FOX RIVER
Fall 2008 Vol. 11, No. 3
Update from the Lower Fox River Intergovernmental Partnership
Preparations Start for 2009 Downstream Cleanup
By Susan Pastor, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Although full-scale cleanup work in the downstream
segments of the Lower Fox River isn't scheduled
to begin until next spring, the paper companies
responsible for the cleanup from Appleton to Green
Bay are getting a head start now.
Much of the prep work is happening on an area in
Green Bay near Georgia Pacific's plant known as the
"Shell Property." Under U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency and Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources oversight, the companies leading the cleanup
will be using the property at 1611 State St. as a staging
area. This is where sediment will be "dewatered"
(drained) and the water will be treated before being
returned to the river.
A small-scale test of the dewatering system was done
using sediment samples collected from the river.
"This preliminary work provided an opportunity for
the companies to test a number of sets of equipment
PHOTO COURTESY OF TETRATECH
I
PHOTO COURTESY OF TETRATECH
Sediment dredged from the Lower Fox River will be treated and
dewaterd next year at this state-of-the-art processing facility in
Green Bay.
When construction is complete, this 242,000-sq. foot processing
facility will feature eight of the world's largest filter membrane
presses.
and additives to get the best dewatering results," said
EPA Remedial Project Manager Jim Hahnenberg.
"A dryer product means less loads of sediment being
hauled to a landfill."
Soil and ground-water samples have been taken
to ensure that construction on site is done without
creating an environmental problem. Contractors are
busily removing asphalt, grading the site, making
an area for the sediment processing building and
talking with local agencies about their construction
regulations.
"These various evaluations are important to make
sure that nothing is adversely affected by our
operations," Hahnenberg concluded.
More information will be available soon on
the companies' new Web site, which is under
development.
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Fall 2008
FOX RIVER CURRENT
EPA, Paper Companies Sign New Legal Agreement
By Susan Pastor, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
A new legal agreement was recently finalized between
U.S. Department of Justice (on behalf of U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources) and two paper
companies which ensures that the cleanup of Little
Lake Butte des Morts will continue.
The agreement, called a consent decree, replaces the
original 2004 decree in which Glatfelter and WTMI
agreed to pay for the work and reimburse EPA and DNR
for their past costs. The previous decree applied to
the cleanup plan EPA approved at the time. Under
this new decree, the companies are responsible for
the design and cleanup of contaminated sediment
in the lake under the recently amended record of
decision document for Little Lake Butte des Morts
(also referred to as Operable Unit 1). This document
details the final cleanup plan.
According to EPA Assistant Regional
Counsel Richard Murawski, both federal
agencies and DNR are pleased with
this new consent decree. "This legally
requires Glatfelter and WTM I to design
and conduct the Little Lake Butte des
Morts cleanup according to our new
record of decision," he said. "With this
new agreement in place, there won't be
any interruption, so all dredging and
sand covering can continue."
EPA and DNR will continue to oversee
the work to verify that all aspects are
done properly and according to the
new decision document. Dredging
and covering will be the main methods
used for the cleanup. Buoys and other
waterway markers will be installed
around the perimeter of the in-water
work.
The companies will also be required
to use in-water pipelines or other
appropriate techniques to transport the
dredged sediment to the staging area. Dewatering
will be done by using processes such as plate and
frame presses, belt filter presses, or large geotextile
tubes to squeeze water from PCB-contaminated
sediment before disposal.
Water generated by dredging and dewatering
operations will be treated prior to discharge back
to the Lower Fox River and must meet all state and
federal water-quality standards.
This consent decree was lodged in federal court on
June 30 and it was approved by the court on
August 13, after a public comment period was held
by DOJ. The decree is posted at www.epa.gov/
regionS/foxriver. Hard copies are also available for
review at the five information repositories listed on
page 7.
A plate and frame filter press similar to this might be used to dewater dredged
sediment at Little Lake Butte Des Morts.
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Fall 2008
FOX RIVER CURRENT
Companies Complete Lake Dredging, Begin Capping
By Susan Pastor, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
With the dredging portion of the Little Lake Butte des
Morts cleanup completed in late June, the companies
doing the work have set their sights on placing sand
covers and caps in the remaining contaminated areas.
