Great
Lakes
National
Program
On the Web at:
www.epa.gov/greatlakes
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO)
Significant Activities Report
June 2005
IN THIS ISSUE:
FY2005 Funding Guidance
Black Lagoon Cleanup Enters
Final Phase
Lake Michigan Spring Toxics
Survey
Binational Toxics Strategy in the
News
.2005 IJC Biennial Meeting
Fish Monitoring Program Review
Published
Hog Island/Newton Creek
Cleanup Begins
Ruddiman Creek Cleanup Public
Meeting
Mudpuppy Sampling
Lake Guardian Continues Lake
Erie Study Support
National Librarians Conference
Wind Energy and Wildlife
Reducing Mercury Releases from
Artisanal Mining
Carp Barrier Update
FY2005 Funding Guidance
GLNPO issued its annual request for Great
Lakes project submissions through the
USEPA Great Lakes National Program Of-
fice FY2005-2006 Funding Guidance on
April 12th. By the May 31st due date, appli-
cants had submitted 211 proposals totaling
$22.7 million (http://www.epa.gov/
greatlakes/fund/2005guid/idlist.html).
GLNPO announced its selection of projects
totaling about $3 million on June 28th (http://
www.epa.gov/greatlakes/fund/2005fund/
yeslist.html).
Projects were selected in the following topic
areas:
Pollution Prevention and Toxics Reduc-
tion: 10 totaling $422,205
Habitat (Ecological) Protection and Res-
toration: 7 totaling $467,925
Habitat Conferences: 11 totaling $53,000
Emerging or Strategic Issues (including
Invasive Species): 1 totaling $128,478,
others are on hold until October, pending
a determination of Lake Guardian fund-
ing needs.
Remedial Action Plan Priorities: 13 total-
ing $1,396,828
Lakewide Management Plan Priorities:
10 totaling $538,486
(Contact: MikeRuss, 312-886-4013, russ.
michael@epa.gov)
Black Lagoon Cleanup Enters
Final Phase
The final phase of dredging began on June
29th. An additional 15,000 cubic yards of
contaminated sediment is slated for removal
as part of this phase of the Black Lagoon
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June 2005
Significant Activities Report
Black Lagoon cleanup underway (note the effective-
ness of the silt-curtains in containing sediment that
was resuspended by the dredging process)
Legacy Act project. The sediment will be
dredged with an environmental bucket and
transported by truck to the Pointe Mouille
Confined Disposal Facility. Following com-
pletion of the dredging in August, a layer of
sand and stone will be placed over the la-
goon to cover any remaining residual con-
tamination.
The Black Lagoon is located in the Trenton
Channel of the Detroit River near Trenton,
Michigan. Contaminated sediment in the la-
goon is a source of pollution to the Detroit
River and ultimately Lake Erie. The cleanup
will remove sediments contaminated with
mercury, PCBs, oil and grease, lead and
zinc from the bottom of the lagoon. See
http://www.epa.gov/greatlakes/sediment/
legacy/blklagoon/index.html for additional
information.
The Black Lagoon cleanup is the first sedi-
ment remediation project undertaken under
the authority and funding of the Legacy Act
of 2002. The purpose of the Legacy Act is
to help accelerate sediment cleanups in
Great Lakes Areas of Concern. Eligible pro-
jects under the Legacy Act are funded 65%
by the federal government and 35% by a
non-federal sponsor. More information
about the Legacy Act is available online at:
http://www.epa.gov/greatlakes/sediment/
1 egacy/index. html
(Contact: Marc Tuchman, 312-353-1369,
tuchman.marc@epa.gov)
Lake Michigan Spring Toxics
Survey
The Spring survey for organic contaminants
and mercury took place from May 27th
through June 3rd. In an effort to provide ad-
ditional data in support of modeling con-
taminants in Lake Michigan, a number of
stations that were part of the Lake Michigan
Mass Balance Study were resampled in this
year's survey. These included nearshore and
open water stations. Air samples, to be ana-
lyzed for the same contaminants, were taken
at a number of sites, including some near
large metropolitan areas, which often ex-
hibit elevated contaminant levels in air.
