.brenda@pca.state.mn.us
Location
The Interlake Duluth Tar Site is within the St. Louis River AOC. The St. Louis River flows from Minne-
sota into Lake Superior, with its last 23 miles forming part of the Minnesota and Wisconsin border.
Background
Historically, industrial facilities and development have been located along the river, in particular steel
manufacturing, iron manufacturing and coal tar refining. The PRP involved with the site is Beazer East,
Inc. Site investigations found VOCs, heavy metals, iron and mercury of concern in the Interlake sediments.
Project Status
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) expects to choose a remedial option during the Spring of
1998 and begin remediation work in 1999.
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 62
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Upcoming Sites - New York
Iroquois Gas and Westwood Pharmaceutical
Contact
Abul Barkat
NYSDEC Telephone: (716)851-7220
270 Michigan Avenue Fax: (716) 851 -7226
Buffalo, NY 14203-2999
Location
The Iroquois Gas - Westwood Pharmaceutical Hazardous Waste Site is located in Erie County, in the City
of Buffalo, New York. The site is bounded by Dart Street on the east, Buffalo Structural Steel on the north,
Scajaquada Creek on the west and a residential area to the south. Scajaquada Creek flows into the Niagara
River just north of Lake Erie.
Background
This site was used for approximately the first half of the century to manufacture gas. Iroquois, which
became National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation, used the site for gas production and storage from 1925
until the 1960's. The area was sold to Westwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in 1972.
Westwood began to build a warehouse in the southwest comer of the property in 1985. During construction,
water and soil contamination was discovered. The Remedial Investigation determined that the site soil was
contaminated with PAHs, BTEX chemicals (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene), lead and cyanide.
The ground water, which flows towards Scajaquada Creek, is mainly contaminated with PAHs and BTEX.
The RI also concluded that 7,350 gallons per day of ground water was discharging into the creek and
estimated amount of non-aqueous phase liquids entering the creek was 440 Ibs/year. The creek sediments
are contaminated with the same pollutants as found in the soil and ground water at the site.
Administrative History
Under a State Consent Order, the RI was completed in June 1993. In March of 1994, NYSDEC issued a
ROD which described the remedial actions. In addition to the remediation of the land based site, the ROD
also outlined a plan to excavate the contaminated sediments in Scajaquada Creek and,to restore the creek
channel to background conditions.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 11,000 yds3 (estimate)
Highest PAH Concentration: 19,600 ppm
Project Status
For the remediation process, Westwood is responsible for the main plant area and National Fuel Gas Distri-
bution Corporation is responsible for Scajaquada Creek. The main plant area is expected to be completed
by September 1997. The creek remediation is currently in the design stage and should be completed by the
end of the calendar year. Dredging will be done in 1998.
Total Cost
The entire remediation project has cost $2,100,000 to date and is expected to incur costs of approximately
$5,150,000 in the future. Of the total amount, $250,000 was or will be provided by the state.
63 Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Upcoming Sites - New York
St. Lawrence River - Reynolds Metals Site
Contact
Anne Kelly
USEPA Region 2 Telephone: (212)637-4264
290 Broadway Fax: (212)637-3966
New York, NY 10007-1866 Email: kelly.anne@epamail.epa.gov
Location
Reynolds Metals Company (RMC) owns and operates an aluminum reduction plant in the Town of Massena,
New York. The facility is located on 112 acres of land near the St. Lawrence River within the Massena
AOC.
Background
The Reynolds facility manufacturers aluminum ingots. Waste materials were historically land filled, spilled,
leaked, and otherwise released into the area contaminating the soils, sediments, groundwater, surface water
and air. The major pollutant of concern has been PCBs, although there were also cyanides, fluorides, and
dioxin/di-benzofurans released. Contaminated areas on the site relating to sediments include:
Black Mud Pond: used to contain slurry from the processing of spent potliners for cryolite
recovery.
Landfill/Former Potliner Storage Area: held spent potliners and is located immediately
adjacent to wetlands.
Wetlands: PCBs have migrated from the landfill into the wetlands.
Administrative History
Although this site is not on the National Priorities list, USEPA is responsible for the cleanup of the St.
