v>EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Opportunity for pubic meeting
If you are interested in EPA hoi ding
a meeting to further explain these
results, please contact:
Cheryl Allen
Community Involvement Coordinator
EPARegion 5
(800)621-8431
weekdays, 10 a.m to 5:30 p.m.
allen.cheryl@epa.gov
Information repository
Copies of the documents related to
the cleanup of Manistique River
and Harbor are available at:
Manistique Public Library
100 N. Cedar, Room 31
Manistique, Mich.
School craft County Courthouse
County Clerk's Office
300 Walnut St.
Manistique, Mich.
Website
Check out the following Web site to
learn more about the Manistique
Harbor and River site.
www.epa.gov/region5/sites/
manistique
Sampling Results Show
Cleanup is Working
Manistique Harbor and River Site
Manistique, Michigan March 2006
Sampling of mud, surface water and fish conducted by U. S. Environmental
Protection Agency has shown that dredging of the Manistique Harbor and
River has been very effective in reducing PCB contamination. PCB is short
for poly chlorinated biphenyls, which are hazardous chemical compounds
once used extensively in manufacturing. PCBs are no longer made in the
United States but last a long time if released into the environment.
At the completion of dredging in 2000, the average PCB level in the
shallow mud (sediment) was 7.7 parts per million. Parts per million or ppm
is a scientific measurement meaning parts of PCBs per million parts
sediment. After another round of sampling was done in 2004, the average
PCB level had dropped below 1 ppm, greatly exceeding EPAs cleanup
goal of 10 ppm. Scientists say these unexpectedly good results may be due
to natural processes in the river and harbor burying the PCBs left over from
the dredging. It has taken extra time to release the 2004 sampling results
because the agencies involved have been very careful ensuring that the
sampling results, as well as the documents interpreting those results, are
accurate.
In addition to the good news about the sediment, results of surface water
sampling done in August 2004 showed PCBs were not detected, and none
of the 29 fish sampled contained PCBs above the Food and Drug
Administration limit of 2 ppm (the limit set to protect human health). Before
dredging occurred in the Manistique River and Harbor, the average PCB
level in walleye fillets from the river south of the highway bridge was 0.34
ppm. EPA predicted the dredging proj ect would reduce the PCB level in
walleye to 0.12 ppm, but the actual results showed PCB concentrations
had dropped all the way to 0.056 ppm.
Details of sampling results
Sediment sampling
Mud samples were taken from 514 locations. Of those samples, 190
contained some level of PCBs. However, only eight samples were found at
concentrations above EPAs cleanup goal of 10 ppm. The average level of
PCBs was 0.74 ppm, which was far less than expected.
Surface water sampling
Surface water samples were taken from 40 locations and no PCBs were
detected.
Fish sampling
Samples were taken from 29 adult fish. Of these, PCBs were found in 11
fish. PCB levels in 10 of those fish were above the Great Lakes Sport Fish
Consumption Advisory of 0.05 ppm. This advisory is the recommended
maximum amount of PCBs allowed in fish eaten by women of childbearing
age, a level that was set to protect unborn children. No fillets had PCB
concentrations above the FDA limit of 2 ppm. The average level of PCBs
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in fish was 0.11 ppm. However, PCB levels remain high
enough that there are still fish consumption advisories in
effect for Manistique Harbor.
Sampling plan
Because the harbor and river can change over time due
to currents, erosion and development, EPA will continue
to take samples annually through 2008 to ensure the
PCB levels continue to drop. Sampling done during this
period will be more limited, focusing primarily on PCB
"hot spots" where concentrations have been high. The
first such round of sampling was done in August and
September 2005. The results of the 2005 sampling in
the "hot spots" found that the PCB levels remained very
close to the levels found in the 2004 sampling in those
areas. Another round of comprehensive sampling similar
to the 2004 study is planned for 2008. After the 2008
sampling, EPA should have a better idea as to when the
PCBs will no longer be a concern for the Manistique
River and Harbor.
Mailing list
If you would like to be added to the Manistique mailing
list or would like to make a change to your address,
please contact Cheryl Allen (see shaded box at right).
For more information
For more information about the Manistique River and
Harbor cleanup, please contact:
Cheryl Allen
Community Involvement Coordinator
Office of Public Affairs (P-19 J)
EPARegion 5
77 W.Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604-3590
Phone: (800) 621-8431, weekdays, 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Fax: (312)353-1155
E-mail: allen.cheryl@epa.gov
Jena Sleboda Braun
Remedial Proj ect Manager
Superfund Division (SR-6J)
EPARegion 5
77 W.Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604-3590
Phone: (800) 621-8431, weekdays, 10a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Fax: (312)886-7191
E-mail: sleboda.jena@epa.gov
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