Milwaukee River PCB Cleanup Status Update

• January 30, 2013 Update
• This project is a US EPA Great Lakes Legacy Act Project that will address PCB contaminated sediment in the Phase 2 area.  The Phase 2 project addresses the contaminated sediments in the main stem of the Milwaukee River from just above the oxbows in Lincoln Park  down to the Estabrook Park Dam and spillway.  The dam and spillway structures are not part of this project and are being addressed separately by Milwaukee County.  We are coordinating with the County for the sediment remediation.
• EPA hired a consulting engineering firm (EA Engineering) to provide services for the feasibility study and design portions of the project.
• The consultants reviewed the existing information for the Phase 2 area and suggested more sampling be done to fill in some data gaps and provide more information on existing conditions.
• Sampling began this week, and is scheduled to last for about 2-3 weeks depending on conditions.  You will see a variety of equipment accessing the river from Lincoln and Estabrook Parks, including boats and an amphibious sediment sampling vehicle.  For everyone’s safety, please stay clear of the equipment and work area.
• After the sampling is completed the data will be used along with earlier data to evaluate options for cleaning up the contaminated sediments.  This is called a feasibility Study where clean up options will be developed.
• We anticipate a public meeting to discuss the feasibility study and to receive comments later this spring  We will give a minimum of 2 weeks’ notice prior to any public meetings.
• Once the feasibility study is complete and a recommended clean up option is selected, the project will move to the design phase this summer.
• We will develop a firmer schedule once we are further along in the process.
• DNR will continue to provide periodic updates as new information becomes available.

If you are interested in receiving these updates directly, contact:

Marsha Burzynski, Water Resources Management Specialist
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
e-mail:     marsha.burzynski@wisconsin.gov