Lawrence River portion of the contamination. NYSDEC is the lead agency on the soil remediation. The
river cleanup ROD was signed in September of 1993. This ROD calls for excavating 7 acres of sediments
from wetlands and 1.5 acres of sediments from potliner storage pad. The contaminated material will be
shipped off site for disposal.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 77,000yds3
Highest PCB Concentration: 2000 ppm
Project Status
Dredging of the contaminated sediments is expected to occur in 1998.
Total Cost
The estimated cost for the St. Lawrence River sediment remediation is $57,000,000. This does not include
the costs of the land-based portion of the project.
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 64
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Upcoming Sites - Ohio
Ashtabula River and Harbor
Contact Person
Amy Pelka
USEPA Region 5, OSEA
77 West Jackson Boulevard (B-19J)
Chicago, IL 60604
Telephone: (312)886-9858
Fax: (312)353-5374
Email: pelka.amy@epamail.epa.gov
Location
The Ashtabula River flows through northeastern Ohio and empties into Lake Erie at Ashtabula Harbor in
the city of Ashtabula. Ashtabula is located between Cleveland, Ohio and Erie, Pennsylvania. The Ashtabula
River has been declared an AOC by the IJC. The AOC area consists of the lower 2 miles of the river, Fields
Brook and the nearshore Lake Erie areas. The Lower River and Harbor are being addressed via a compre-
hensive public and private partnership with USEPA, OEPA, USAGE, USFWS, industry and the public.
However, The Fields Brook Site is being remediated separately under a Superfund Action.
Background
Various point and nonpoint industrial sources are believed to have contaminated sediments in the river with
a variety of organic and heavy metal pollutants, with the main contaminate of concern being PCBs. Sedi-
ment contaminants have transferred to fish, affected habitat quality and restricted lower Ashtabula River
commercial and industrial use. A fish advisory is in effect resulting from mercury and PCB contamination.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 1,000,000yds3
Mass: 11,000 kg of PCBs, with 1,700 kg having PCB levels greater than 50 ppm
Highest PCB Concentration: 300 ppm
Project Status
The Partnership's proposed plan and Environmental Impact Statement for lower river and harbor sediment
remediation project is currently in draft form and is scheduled for release by the end of 1997. The EIS
includes various remediation alternatives, selected sites for the CDF, estimated costs and potential cost
distribution between industry and government. Site remediation is expected to begin in 2000 or 2001.
65
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Upcoming Sites - Ohio
Ashtabula Fields Brook Superfund Site
Contact
Terese VanDonsel
USEPA Region 5, Superfund Division Telephone: (312) 353-6564
77 West Jackson Boulevard (SR-6J) Fax: (312) 886-4071
Chicago, IL 60604 Email: vandonsel.terese@epamail.epa.gov
Location
The industrial development on Fields Brook is approximately 1.5 miles upstream of the confluence with the
Ashtabula River. The Fields Brook site is part of the Ashtabula Area of Concern. The Fields Brook
remediation project is separate from the Ashtabula River and Harbor remediation project.
Fields Brook drains a 6-square-mile area in the city, township and county of Ashtabula, in northeastern
Ohio. The main channel is 3.9 miles long and begins at Cook Readjust south of the Penn Central Railroad
tracks. From this point, Fields Brook flows northwest to Middle Road, then west to its confluence with the
Ashtabula River. From Cook Road downstream to State Highway 11, Fields Brook flows through an indus-
trialized area.
Background
Analysis offish tissue caught in Fields Brook and the Ashtabula River prior to 1982 indicated the presence
of chlorinated organic compounds. A health advisory was issued on March 1, 1983, recommending that
people not eat fish in a 2-mile reach of the Ashtabula River. Due to the possibility of direct contact with the
sediment, movement of the contaminated sediment into the Ashtabula River and the possibility of uncon-
trolled releases of hazardous materials from the sediment entering the water supply of the City of Ashtabula,
Fields Brook was added to the NPL by USEPA in August, 1983.
Current Status
The Fields Brook Superfund remediation project is still in the planning stage. Because the Fields Brook site
is so large, USEPA divided the site into four work units, three of which are called "Operable Units."
Sediment Operable Unit: A ROD was signed for this Operable Unit in 1986. Work is
currently in the Remedial Design phase. This Unit is responsible for cleanup of sediment in
the Brook and its tributaries.