The covers and caps are being done under a modified
plan that was issued by U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
in June. It replaces the cleanup plan that had been in
place since 2002. Other than long-term monitoring, this
is the final phase of the lake cleanup project.
Sand covers and "armored" caps are the two methods
being used by Glatfelter and WTMI to clean up PCB-
contaminated sediment, along with dredging.
According to EPA Remedial Project Manager Jim
Hahnenberg, "We are entering the final phase of the
project building on successes achieved by the companies'
diligent efforts."
Work under the new plan began in June. The plan
requires sand covers to be used over certain areas with
low levels of PCB-contaminated sediment as well as over
some areas previously dredged but with small amounts
of residual, or leftover, PCBs. The armored caps will be
placed in areas of the river that have more than six feet
of water and have higher levels of PCBs in the sediment.
These covers and caps will keep the sediment in place to
ensure that fish cannot come into contact with it.
Sand covers are being placed around nearby Friendship
Trail and will continue through October when work will
stop for the year. After boating season ends in October,
sand covers will be placed in the navigation channel near
the Highway 441 bridge.
A second staging area was added in August. The area is
located on two acres of property owned by Wild Ones
Natural Landscapes, Ltd. on Butte des Morts Beach
Road. Pumps, pipes and sand and gravel supplies will
be stored there. It will also serve as the starting point for
a pipeline extending to in-water equipment. This new
area will be used through the end of October and again in
spring 2009 when cleanup work starts up.
*
Out and About...
By Susan Pastor, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency
The Fox River Intergovernmental Partnership
is made up of U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, Oneida Tribe of Indians of
Wisconsin and Menominee Indian Tribe
of Wisconsin. These partners, as well as
other supporting agencies, regularly provide
speakers to organizations in the Fox Valley
area. The following people recently made
presentations:
August
* Colette Charbonneau, FWS: FWS
directors meeting, LaCrosse; cooperative
restoration of Lower Fox River/Green Bay
site.
* Greg Hill, DNR: Optimist Club, DePere;
general Lower Fox River/Green Bay site
update.
September
* Susan Pastor, EPA and Betsy Galbraith,
Oneida Tribe: Fall Fest booth, Oneida;
general Lower Fox River/Green Bay site
update.
When work starts up again next spring, it will take
place north of the bridge and is expected to run into the
summer. This will end the in-water work for the project
and the entire lake cleanup will be done in 2009.
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Fall 2008
FOX RIVER CURRENT
The Fox River Current is featuring promising natural resource damage assessment projects in and near the
Lower Fox River.
Spotlight On:
Common Tern Nesting Island Project
By Colette Charbonneau, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
After three long years of mild
Wisconsin winters, the ice on
western Lake Butte des Morts
was finally thick enough this
past winter to hold dump trucks
loaded with boulders, rocks and
clay used to construct an island.
This island was developed
to provide nesting habitat for
a state endangered bird, the
common tern.
The Fox River/Green Bay
Natural Resource Trustee
Council approved funding for
the restoration project since it
clearly would restore injured
natural resources. Common
terns were likely affected by
the release of PCBs into the
environment by eating small
fish-the bird's preferred
food. This species was once
fairly common in lower Green
Bay but habitat loss, nest
disturbance, human interference
and chemical contaminants have
affected the population.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ART TECHLOW, WISCONSIN DNR
Work crews construct an island on the ice of Little Lake Butte des Morts during the winter of
2008.
"The area in the lake where the island was built
was a shoal or small rock pile just under the water
surface," said Art Techlow, Wisconsin Department
of Natural Resources Winnebago system biologist.
"We needed at least 19 inches of ice for the trucks
to drive on safely. Then they could only carry half
loads of materials to the island spot."
According to Techlow, the construction of the island
took 62 truck loads at 10 tons per load and seven
days to complete. When the ice melted this spring,
the materials sank around and above the small rock
pile creating an island for the birds.
Common terns nest on isolated, sparsely vegetated
islands or peninsulas in large lakes. Their nests
See Spotlight, Page 5
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Fall 2008
FOX RIVER CURRENT
Spotlight from Page 4
are slight depressions in the sandy soil which
may be lined with grasses, small sticks or bits of
water plants. The birds prefer to nest in colonies.
The new island, to be named soon, is in a little-
used area on one of the bays of Lake Butte des
Morts near Terrell's Island Habitat Restoration
Area. The island is owned by the Butte des Morts
Conservation Club and is held in public trust just in
case something happens to the club. This way the
nesting island will be protected far into the future.