Samples were analyzed for a number of
contaminants, including PCBs, PBDEs,
atrazine, and mercury.
Persistent bioaccumulative toxic (PBT) sub-
stances may increase the risk of cancer,
birth defects and neurological and develop-
mental problems through long-term, low-
level exposure. GLNPO has been collecting
data on PBT substances in air and fish since
1990 and 1970, respectively. Data docu-
menting PBT concentrations in the open
water is needed as well to accurately esti-
mate the net amount of PBTs entering the
lakes from the air and to determine how ele-
vated fish tissue levels relate to the PBT
levels in the water. USEPA monitored these
contaminants in the water in the mid-1990s
and monitoring for Lake Michigan began
again in 2003. USEPA and Dr. Matt Simcik
of the University of Minnesota are cooper-
ating on this project.
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The following chemicals are being meas-
ured in water samples collected from eight
locations in Lake Michigan:
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs);
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
(PAHs);
Organochlorine pesticides including
DDT and toxaphene;
Dioxins and Furans;
Mercury and Methylmercury;
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers
(PBDEs), which are used as flame retar-
dants in furniture and electronic equip-
ment;
Perfluoroocatane sulfonate (PFOS) and
Perfluoroocatonic acid (PFOA), a main
ingredient and a breakdown product
from stain repellants commonly applied
to clothing.
(Contact: Melissa Hulting, 312-886-2265,
hulting.melissa@epa.gov)
Binational Toxics Strategy
in the News
Two articles summarizing results from the
Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy's
2004 Annual Report, appeared recently:
An article in the National Review
Online (http://www.nationalreview.com/
comment/mehan200505310953.asp),
and
An article also appeared in the Heart-
land Institutive (http://www.heartland.
org/Article.cfm?artId=17347).
Both articles were authored by G. Tracey
Mehan, former USEPA Assistant Adminis-
trator for Water, and were complimentary of
the accomplishments achieved by the Great
Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy effort.
The 2004 Annual Report and additional in-
formation about the Great Lakes Binational
Toxics Strategy can be found at: http://
www.epa.gov/greatlakes/bns/index.html
IJC Logo
(Contact: Ted Smith, 312-353-6571, smith.
edwin@epa.gov)
2005 IJC Biennial Meeting
Benjamin H. Grumbles, USEPA Assistant
Administrator for
Water spoke at the
International Joint
Commission's 2005
Great lakes Confer-
ence and Biennial
meeting on June
11th at Queens Uni-
versity in Kingston,
Ontario. Grumbles
discussed the Great
Lakes Executive Order, which created the
Great Lakes Interagency Task Force and
called for the Great Lakes Regional Col-
laboration. The Great Lakes Regional Col-
laboration is developing a Strategy that will
enhance and support the work with Canada
under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agree-
ment. He also discussed the goals and status
of both efforts.
(Contact: Vicki Thomas, 312-886-6942,
thomas.vicki@epa.gov)
Fish Monitoring Program Review
Published
The final report from the program review of
the Great Lakes fish monitoring program
was released on June 15th. The review,
which took place on February 7th and 8th of
this year, covered the program's sampling,
chemical parameters, data and information
availability. The final report contains nu-
merous comments and recommendations,
many of which will be implemented in the
future. The document is available online at:
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/glindicators/
fishtoxics/GLFMP%20Review%
20Document%206.14.05.pdf
U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office
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June 2005
Significant Activities Report
(Contact: Elizabeth Murphy, 312-353-4227,
murphy.elizabeth@epa.gov)
Hog Island/Newton Creek
Cleanup Begins
The second Legacy Program project began
at the Hog Island Inlet site (part of the St.