Floodplains/Wetlands: A ROD for this Unit, which will remediate the floodplain areas,
was signed on June 30, 1997. The Floodplains/Wetlands Operable Unit is currently enter
ing the design phase.
Source Control Operable Unit: A ROD is expected in the Fall of 1997. This Unit will
address source areas that could recontaminate the Brook.
Design remediation work for Fields Brook is expected to continue through 1998. It is anticipated that
remediation work and construction of an on site landfill will begin in 1999.
The final unit is the Ashtabula Public/Private Partnership, which is examining remediation work in the
Ashtabula AOC, as described in the prior section.
Total Cost
The tributary remediation project is expected to cost between $5,000,000 to $6,000,000.
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 66
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Upcoming Sites - Wisconsin
Fox River
Contact
Jim Hahnenberg
USEPA Region 5, Superfund Division Telephone: (312)353-4213
77 West Jackson Boulevard (SR-6J) Fax: (312)886-4071
Chicago, IL 60604 Email: hahnenberg.james@epamail.epa.gov
Location
The Fox River is one of the IJC designated Areas of Concern. The study area is a 39-mile stretch of the Fox
River extending from Lake Winnebago to Green Bay. The flow from the Fox River is a contributing source
to the Green Bay Estuary in Lake Michigan, Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Background
USEPA, WDNR and other governmental and private agencies conducted studies of the Fox River from
1989 to 1992. These studies concluded that the principal contaminants of concern within the Fox River are
PCBs and mercury. Of the potentially 34 contaminated sites along the river, the most detailed sediment
sampling and contamination delineation has been conducted at Deposit POG and Deposit N. Additional
detailed sampling and contamination delineation is currently underway at a third location, Hot Spot 56/57.
Administrative History
The USEPA is considering proposing the Fox River for Superfund NPL listing. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service is conducting a Natural Resource Damage Assessment on the river and bay and the WDNR is
working to implement a cooperative agreement with the Fox River PRPs.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume in the entire Fox River: 10,900,000 yds3
Deposit POG:
Volume: 300,000yds3
Average PCB Concentration: 45.9 ppm (0-2 ft. depth)
Average Mercury Concentration: 1.07 ppm (0-2 ft. depth)
Deposit N:
Volume: 8,500 yds3
Average PCB Concentration: 41.4 ppm (0-2 ft. depth)
Average Mercury Concentration: 2.11 ppm (0-2 ft. depth)
Project Status
Several industries have agreed to voluntarily conduct a demonstration project in the lower part of the river
(Hot Spot 56/57) and Wisconsin has taken the lead on the upper river site (Deposit N). Both remediation
projects are expected to be completed in 1998. The Deposit N remediation project is expected to cost
between $2-3,000,000.
67 Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Upcoming Sites- Wisconsin
Manitowoc River Basin - Havton Mill Pond
Contact
MarkVelleux
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Bureau of Water Resources Management
Box 7921
101 S. Webster Street
Madison, WI 53707-7921
Telephone:
Fax:
Email:
(608) 267-5262
(608)267-2800
vellem@dnr.state. wi. us
Location
Hayton Mill Pond is located in the northeast section of the City of New Holstein, Wisconsin.
Background
WDNR completed a remedial investigation over the past five years of this site. Results of the investigation
indicate that the primary source area is a system of drainage ditches in the Northeast Section of the City of
New Holstein. Water flows from the drainage ditches through Pine and Jordan creeks to Hayton Mill Pond,
a man-made pond formed by the construction of the Hayton Mill Pond Dam. PCB contamination has
migrated from the drainage ditches downstream to Hayton Mill Pond which serves as a sedimentation basin
for the contaminated sediments. PCB concentrations in the Mill Pond average approximately 2-3 ppm.
Fish tissue PCB concentrations in Mill Pond have exceeded 75 ppm.
Tecumseh Products, Inc., is voluntarily participating in an investigation of the site.
