FOX

Summer 2012

RIVER

Vol. 15, No. 2

Update from the Fox River Intergovernmental Partnership

River Cleanup Comes Down Home Stretch

By Susan Pastor, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

As the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources monitor
the last portion of the Lower Fox River cleanup from
DePere to Green Bay, one could say they are literally
coming down the home stretch.

"This is the final stretch of river to be dredged, and
we are still shooting to have it completed by 2017,"
said EPA Remedial Project Manager Jim Hahnenberg.

Federal Appeals Court
Affirms District Court
Ruling; Cleanup Continues

By Susan Pastor, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency

NCR Corp., one of the companies responsible for
PCB contamination in the Lower Fox River, must
continue dredging this year, according to an
August 3 ruling from the United States Court of
Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. The U.S. District
Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin granted
a motion for preliminary injunction and ordered the
company to remove and clean up at least 660,000
cubic yards of contaminated sediment in 2012.

More information can be found m the court's ruling,
"Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, No. 10-C-
910—William C. Griesbach, Judge; Argued June 4,
2012—Decided August 3, 2012." This document is
posted at www.epa.gov/region5/cleanup/foxriver.

Although the other three portions of the river were
cleaned up in eight years, this last portion is taking
the longest to complete because it is where the
majority of the PCB-contaminated sediment lies,
according to Flahnenberg.

"The sediment is thicker as you get closer to the
bay," he explained. "The river gets deeper as you go
downstream. The center channel has been artificially
deepened by the navigational dredging done by the
Army Corps of Engineers over the last 100 years or
so (see related article on page 3). This creates deeper
areas, which, in turn, creates another area where
sediment is deposited."

All dredging this year is being done south of the
Georgia-Pacific plant in Green Bay. "We prefer
to work upstream to downstream to eliminate
recontamination of areas that may already be
completed downstream," said Flahnenberg.

PHOTO COOBXESy OF THE POEDT TEAM

Field crew measures the sample depth.

continued on page 7 >

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Summer 2012

FOX RIVER CURRENT

EPA, DNR Review New

By Susan Pastor, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources have worked independently
to review applications that would allow pre-treated. PCB-
contaminated sediment dredged from the Lower Fox River to
be taken to an in-state solid waste landfill.

Waste Management of Wisconsin submitted applications
to both agencies so its Ridgeview Recycling and Disposal
Facility in Whitelaw, near Manitowoc, can accept the river's
sediment starting this year.

Sediment with "higher levels" of PCBs is currently being
trucked to a licensed facility near Detroit. NCR Corp., one of
the companies doing the cleanup under EPA and Wisconsin
DNR oversight, has been looking for an existing Wisconsin
landfill that has enough space to accept the sediment. If
Ridgeview is approved, the last segment to be cleaned up from
DePere to Green Bay would go faster while keeping costs
down, according to Jim Plahnenberg, EPA remedial project
manager. Contaminated sediment with lower levels of PCBs
is accepted in-state at the Veolia Hickory Meadows landfill in
Chilton.

According to Hahnenberg's EPA colleague, Environmental
Scientist Karen Kirchner, sediment with PCB levels of at least
50 parts per million is filtered to remove the water after it is
dredged from the river. Solid material remaining 011 the filter
is referred to as "filter cake."

"The dredging operations remove sediment with PCBs greater
than or less than 50 ppm, she explained. Once it is processed,
the PCB levels of the filter cake are below 50 ppm and can be
taken to Ridgeview," she explained. "If any of the filter cake
has PCB levels of 50 ppm or higher, it will continue to go out
of state."

Kirchner. who works in EPA's Land and Chemicals Division,
is one of the reviewers. "Because that waste originally
contained PCBs at or above 50 ppm, it falls under the federal
Toxic Substances Control Act and has to be taken to a landfill
licensed to accept it," she said.

Wisconsin DNR staff issued a "plan of operation modification"
to WMW1 on July 17 so Ridgeview will be able to accept
sediment dredged from the Lower Fox River. The state's
modification is contingent on ERAs approval to WMWI.

Landfill Requests







i

pS I

j WASTE MANAGEMENT L

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PHOTO GQOKTESY OF WifcgTE:M4Jt#BEMENT OE WISCfjSSIM

Treated sediment from the Lower Fox River may soon be taken
to this Wisconsin landfill.