Louis River Area of Concern) in Superior,
Wisconsin. USEPA and the Wisconsin De-
partment of Natural Resources signed a Pro-
ject Agreement on June 13th and project
work began the following week.
The project calls for removal of contami-
nated sediment from the final part of New-
ton Creek - before it reaches Hog Island
Inlet - as well as the inlet itself. During the
cleanup, the flow of the creek will be di-
verted. Water in the inlet will be diverted to
the St. Louis River or to the city of Supe-
rior's wastewater treatment facility.
The sediment being removed is contami-
nated with polynuclear aromatic hydrocar-
bons, or PAHs, as well as heavy metals. The
dredged sediment will be taken to a licensed
landfill.
Once the contaminated sediment is re-
moved, the creek bed will be restored with
clean river rock. The creek banks will be
stabilized, with foliage and shrubbery
planted to prevent erosion and improve the
appearance of the area. The near bank of
Hog Island Inlet will also be restored to pre-
vent erosion.
When the cleanup is finished, USEPA and
Wisconsin DNR will monitor Newton
Creek and Hog Island Inlet to ensure the
cleanup is effective.
Approximately 40,000 cubic yards of con-
taminated sediments are slated for removal
in the project that is estimated to cost $6.3
million. The Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resources, the non-federal sponsor
-;>d£
1
Location of the Hog Island Project Area
for the project will pay 35% of the cost.
A public meeting was held on June 29th to
inform the community about the status and
timetable of the project.
(Contacts: Scott Ireland, 312-886-8121, ire-
land.scott@epa.gov; or Elizabeth LaPlante,
312-353-2694, laplante.elizabeth@epa.gov)
Ruddiman Creek Cleanup
Public Meeting
A public meeting was held in Muskegon,
Michigan on June 21st to inform the com-
munity about the proposed Legacy Act
Ruddiman Creek sediment clean-up project.
The Creek is contaminated with PCBs,
PAHs, and metals. Under the proposed plan,
approximately 80,000 cubic yards of con-
taminated material would be dredged from
the Creek and pond and transported to the
local landfill. The community was given an
opportunity to ask questions about the pro-
posed plan, and the overall response to the
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June 2005
project was positive. It is anticipated that
once a Project Agreement is signed with the
Michigan Department of Environmental
Quality, the work can begin in August. The
approximate cost for the project is $10.6 mil-
lion of which 35% will be paid for by the
State as the non-federal sponsor.
(Contact: Marc Tuchman, 312-353-1369,
tuchman.marc@epa.gov)
Mudpuppy Sampling
On June 7th to 9th, GLNPO's R/VMudpuppy
was in East Chicago, Indiana to collect sedi-
ment cores in Indiana Harbor in support of
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Mud-
puppy crew collected 250 gallons of sedi-
ments containing PAHs, oil and grease, and
heavy metals. The sediments were shipped to
the Corps' research laboratory in Vicksburg,
Mississippi for evaluation of methods to re-
duce losses of volatile and semi-volatile con-
taminants during dredging and disposal of
Indiana Harbor sediments, including the ad-
dition of activated carbon to the dredge slurry
to bind the organic contaminants.
Then the Mudpuppy was on to Saginaw,
Michigan, where it supported the Michigan
Department of Environmental Quality in
sampling the Saginaw River from June 14th
to 17th. The Mudpuppy was to collect a series
of sediment core samples to be tested for
polychlorinated naphthalene (PCN) and di-
oxin.. There were two objectives for this
sampling:
1. To understand the micro-distribution of
dioxin in sediments, both vertically and
horizontally; and
2. To understand Saginaw River PCN con-
centrations at upstream, midstream, and
downstream locations.
Because of heavy rain during the time of the
survey, the Saginaw River experienced high
water levels and flows, and the Mudpuppy
was only able to collect two core samples
and one ponar grab sample for PCN. No di-
oxin samples were obtained. The Michigan
Department of Environmental Quality plans
to obtain the remaining samples on a later
date.