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 10,000 yds3 in the drainage ditches and 200,000 yds3 in the creeks and Hayton
Mill Pond
Average PCB Concentration: 200 ppm
Highest PCB Concentration: 2,000 ppm
Project Status
The WDNR is attempting to build relationships between local, state, and federal partners to undertake an
estimated $800,000 remediation of the drainage ditch sediment Local partners have provided small amounts
of funding to date to finance the remedial investigation. GLNPO has agreed to provide $250,000 in grant
funding for the remediation provided that an agreement can be reached the PRPs to provide the additional
funding. WDNR is pursuing a cooperative rather than an enforcement-oriented approach in hopes of com-
pleting the remediation in a more timely and cost effective manner.
Total Cost
Total site remediation costs are estimated at $10,000,000.
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 68
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Upcoming Sites - Wisconsin
Little Menomonee River - Moss-American Site
Contact
Russell Hart
US EPA Region 5, Superfund
77 West Jackson Boulevard SR-6J
Chicago, IL 60604
Telephone: (312)886-4844
Fax: (312)886-4071
Email: hart.russell@epamail. epa.gov
Location
The Moss-American site includes the former location of the Moss-American creosoteing facility, approxi-
mately 100-150 yards west of the Little Menomonee River, approximately .5 miles of the Little Menomonee
River downstream from the facility, and the adjacent floodplain soils. It is located in the northwestern
section of the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Little Menomonee River is a tributary to the Menomonee
River and its waters eventually flow through the Milwaukee AOC.
Background
From 1921 until 1967, the wood preserving facility on this site used creosote in their processes. The facility
discharged their wastes to settling ponds that ultimately released into the Little Menomonee River. The
soils and sediments in the settling ponds and river were contaminated with creosote during this time. The
original facility was purchased by Kerr-McGee in 1963 and became Moss-American. The site was renamed
in 1974 to Kerr-McGee Chemical CorporationForest Products Division.
Administrative History
In 1971, Moss-American diverted its process water discharge from the river to the Milwaukee sanitary
sewerage system. Also in 1971, WDNR ordered Kerr-McGee to clean eight settling ponds and dredge
1,700 feet of the river after creosote contamination was discovered. The settling ponds were filled with
clean soil, the discharge pipe to the river was removed and a twelve foot deep underground clay retaining
wall constructed between the ponds and the river.
In 1973, USEPA financed the dredging of approximately 5,000 feet of the river, storing most of the creosote
contaminated sediments in an onsite landfill. The facility closed in 1976. Milwaukee County reached a
settlement with Kerr-McGee after the facility closed in which the county received a major portion of the
property as payment for the dredging of the river. This land was converted into a park corridor along the
river.
However, sampling in the 1970's and 1980's by USEPA and other agencies indicated high levels of creo-
sote contamination remaining in the soils and sediments. Contaminants detected in the sediments were
primarily carcinogenic polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (CPAHs), similar to the contamination found in
the soils. Sediment contamination was on average 18 ppm CPAHs. These sediments were found distrib-
uted throughout the five mile reach of the river between the site and its confluence with the Menomonee
River.
The site was placed on the NPL list pursuant to CERCLA. The RI/FS was therefore funded by the Superfund
program and was completed in May 1990. The ROD for the site was signed on September 27, 1990.
69
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Upcoming Sites - Wisconsin
Amount of Contaminated Sediments
Volume: 15,000yds3
Highest CPAH Concentration: 500 ppm
Highest Total PAH Concentration: 5,900 ppm
Project Status
Pre-design study conducted in 1994 indicated the presence of extractable quantities of free- product creo-
sote at a depth of approximately 10 feet below ground surface under one acre of the site. In 1995, following
design approval by USEPA, remedial actions began with the start-up of a free-product recovery system. To
date, approximately 4,100 gallons of free- product creosote have been recovered. Over the past several
months, Kerr-McGee, WDNR and USEPA have engaged in discussions concerning whether it would be
desirable to make certain changes in the way the remedy is undertaken. In April 1997, the agencies con-
curred on an Explanation of Significant Differences that would allow Kerr-McGee a trial period to conduct
groundwater remediation by an in-situ funnel and gate approach. The parties have also discussed whether
it might be advantageous to allow wet dredging and/or dry excavation approaches to sediment management
options which could be selected in addition to the original approach of river reroute. If such an approach
may have merit, USEPA would prepare a ROD amendment concerning this topic and solicit public com-
ment beginning in early 1998.
Total Cost
Remediation was estimated to exceed $25,000,000.
