Agenda - 09-21-2010 - 4g - Laserfiche WebLink

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9 Kettler went on to say that, "Tecumseh [Products Company] was involved in a ...settlement, the funds of which paid for a comprehensive clean-up ...PCB-impacted sediment will be excavated from the creek and floodplain and disposed offsite to reduce bioconcentration of PCBs through the aquatic food chain. Restoration includes backfilling the floodplain to near pre-existing hydrological conditions, bank reconstruction, installation of woody debris, and the planting and seeding of native species." two creeks and the Millpond were placed on the Clean Water Act "303(d)" impaired waters list in 2002 due to the presence of PCBs in fish tissue and in the sediment on the beds and floodplains. The "do not eat" fish advisory remains in place today. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources states that, "In 2001, as part of a voluntary contaminated sediment cleanup, Tecumseh Products Company removed nearly 12,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment from the drainage ditches tributary to Jordan Creek. The Department estimated that nearly 1000 kilograms of PCBs were removed; comprising 98 percent of the known mass in this segment. The PCB concentrations removed ranged up to 2,300 parts per million (ppm); with the post-removal concentrations averaging less than 1 ppm. We heard that families, local businesses, farmers, both commercial and recreational fishermen, and county taxpayers have all been harmed by this pollution. Critical species that were severely impacted include the Red Horse, Bullhead, and Northern Pike. While the industrial practices that brought the PCBs to the watershed have stopped, the impacts of that toxic pollution remain. The In 2004, Tecumseh Products Company removed additional PCB deposits in and along the length of Jordan Creek and a portion of Pine Creek. The highest concentration removed was 1,600 ppm." E " Nti IrtMnwV pMnt .\ W~Rmn .rs ~1NISCONSIN-`_.'' ti~ Caption of ~-~ ~~ Then came work in the wetlands. The objective was to remove all PCB deposits in 'k,. w . ~~ ~ ~ -s ~ Calumet County isn't the only Wisconsin county that has been contaminated by 3 '=~ PCBs. Douglas County Commissioner Kay McKenzie remembers, "When Tommy Thompson-the soon-to-be governor of Wisconsin-was running for office, he stopped ~ ~ in at our local newspaper's office. I was waiting with a sign in front as acne creek afterresrorarlon. he stepped out-it had a picture of a stinkingfish and words to the effect "Clean up the Fox River and other Areas of Concern." His retort was, 'Fishing in the Fox is terrific!' The Fox, like Waukegan's harbor, has a long legacy of being contaminated with PCBs." , ,:~.' ,~.-~- ,,,.~."-~ than 5 ppm. ~ •~ x f-~''Y ~ ~n> The work is ongoing, and approximately 40% of the overall contamination has been "'~ ~-'~~ S i z' ~ , ~ cleaned up to date. Kettler expects it to be another two years till completion. ~ ~ ~; These stories of PCB fish contamination are an important reminder of the long-term harm and expense to downstream communities from unbridled dumping of toxic chemicals upstream. And " it is a reminder of why Congress passed the Clean Water in the first place: to control pollution at Kay McKenzie its source ...and to hold polluters accountable for cleaning up their chemical waste. the stream with concentrations of more than 1 ppm and on the floodplain of more G Clean Water For All: County Leaders Speak Out for Clean Water