"We did not expect to see any nesting on the island
this first year," Techlow continued. "I thought the
birds would check out the new spot but be a little
hesitant to use it right away. To my surprise, 11
pairs of common terns nested with success during
the summer. And, there were several single birds
that used the island too."
Some of the biggest concerns
for continued nesting success
on the island are predation
(killing and eating young
birds) from owls, displacement
by gulls and potential human
disturbance. The DNR will
assist the Conservation Club in
the management of the island
to limit these factors as much
as possible. Remember to
enjoy the birds from a distance
to reduce disturbing the
adult terns in their nests next
summer.
Common terns will return
to a site where they have
successfully raised their
young the year before. And,
the young will return the
next year as adults also. "We
hope they tell all their friends,
too," Techlow said with a
grin. "More successful years
of nesting will help build the population of this neat
bird"
The natural resource trustees are comprised of
DNR, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Oneida
Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin, Menominee Indian
Tribe of Wisconsin, Michigan Attorney General,
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality,
Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
For further information on Natural Resource
Damage Assessment restoration projects, contact
Trustee Council Coordinator Colette Charbonneau,
FWS, at Colette_Charbonneau@fws.gov or at 920-
866-1726.
PHOTO COURTESY OF U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Adult common terns nest on the newly constructed island during the spring and summer of
2008.
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Fall 2008
FOX RIVER CURRENT
Wild Rose Hatchery Celebrates New Trout, Salmon Facilities
By Tom Turner and Lisa Gaumnitz, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
A $15.9 million renovation of Wild Rose State
Fish Hatchery was celebrated by state and federal
government officials, local residents and anglers
Monday, Aug. 18.
Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle, Wisconsin Department
of Natural Resources Secretary Matt Frank, and U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service officials made the trip to
Wild Rose, a small town in Waushara County about
80 miles inland, to be part of the grand opening. The
project updates a century-old facility that's long been
a pillar of Wisconsin's stocking program, enabling it
to meet modern environmental standards and to raise
even more fish.
"Today's a great day for anglers," Doyle told the
crowd before cutting a ribbon stretched across the
doors of the new trout and salmon nursery. "This
project is critical to Lake Michigan's world-class
fishing and to expanding fishing opportunities across
the state. It will allow Wild Rose to continue to
produce these fish for generations to come."
The new coldwater facilities were paid for by
an innovative funding package. Nearly
40 percent of the total, or $6 million,
comes from the environmental restoration
agreements reached with paper companies
on the Lower Fox River. The Fox River/
Green Bay Natural Resource Trustee Council
approved this project as part of a natural
resource damage assessment and restoration
agreement.
About $3.6 million of funding comes from
sport fish restoration dollars and federal
revenues from the excise tax on fishing
and boating equipment. The Great Lakes
Trout and Salmon stamp that anglers buy
to fish Lake Michigan and Lake Superior is
providing $1.5 million.
"We're thrilled to be opening these new
facilities for trout and salmon and to bring
Wild Rose into the 21st century," said
Frank. "The renovation of this hatchery
will cement Lake Michigan's status as the top fishing
destination in Wisconsin and the anchor of our $2.75
billion sport fishing industry."
Lake Michigan depends on stocking and 100 percent
of the 2.3 million trout and salmon produced at the
Wild Rose Hatchery are stocked in Lake Michigan.
The completion of the coldwater facilities allows
DNR to continue producing Chinook, coho and brown
trout. In the future, it will allow Wild Rose to start
raising rainbow trout, eventually increasing by 15
percent the total amount of trout and salmon produced
for Lake Michigan.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Deputy Regional Director
Charlie Wooley noted that appreciating the success of
programs like the FWS sport fish restoration comes
directly from seeing on-the-ground action by state
agencies like the DNR. FWS, through the sport fish
restoration funds it provides to Wisconsin, helped
pay for the renovation of the Wild Rose coldwater
facilities.
See Wild Rose Hatchery, Page 7
-Mm
'•*-'.3 H-a_3 r3
PHOTO COURTESY OF WISCONSIN DNR
Self-cleaning and biosecure rearing tanks house brown trout at the new Wild
Rose State Fish Hatchery.