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 70
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Realizing Remediation - Contributors
ILLINOIS
Waukegan Harbor - Outboard Marine Corporation
Michael Bellott
USEPA Region 5, Superfiind Division Telephone:
77 West Jackson Boulevard (SR-6J) Fax:
Chicago, IL 60604 Email:
INDIANA
LTV Steel and Grand Calumet River/ Indiana Harbor
Ronald Kovach
USEPA Region 5, Water Division Telephone:
77 West Jackson Boulevard (WC-15J) Fax:
Chicago, IL 60604 Email:
MICHIGAN
Manistique River and Harbor
James Hahnenberg
USEPA Region 5, Superfund Division Telephone:
77 West Jackson Boulevard (SR-6J) Fax:
Chicago, IL 60604 Email:
River Raisin - Ford Outfall Site
Pablo Valentin
USEPA Region 5, Superfund Division Telephone:
77 West Jackson Boulevard (SR-6J) Fax:
Chicago, IL 60604 Email:
Lower Rouge River. Upper Rouge River and Newburgh Lake
Mark Oemke
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Telephone:
Surface Water Quality Division Fax:
Knapps Building Email:
300 S. Washington Square
Lansing, MI 48909-7773
Willow Run Creek
Brett Wiseley
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Telephone:
301 East Louis Click Hwy Fax:
Jackson, Michigan 49201 Email:
(312)353-6425
(312)886-4071
bellott. michael@epamaii epa. gov
(312)886-1441
(312)886-0168
kovach.ronaldd@epamail.epa.gov
(312)353-4213
(312)886-4071
hahnenberg.james@epamail.epa.gov
(312)353-5592
(312)886-4071
valentin.pablo@epamail.epa.gov
(517)335-4206
(517)373-9958
oemkem@state.mi.us
(517)780-7934
(517)780-7855
wiseleyb@state. mi. us
Monguagon Creek. Wolf Creek. Saginaw River and S. Branch of the Black River
Roger Jones
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Telephone: (517) 373-4704
Surface Water Quality Division Fax: (517) 373-4704
Knapps Building Email: jonesrjj@state.mi.us
300 S. Washington Square
Lansing, MI 48933
71
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Realizing Remediation - Contributors
Shiawassee River - Cast Forge
Robert MacLeod
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Superfund Division
Knapps Building
300 S. Washington Square
Lansing, MI 48933
St. Mary's River - Cannelton Industries
Rosita Clarke-Moreno
USEPA, Region 5 Superfund
77 West Jackson Boulevard (SR-6J)
Chicago, IL 60604
Kalamazoo River - Allied Paper
Scott Cornelius
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Superfund Division
Knapps Building
300 S. Washington Square
Lansing, MI 48933
Pine River
Beth Reiner
USEPA Region 5, Superfund Division
77 West Jackson Boulevard (SR-6J)
Chicago, IL 60604
Trenton Channel
Art Ostaszewski
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Surface Water Quality Division
Knapps Building
300 S. Washington Square
Lansing, MI 48933
MINNESOTA
St. Louis River- Interlake Superfund Site
Brenda Winkler
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
520 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155
NEW YORK
Niagara River Basin - All Sites
Abul Barkat
NYSDEC
270 Michigan Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14203-2999
Telephone:
Fax:
Email:
Telephone:
Fax:
Email:
Telephone:
Fax:
Email:
Telephone:
Fax:
Email:
Telephone:
Fax:
Email:
Telephone:
Fax:
Email:
Telephone:
Fax:
(517)373-6808
(517)373-9958
macleodr@state. mi.us
(312)886-7251
(312)886-4071
clarke.rpsita@epamail.epa.gov
(517)373-7367
(517)335-4887
cornelis@state.mi. us
(312)353-6576
(312)886-4071
reiner.beth@epamail.epa.gov
(517)335-4491
(517)373-9958
ostaszea@state. mi. us
(612)296-7813
(612)296-9707
vfinkler. brenda@pca.state. mn. us
(716)851-7220
(716)851-7226
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin 72
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Realizing Remediation - Contributors
Niagara River Basin - All Sites
Peter Buechi
NYSDEC Telephone:
270 Michigan Avenue Fax:
