wEPA

United States
Environmental Protection
Agency

For more information...

Susan Pastor

EPA Community Involvement

Coordinator

(312)353-1325 or

(800) 621-8431

weekdays 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

pastor, susan@epa.gov

Pablo Valentin

EPA Remedial Project Manager

(312) 353-2886 or

(800) 621-8431

weekdays 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

valentin.pablo@epa.gov

Site-related documents
may be reviewed at:

Mead Public Library

710 N. 8th St.

Sheboygan

Sheboygan City Hall

828 Center Ave.

Sheboygan

Certain EPA information
can be viewed
electronically at:

www.epa.gov/region5/sites/sheboygan

Second Phase of Upper River
Cleanup Starting this Summer

Sheboygan River and Harbor Site

Sheboygan County, Wisconsin

May 2006

Contaminated sediment will be removed from three areas of the upper
Sheboygan River this summer, according to U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency Region 5. The project is the second phase in the cleanup of the
upper portion of the river.

In the first phase, EPA cleaned up contaminated soil and ground water
(water beneath the earth's surface) at the former Tecumseh facility. It began
in August 2004 and was completed in October 2004. This phase included
finding ways to stop PCB contamination that may be coming from soil and
ground water at the facility from polluting the Sheboygan River. This phase
included construction of a trench for contaminated ground water, as well as
the removal and off-site disposal of contaminated soil.

Cleanup of the contaminated flood plain soil was initially planned for the
first phase of the cleanup. However, a separate plan to clean up flood plain
soil will be developed after contaminated sediment is removed. This will
be coordinated by EPA, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and
Pollution Risk Services (the company that bought the former Tecumseh
facility in Sheboygan Falls).

Upper river cleanup plan

The three upper river areas that will
be cleaned up this summer include
the near-shore area, armored areas,
and the soft sediment deposits (the
small particles that settle on the river
bottom where the current is slower).

The upper river sediment will be
removed in two ways. Sediment
areas that are near the former
Tecumseh facility, near-shore, and armored areas will be removed with
excavation equipment after the areas are drained. The soft sediment deposits
will be dredged.

Armored areas

Between 1989 and 1990, eight sediment deposits were "armored" in the
upper Sheboygan River. "Armoring" means these areas were reinforced in
various ways to reduce erosion along steep slopes and stream banks, and
prevent the PCB-contaminated sediment from moving downstream. Because
there may be continuing discharges of PCBs from the site and because of
concerns about the effectiveness of the armoring process, the armored areas
will be removed and disposed of in approved landfills. This will reduce the
long-term management and maintenance requirements for the site.

Soft sediment

Soft sediment deposits will be removed with a floating hydraulic dredge.
The sediment and water will be pumped to and separated at the former
Tecumseh facility.

Scientists collect samples from the river.


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Cleanup goals

The goal of the cleanup is to remove all near-
shore sediment, and at least 88 percent of the PCB
contamination from the armored areas and soft sediment
deposits. Ultimately, EPA intends to clean the entire river
to a PCB level of 0.5 parts per million or less. To put
this in perspective, that level equates to one-half drop of
PCB in 10,000 gallons of water. The soft sediment PCB
concentration will be re-evaluated every five years after
the cleanup is completed to make sure that the 0.5 ppm
PCB concentration is not exceeded.

Achieving the river sediment goal of 0.5 ppm average
PCB concentration requires different approaches for
the upper, middle and lower river and the inner harbor
because of the way sediment is distributed.

Dredging - the preferred solution

In most areas of contaminated sediment, the preferred
cleanup solution is dredging, which involves digging and
removing layers of polluted mud. Depending on how thick
the layer of contamination is, it is sometimes necessary to
fill in the areas with clean soil. After the sediment is dug
up, it is piped to an area where it can be separated from

the water. The water then undergoes treatment similar
to that of a water treatment plant and can be released
back into the river. The separated soil is disposed of in a
licensed landfill that is designed to hold it.

What is contaminated sediment and why
is it a problem?

The mud at the bottom of lakes, rivers and streams is
made up of soil and other materials such as leaves, shells
and decomposed wood chips. Sedimentation, or the
movement of these materials into lakes and rivers, occurs
naturally. This mud is contaminated by the byproducts
of industrial and urban development, including industrial
and household wastes; runoff from streets, parking lots
and farms; and toxic chemicals from air pollution. People
who come into direct contact with or eat contaminated
sediment may be at risk. Because fish and wildlife can be
contaminated with PCBs, people who eat contaminated
fish or waterfowl may also suffer adverse health effects.
In 1978, the state advised residents not to eat fish from
the Sheboygan River 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.

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