(Contacts: Indiana Harbor Canal: Scott
Cieniawski, 312-353-9184, cieniawski.
scott@epa.gov; Saginaw River: Alie Mu-
neer, 312-886-8031, muneer.alie@epa.gov)
Lake Guardian Continues
Lake Erie Study Support
The R/VLake Guardian is continuing its
support of the NOAA-funded study of Lake
Erie. The ship is currently surveying the
central basin of the lake, using acoustic sen-
sors to detect fish populations and towed
instrument packages which measure parts of
the lower food web (zooplankton and
^B
Output graph from fish acoustics study sensor
(Photo courtesy of NOAA-GLERL)
U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office
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Significant Activities Report
phytoplankton). These measurements are
made within and outside the areas of the
lake where the "Dead Zone" develops, to
see how that phenomenon influences the
lake's food web.
(Contact: George Ison, 312-353-1669, ison.
george@epa.gov)
National Librarians Conference
The American Librarians Association held
its 2005 Conference in Chicago, Illinois
from June 23rd to 29th. USEPA had a dis-
play booth jointly sponsored by GLNPO
and Region 5's Office of Public Affairs'
Environmental Education program.
GLNPO's Susan Boehme and Frank
Anscombe helped to staff the booth and
Barry Manne prepared computers for ser-
vice at the conference. The booth was
"constantly busy" (over Saturday and Sun-
day, too): over 600 copies of the Great
Lakes Atlas were distributed and over 400
"swipes" with ID-cards were made request-
ing a package to be mailed which includes
the Great Lakes Atlas.
(Contact: Patricia Krause, 312-886-9506,
krause.patricia@epa.gov)
Wind Energy and Wildlife
A number of wind power projects have been
proposed for the Great Lakes basin, includ-
ing a project near Horicon Marsh in Wis-
consin as well as the islands in the western
Lake Erie Basin. Wrongly placed, wind tur-
bines cause major avian and wildlife car-
nage and yet little data exists regarding the
impacts of wind energy on migrating wild-
life. The Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem
Team (GLBET) of the U.S. Fish and Wild-
life Service identified this issue as its top
priority at its December 2004 meeting in
Chicago; and consequently, a GLNPO-
GLBET wind power team emerged as the
A "wind farm" of electric-generating wind turbines
(Photo courtesy of Department of Energy)
coordinating body for the basin, and began
convening the experts on this important is-
sue. Momentum continued to build, and two
projects rose to the top of the Steering Com-
mittee's list for immediate 'value-added'
activities:
1. A habitat project at Neda Mine in Wis-
consin, one of the largest known bat hi-
bernation areas in the Midwest located
near the proposed wind power farm at
Horicon Marsh, which would develop
decision-making tools to minimize dam-
age to wildlife when siting wind farms
by utilizing state-of-the-art technology;
and
2. A conference, proposed for Spring of
2006, at the Maumee Area of Concern,
which would share these new tools with
experts and decision makers, hone them
based upon feedback, and eventually ap-
ply them to the Lake Erie Basin. This
would result in the development of a
Lake Erie Basin map identifying areas
of "low-risk" to migratory species. The
purpose of the collaborative effort be-
tween GLNPO and the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service is to inform the discus-
sion, supplying future decision-makers
with the information necessary to effec-
tively evaluate migratory species con-
cerns when making wind power siting
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June 2005
decisions.
(Contacts: Rich Greenwood, 312-886-3853,
greenwood.richard@epa.gov; or Karen
Rodriguez, 312-353-2690, rodriguez.
karen@epa.gov)
Reducing Mercury Releases
from Artisanal Mining
GLNPO's Frank Anscombe attended an in-
ternational multi-stakeholder meeting con-
vened by the World Bank, the United Na-
tions Industrial Development Organization
(UNIDO), and USEPA on June 15th in
Washington, DC to discuss opportunities to
improve mercury management among ar-
tisanal gold miners. This is part of a U.S.
commitment to encourage practical actions,
on an international scale, to reduce releases
of mercury to the environment. The meeting
was attended by 61 people, including repre-
sentatives from Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cam-
eroon, Guiana, South Africa, Suriname, and
Tanzania.