Buffalo, NY 14203-2999
St. Lawrence River - All Sites
Anne Kelly
USEPA Region 2 Telephone:
290 Broadway Fax:
New York,' NY 10007-1866 Email:
OHIO
Black River- USX/Kobe Steel
Philip Gehring
USEPA Region 5, Cleveland Office Telephone:
25089 Center Ridge Road (ME-W) Fax:
Westlake, OH 44145 Email:
Ashtabula River and Harbor
Amy Pelka
USEPA Regions, OSEA Telephone:
77 West Jackson Boulevard (B-19J) Fax:
Chicago, IL 60604 Email:
Ashtabula Fields Brook Superfund Site
Terese VanDonsel
USEPA Region 5, Superfund Division Telephone:
77 West Jackson Boulevard (SR-6J) Fax:
Chicago, IL 60604 Email:
Ottawa River Tributary
Marc Tuchman
USEPA Region 5, GLNPO Telephone:
77 West Jackson Boulevard G-17J Fax:
Chicago, IL 60604 Email:
WISCONSIN
Fox River
James Hahnenberg
USEPA Region 5, Superfund Division Telephone:
77 West Jackson Boulevard (SR-6J) Fax:
Chicago, IL 60604 Email:
Ruck Pond
William Fitzpatrick
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Telephone:
Bureau of Water Resources Management WT/2 Fax:
Box 7921 Email:
101 S. Webster Street
Madison, WI 53707
(716)851-7220
(716)851-7226
(212)637-4264
(212)637-3966
kelly. anne@epamail. epa. gov
(216)522-7260
(216)522-2295
gehring.philip@epamail.epa.gov
(312)886-9858
(312)353-5374
pelka.amy@epamail.epa.gov
(312)353-6564
(312)886-4071
vandonsel. terese@epamail. epa.gov
(312)353-1369
(312)353-2018
tuchman.marc@epamail.epa.gov
(312)353-4213
(312)886-4071
hahnenberg.james@epamail.epa.gov
(608) 266-9267
(608) 267-2800
fitzp\v@dnr.state. wi. us
73
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Basin
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Realizing Remediation -Contributors
Newton Creek/Hog Island Inlet
KimWalz
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Telephone:
Box 7921 Fax:
Madison, WI 53707 Email:
North Avenue Dam of the Milwaukee River
William Wawrzyn
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Telephone:
Box 12436 Fax:
2300 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive Email:
Milwaukee, WI 53212
Menominee River - Ansul Fire Protection
Robert Smith
USEPA Region 5, RCRA Telephone:
77 West Jackson Boulevard (DRE-8J) Fax:
Chicago, IL 60604 Email:
Lower Sheboygan River - Tecumseh Products Company
Steven Padovani
USEPA Region 5, Superfund Division Telephone:
77 West Jackson Boulevard (S-6J) Fax:
Chicago, IL 60604 Email:
Manitowoc River Basin - Havton Mill Pond
Mark Velleux
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Telephone:
Bureau of Water Resources Management Fax:
Box 7921 Email:
101 S. Webster Street
Madison, WI 53707-7921
Little Menomonee River - Moss-American Site
Russell Hart
US EPA Region 5, Superfund Telephone:
77 West Jackson Boulevard (SR-6J) Fax:
Chicago, IL 60604 Email:
(608) 263-9220
(608) 267-2800
walzk@dnr.state. wi. us
(414)263-8699
(414)263-8483
wawrzw@dnr.state.wi.us
(312)886-7568
(312)353-4788
smith.robert@epamail.epa.gov
(312)353-6755
(312)886-4071
padovani.steven@epamail.epa.gov
(608)267-5262
(608) 267-2800
vellem@dnr.state. wi. its
(312)886-4844
(312)886-4071
hart.russell@epamail.epa.gov
Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes'Basin 74
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USEPA's Great Lakes National Program Office will make Realizing Remediation available on the
Internet. See the Sediment Assessment and Remediation Team's section of GLNPO's home page:
URL: http://www. epa. gov/glnpo/sediment/
For additional copies of this document, please contact:
Mr. Lawrence Brail, ADS [contractor] Telephone: (312) 886-7474
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Fax: (312)353-2018
Great Lakes National Program Office Email: brail.lcrwrence@epamail.epa.gov
11 West Jackson Boulevard (G-17J)
Chicago, Illinois 60604
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