The Ridgeview site is the only landfill being considered
because an application was submitted to the TSCA program,
where Kirchner works, in the Agency's Chicago office. In
conjunction with the state's application, WMWI is also
required to ask EPA for a "risk-based disposal approval"
which would allow processed PCB-contaminated sediment
of at least 50 ppm to be taken from the Lower Fox River to a
new area, referred to as a "cell," inside the currently operating
landfill. No other applications have been received. EPA's
TSCA program does not solicit sites for the disposal of PCB-
contaminated material. EPA only evaluates and responds to
applications it receives.

"In this case, our approval would coincide with Wisconsin
DNR's decision regarding the modification," Kirchner
explained. "The Agency's decision is based on whether
bringing this material to Ridgeview would pose a danger to
people or the environment. If it did, EPA wouldn't approve
the request," Kirchner said.

EPA let the public know about WMWI's requests and held
a comment period from July 23 to August 21. Pertinent
documents are available for review at the Manitowoc Public
Library,

Formal documents on the risk-based approval process and
responses to public comments will be available to the public
by the end of September.

For further information, go to www.epa.gov/region5/waste/
tsca/ridgeview or contact Karen Kirchner toll-free at 800-621-
8431, ext. 34669 or via email at kirchner.karen@epa.gov.

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Summer 2012

FOX RIVER CURRENT

Army Corps Completes

By Susan Pastor, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has completed its
annual dredging project in the Lower Fox River.

After starting in Green Bay in April, the Corps worked its
way southwest, dredging about three miles upstream to the
Green Bay turning basm from Allouez to Ashwaubenon.

The Corps used the same equipment it used in 2010 and
2011, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Remedial Project Manager Jim Hahnenberg.

"By using an environmental-type closed bucket dredge
with 'baffles and seals,' the movement of water and mud
slows down," Hahnenberg explained. "Similar to a rubber
gasket, the seal prevents contaminated water and mud from
leaking through while containing the PCB-contaminated
sediment that is being pulled out of the river/'

This type of bucket dredge, which is different from
the Corps' typical navigational dredge, was used so
contaminated sediment wouldn't spread. The Corps has
agreed to this type of dredge so the work EPA is overseeing
nearby won't be affected.

"Both projects are being coordinated so our dredges won't
bump into theirs," Hahnenberg continued. "We also want
to make sure the Corps operates in areas of the river with
generally low levels of PCBs."

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completes navigational dredging
for 2012.

Dredging for 2012

The Corps dredges this area annually to clear the waterway
for boat traffic after sediment fills back in over the winter.
Regular surveys are done to determine the status of areas
that may need navigational dredging. These surveys show
areas that may have filled in since the last Corps dredging.

The Corps is expected to return next April or May using
the same techniques and equipment and be finished by the
end of July, similar to this year's schedule.



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:

June

~ Betsy Galbraith, FWS: Optimist's Club, Green
Bay; Green Bay Natural Resource Damage
Assessment update.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BOLDT TEAM

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Summer 2012

FOX RIVER CURRENT

The Fox River Current is featuring Natural Resource Damage Assessment projects in and near the Lower
Fox River.

Spotlight On:

Restoring Cat Islands in Lower Green Bay

By Betsy Galbraith, Fox River/Green Bay NRDA Trustee Council Coordinator

The Cat Islands are a string of barrier
islands and areas of shallow water that
were key structural and habitat features of
southern Green Bay. The islands were a
protective barrier for the coastal wetlands
along the southern shoreline and protected
them from high energy and storm events.
Record high lake levels in the mid-1970s to
1980s resulted in the disappearance of the
Cat Islands.

Current Conditions

Conceived over 30 years ago by local
environmentalists, construction is now
underway to recreate the Cat Islands. The
project will construct a 2.5-mile wave
barrier and access road along with 272
acres of the original island footprint. Clean
dredge materials from the Lower Fox River
and Green Bay will be used to rebuild the
islands.

PHOTO eODKSESY OK BROWN (BUB

June 29 aerial photo of Cat Island chain restoration project area (looking west).

Earlier this summer, construction began on the access road
and wave barrier leading to the islands. The first phase
of construction will wrap up later this summer with 3,900
feet of the road being completed.