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Fall 2008
FOX RIVER CURRENT
Wild Rose Hatchery from Page 6
Construction work on the coldwater facilities started
in 2006 and was largely completed this past spring.
Work started earlier this year to build Phase 2, a new
coolwater facility for musky, walleye, lake sturgeon
and northern pike, and is expected to be completed
in 2010. That expansion will allow Wild Rose to
double its production of these species. A third phase
will restore the wetland, springs and stream disturbed
when the hatchery was originally built in the early
1900s by a private fish farmer. The renovation will
allow the hatchery to send cleaner water back to the
Pine River, a Class 1 trout stream.
Invited guests and local residents toured the new
coldwater production facilities and saw the first fish
being raised in the hatchery. They also explored the
new visitor center and strolled the historic hatchery
grounds, which have been fixed up with new paint
and new interpretive signs for self-guided tours.
Parts of the old hatchery have been left in place and
large trout and salmon still swim in the old outdoor
raceways giving people an up-close look at the fish
species produced at the hatchery. The contrast of the
new hatchery with elements of the old is a reminder
of the important role this hatchery has played over
the past century and looks ahead to continued service
for the next 100 years.
The natural resource trustees are comprised of
DNR, FWS, Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin,
Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, Michigan
Attorney General, Michigan Department of
Environmental Quality, Michigan Department
of Natural Resources and National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration.
For further information on Natural Resource Damage
Assessment restoration projects, contact Trustee
Council Coordinator Colette Charbonneau, FWS, at
Colette_Charbonneau@fws.gov or at 920-866-1726.
Information Available at Local Libraries
The Intergovernmental Partners invite the public to review technical reports, fact sheets and other documents
related to the Lower Fox River cleanup at information repositories set up in the reference sections of the local
libraries listed below. Information repositories at the public libraries in De Pere, Kaukauna, Little Chute,
Neenah and Wrightstown have been discontinued. However, binders containing fact sheets and newsletters are
being maintained at these locations as well as at the following repositories:
Appleton Public Library, 225 N. Oneida
St., Appleton, Wis.; 920-832-6170
Brown County Library, 515 Pine St.,
Green Bay, Wis.; 920-448-4381, Ext. 394
Door County Library, 107 S. Fourth Ave.,
Sturgeon Bay, Wis.; 920-743-6578
Oneida Community Library, 201 Elm St.,
Oneida, Wis.; 920-869-2210
Oshkosh Public Library, 106 Washington
Ave., Oshkosh, Wis.; 920-236-5205
Check out these Web sites:
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/wm/foxriver/index.html
http://www.epa.gov/region5/sites/foxriver
http://contaminants.fws.gov/Issues/Restoration.cfm
http://www.fws.gov/midwest/nrda/index.html
An administrative record, which contains detailed information upon which the selection of the final site
cleanup plan was based, is also available for review at two DNR offices: 801 E. Walnut St., Green Bay, Wis.
and 101 S. Webster St., 3rd Floor, Madison, Wis. An administrative record is also available at the EPA
Record Center, 77 W. Jackson Blvd., 7th Floor, Chicago, III.
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Prepared by the Fox River Intergovernmental Partnership: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin, and National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration. Supporting agencies include Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services, U.S. Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in these articles are solely those of the authors and are not necessarily shared by all members of
the Fox River Intergovernmental Partnership.
INSIDE
FOX RIVER CURRENT
Preparations Start for 2009 Cleanup
EPA, Paper Companies Sign New Legal Agreement
Companies Complete Lake Dredging, Begin Capping
Out and About. . .
Spotlight On: Common Tern Nesting Island Project
Wild Rose Hatchery Celebrates New Trout, Salmon Facilities
Information Repository Locations
Web Site Addresses
Fox River Current is published quarterly by the
Fox River Intergovernmental Partnership. Its
purpose is to provide up-to-date information
about cleanup and restoration efforts on
the Lower Fox River. Call Susan Pastor at
312-353-1325 or 800-621-8431 Ext. 31325,
weekdays, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. to request a
subscription or alternative format. Feedback
on articles and ideas for future issues are
welcome. Send comments to Susan Pastor,
EPA Office of Superfund (P-19J), 77 W.
Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604 or e-mail
pastor.susan@epa.gov.
&EPA
Office of Superfund (P-19J)
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region 5
77 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604-3590
Reproduced on Recycled Paper
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