The Gold Institute has estimated artisanal
miners produce 1,000 tons of gold per year.
Millions of miners are active in 55 countries
across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
They employ mercury to bind with gold or
silver within ores, yielding long-term local
contamination of soils and rivers. In addi-
tion, miners heat the gold/mercury amalgam
over fires, volatilizing away mercury and
liberating the gold that they seek. If miners
emit as much mercury to air as they reap
gold (a conservative assumption), they
would collectively emit 1,000 tons/year of
mercury to the atmosphere. This would con-
stitute a relatively large anthropogenic
source of mercury vapor to the atmosphere,
even though this source has usually not
been included in estimates of global mer-
cury emissions.
An artisanal gold miner in Guinea digs in subsoil
(Photo courtesy of USAID)
The UNIDO has projects to promote cleaner
artisanal mining practices in six nations
(Brazil, Indonesia, Laos, Sudan, Tanzania,
and Zimbabwe). Miners can craft retorts
from available materials to capture mercury
vapor, and employ more efficient processes.
The Swiss government's Agency for Devel-
opment and Cooperation sponsors a project
to reduce mercury losses within several
mining communities in Peru. In addition,
the French and Dutch governments are
sponsoring work by the World Wildlife
Fund to collaborate with miners in Guiana
and Surinam. A U.S. non-governmental or-
ganization, Blacksmith Institute, is working
with miners in Mozambique. The World
Bank's Communities and Small-scale Min-
ing program issues small grants and pro-
vides a forum for diverse artisanal mining
topics.
(Contact: Frank Anscombe, 312-353-0201,
anscombe.frank@epa.gov)
Carp Barrier Update
The Aquatic Nuisance Species Dispersal
Barrier Panel met at the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers Chicago District offices on
June 23rd. An update on the status and op-
eration of Barrier I indicated that there no
maintenance problems with the barrier or
U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office
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June 2005
Significant Activities Report
any new failures/deteriorations of existing
cables and that a barge safety survey was
recently completed. An update of the status
of Barrier II indicated that the underwater
work should be completed in August and
that the goal for phase 2 of Barrier II con-
struction is September of this year. The
monitoring of tagged fish near Barrier I in-
dicate that there have been no crossings and
that carp typically test the barrier for a week
or two before moving downstream to better
habitat.
More information on Asian Carp and the
Dispersal Barrier is available online at:
http://www.epa.gov/greatlakes/invasive/
asiancarp/
(Contact: Elizabeth Murphy, 312-353-4227,
murphy.elizabeth@epa.gov)
Upcoming Events
2005
Public Meetings on Great Lakes Regional
Collaboration Draft "Strategy to Restore
and Protect the Great Lakes":
July 28th Gary, Indiana
August 1st Grand Rapids, Michigan
August 4th Superior, Wisconsin
Detroit, Michigan
Cleveland, Ohio
Buffalo, New York
th
August 18
August 23rd
August 30th
September 15t!
Great Lakes Binational
Toxics Strategy Integration
Workgroup, Chicago, Illi-
nois
November 2n - State of Lake Michigan
4th Conference, Green Bay,
Wisconsin
December 6th- Great Lakes Binational
7th
Toxics Strategy Stakeholder
Forum and Integration
Workgroup, Chicago, Illi-
nois
December 12th Great Lakes Regional Col-
laboration Summit II, Chi-
cago, Illinois
We welcome your questions, comments or
suggestions about this month's Significant
Activities Report. To be added to or re-
moved from the Email distribution of the
Significant Activities Report, please contact
Tony Kizlauskas, 312-353-8773,
kizlauskas.anthony@epa.gov.
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