The Brown County Port and Solid Waste Department is
overseeing construction and administering grant funds for
the project. A local committee of representatives from
federal, state, and local government agencies, citizen
conservation groups, and the University of Wisconsin-
Green Bay are tasked with overseeing the design for the
habitat features of the islands.

Once completed, the islands will provide important
habitat for a variety of fish, birds, and wildlife in lower
Green Bay. The re-established islands and nearby
wetlands will support nesting and rearing habitat for

waterfowl, shorebirds, and water birds. This includes
state- endangered Common, Forster's. and Caspian terns.
Other birds such as egrets, herons, and pelicans will use
the shallow marsh areas that were bolstered by the island
rebuilding as food sources.

The Duck Creek delta marsh and aquatic plants that once
were found extensively in that area are expected to re-
establish after the wave barrier is constructed. "These
wetlands are important habitat for a great diversity of
species - fish, shorebirds, waterfowl, and amphibians."
stated Janet Smith, chair of the science and technical
advisory committee Green Bay biota and habitat
workgroup, "Habitat surrounding the islands will provide
opportunities for fish feeding, spawning and nursery
areas."

Plans are currently underway for additional construction
phases to complete the remainder of the access road and

continued >

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Summer 2012

FOX RIVER CURRENT

side dikes of the west and center island
over the next few years.

This is a long-term restoration project that
Brown County Project Manager Dean Haen
does not expect to see fully completed
during his career. "After working on this
project since 1999,1 am excited to see the
first phases of construction being initiated,"
he said. "Completion of the entire project
is expected to take 30-50 years and is
largely dependent on construction costs and
availability of dredged materials."

The road currently being built for the
Cat Island project is located at the end of
Lineville Road in the village of Suamico.

Due to construction activities, the public	Cat Island Access Road looking north from the end the current project (Station

cannot access the site.	39+18) approximately 900feet from shore (June 29, aerial ofphoto Cat Island).

PHOTQ GOUiSTESraEBReWCeOTTi

Cat Island Access Road looking north from the end the current project (Station
39+18) approximately 900feet from shore (July 11).

When it is done, the wave barrier should be seen from the
Leo Frigo Memorial Bridge or from the air, according to
Haen. "The access road was very noticeable on a recent
commercial flight into Austin Straubel International
Airport in Green Bay," he added.

The project is a partnership among the Port of Green
Bay, Brown County, U.S. Anny Corps of Engineers, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Wisconsin Departments of Transportation and
Natural Resources, Lower Fox River/Green Bay Natural
Resource Trustee Council, UW- Sea
Grant, UW7- Green Bay, and 14 port
terminal operators. Matching funds were
contributed through various federal and
state grant programs along with fees
collected from Brown County port users.

The project was partially funded by the
Lower Fox River/Green Bay Natural
Resource Trustee Council using NRDA
settlement dollars. The natural resource
trustees are comprised of the Wisconsin
DNR, Oneida Tribe of Indians of
Wisconsin, Menominee Indian Tribe of
Wisconsin, FWS, and National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration.

For more information about Fox River/
Green Bay NRDA projects, contact Betsy
M. Galbraith, trustee council coordinator,
at bcts> galbraith a f\\ s.go\ or at 920-866-
1753."

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Summer 2012

FOX RIVER CURRENT

Contractor Finds Old Car On River Bottom

By Susan Pastor, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Survey crews for a marine contractor helped solve a 33-
year-old local mystery while working in the Lower Fox
River in late June.

Contractors for the paper companies cleaning up PCB-
contaminated sediment were using sonar equipment to
measure depths of the river bottom when they found a car
submerged about 18 feet below the surface.

Lead Hydrographer Mike Wyatt for J.F. Brennan Inc. made
the discovery. Responsible for global positioning system
equipment and hydro survey work, Wyatt said he was
back at the office several days later reviewing the data he
collected when he saw something unusual. "It was during
post processing when I noticed the shape of a vehicle at the
bottom of the river," he said. "Our high resolution system
picked it up."

Wyatt said he has been a surveyor for four years, however,
since he had never seen anything like this, he wanted to
verify his findings. "I built 3-D models at the office before
notifying the police," he stated.

Soon, police divers arrived to investigate. They pulled
the old car, covered with zebra mussels, from the water
and moved it to the Green Bay Metro Boat Launch and
later to a secure place. The 1975 Plymouth Valiant
with Minnesota license plates reportedly belonged to a
man who left the car running outside an old Green Bay

A 3-D image of a car sitting at the bottom of the Lower Fox River.

nightclub in 1979. When he came out later in the evening,
it was gone. The theft was reported to police at the time.

The car's transmission was apparently put in drive with
a tire iron found holding down the gas pedal so it could
be dumped into the river at the end of Cherry Street in
downtown Green Bay.

Wyatt, who has done similar work in the Mississippi River
and Great Lakes, said working in the Midwest doesn't
provide many opportunities to find sunken treasure, so
"this is about as exciting as it gets."

'Tm sure it's there," he added. "We just haven't found it yet."

PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE WYATT, J.F. BRENNAN INC.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE WYATT, J.F. BRENNAN INC.

A side view 3-D image of a car submerged in the Lower Fox River

PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE WYATT, J.F. BRENNAN INC.

Car being pulled from the bottom of the Lower Fox River

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Summer 2012	FOX RIVER CURRENT

> continued from page 1

The area that contractors are focusing on is north of
the DePere Dam. As required by an April federal court
decision, 660,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment
will be dredged this year. This includes sediment with
slightly higher levels of PCBs.

"Sediment with concentrations over 50 parts per million
will go to a landfill licensed to accept it," Hahnenberg
continued, "while sediment under 50 ppm can continue to
go to the Veolia Hickory Meadows Landfill in Chilton."

At press time, a currently operating landfill near Manitowoc
was going through the process to receive a permit to accept
higher levels of PCBs (see article on page 2).

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BOLDT TEAM

Workers take sediment samples from the Lower Fox River.

Information Available at Local Libraries

The Fox River Intergovernmental Partnership invites the public to review technical reports, fact sheets,
newsletters and other documents related to the Lower Fox River cleanup at information repositories set up in
the reference sections of the Wisconsin libraries listed below.

•	Appleton Public Library. 225 N. Oneida St., Appleton; 920-832-6170

•	Brown County Library, 515 Pine St., Green Bay; 920-448-4381, Ext. 394

•	Door County Library, 107 S. Fourth Ave., Sturgeon Bay; 920-743-6578

•	Oneida Community Library, 201 Elm St., Oneida; 920-869-2210

•	Oshkosh Public Library, 106 Washington Ave., Oshkosh; 920-236-5205

In addition, fact sheets and newsletters
only are maintained at the public libraries
in De Pere, Kaukauna, Little Chute,

Neenah and Wrightstown.

An Administrative Record, which contains
detailed information upon which the
selection of the cleanup plans was based, is
available at:

•	Wisconsin DNR, Northeast Regional Office, 2984 Shawano Ave., Green Bay

•	Wisconsin DNR, Bureau ofWatershed Management, 101 S. Webster St., 3rd Floor, Madison

•	Appleton Public Library, 225 N. Oneida St., Appleton

•	Brown County Library, 515 Pine St., Green Bay

•	EPA Record Center, 77 W. Jackson Blvd., 7th Floor, Chicago

Check out these websites:

http ://www.epa.gov/region5/clean up/foxriver
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/wm/foxriver/index.html
http://contaminants.fws.gov/issues/restoration.cfm
http://www.fws.gov/midwest/nrda/index.html

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&EPA

United States
Environmental Protection
Agency

Region 5

Superfund Division (SI-7J)
77 W. Jackson Blvd,
Chicago, IL 60604-3590

Reproduced on Recycled Paper

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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 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

River Cleanup Comes Down Home Stretch 1
Federal Appeals Court Affirms District Court Ruling; Cleanup Continues 1
EPA, DNR Review New Landfill Requests 2
Army Corps Completes Dredging for 2012 3
Out and About... 3
Spotlight On: Restoring Cat Islands in Lower Green Bay 4
Contractor Finds Old Car On River Bottom 6
Information Repository Locations 7
Website Addresses 7



Fox River Current is published tri-annually by
the Fox River Intergovernmental Partnership.
Its purpose is to provide 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.
Feedback on articles and ideas for future
issues are welcome. Send comments to Susan
Pastor, EPA Superfund Division (SI-7.T), 77
W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604 or email
pastor, susan@epa.gov.


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