EPA Announces Over $50 Million for Final Projects Needed to Remove Sheboygan River Area of Concern from Great Lakes Cleanup List

Press release:

For Immediate Release           No. 12-OPA066

EPA Announces Over $50 Million for Final Projects Needed to Remove Sheboygan River Area of Concern from Great Lakes Cleanup List
(Sheboygan – Aug. 15, 2010) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Sheboygan area officials joined forces today to kick off the final dredging work and habitat restoration projects needed to remove the Sheboygan River "Area of Concern" from a list of toxic hot spots identified in the 1987 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.   EPA has targeted up to $57 million for work in the Sheboygan River AOC, which is on Lake Michigan.   The State of Wisconsin, the City of Sheboygan and Sheboygan County are contributing $5 million to the final phase of the clean up.
"By the end of the year, we will complete all of the work needed to ‘delist’ the Sheboygan River AOC,” said Susan Hedman, U.S. EPA Region 5 Administrator and Great Lakes National Program Manager. “Thanks to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and our dedicated local, state and federal partners, we are finally getting the most contaminated sites on the Great Lakes cleaned up."
The Sheboygan River is one of 39 remaining AOCs on the Great Lakes. Since the United States and Canada identified the list of AOCs in 1987, only one on the U.S. side has been "delisted." The Sheboygan River is one of four AOCs that EPA has targeted to complete cleanup work in 2012. Five more AOCs are targeted for completion in 2013 and 2014.

“After almost 30 years, having the Sheboygan River cleaner and deeper will add significant benefits both recreationaly and financially to our local economy that already provides almost a $9 million waterfront economic impact,” said Mayor Terry Van Akkeren.  
One EPA dredging project will remove contaminated sediment from the river between Kiwanis Park and the 8th Street Bridge. The other project with remove contaminated sediment from the bridge to the mouth of the river on Lake Michigan. Three EPA-funded habitat projects will begin this month to restore the shorelines at Kiwanis Park, on Wildwood Island, and near the intersection of Taylor Drive and Indiana Avenue.

“After nearly three decades of being a black eye of the community, we are thrilled that the Sheboygan River and Harbor is being restored to reduce health risks to people, fish and wildlife, and will greatly enhance opportunities for economic development,” said Adam Payne, Sheboygan County Administrator. “Sheboygan County is grateful for the opportunity to partner with the EPA, DNR, City of Sheboygan and many other public and private stakeholders to leverage the necessary resources to finally clean up and dredge the Sheboygan River and Harbor. I’m proud to be a part of the team, and our collective efforts will bear fruit for generations to come.”  

In February 2009, President Obama proposed the GLRI, the largest investment in the Great Lakes in two decades. GLRI funds are being used to accelerate cleanup work in the remaining AOCs identified by the U.S. and Canada in the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement during the 1980s.

For more information, visit www.epa.gov/greatlakes /aoc/sheboygan/ 

News Release from EPA Region 10

Seeing no levels of concern, EPA curtails emergency air monitoring at BP refinery fire site near Bellingham, Washington

 Contact Info: Mark MacIntyre, EPA Public Affaris, macintyre.mark@epa.gov, 206-369-7999 (cell)

(Seattle, Washington) - As cleanup begins in earnest at the BP refinery fire site, 20 miles northwest of Bellingham, Washington, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's air monitoring team is standing down after seeing no measurable threats to public health from airborne pollutants related to the fire.

As EPA responders arrived at the scene last night, a team of four EPA contractors, accompanied by a BP Industrial Hygienist, conducted air monitoring at several locations around the perimeter of the facility, including locations downwind.

The sweep was completed by midnight and the results were compared to similar locations that BP responders had monitored earlier in the day. EPA measured for elevated Volatile Organic Compounds, particulate matter, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon monoxide. According to Andy Smith, EPA Federal On-Scene Coordinator, "No readingswere found to be above background or demonstrate any level of concern."

Once the site was stabilized and secured, EPA and Department of Ecology responders completed their assessment and demobilized.

Cleanup Brings Milwaukee Area of Concern Closer to Restoration

News release from EPA Region 5:


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE               
No. 12-OPA010

Cleanup Brings Milwaukee Area of Concern Closer to Restoration, Delivers Results Under Great Lakes Initiative
  
CHICAGO (Feb. 17, 2012) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Milwaukee County today announced completion of contaminated sediment removal in Lincoln Creek and the Milwaukee River Channel.  This project brings the Milwaukee Estuary closer to being removed from a binational list of Areas of Concern in the Great Lakes.  

"The work by state, county, city and other partners over the years has helped deliver real results under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative," said Cameron Davis, Senior Advisor to the EPA Administrator.  “Thousands of cubic yards of harmful contaminated sediment were removed to help boost human, ecological and local economic health. But we can’t stop here. We’re looking for new partners to match funds to accelerate cleanups in other Areas of Concern in Wisconsin and around the Great Lakes."

The $24.6 million project under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative’s Legacy Act removed about 140,000 cubic yards of sediment contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PCBs and PAHs.  The contamination led to limits on eating fish caught in the river, as well as loss of habitat and other environmental problems. 

“The Great Lakes are the largest source of fresh water in the world.  Keeping them clean for the future is a priority,” said WDNR Secretary Cathy Stepp, “We are making major strides cleaning up the Milwaukee River Estuary.  I am pleased that we were able to fund most of the non-federal cost share for this project from state bonding, and delighted at the level of public support this project has received.  With our partners we will continue to work to bring the Milwaukee River back to provide recreational and economic benefits for the Milwaukee area." 

GLRI Legacy Act funds covered about $16 million.  WDNR contributed roughly $8.6 million.  The result was the cleanup of the largest known deposit of PCB-contaminated sediment in this Area of Concern. 

“This joint effort demonstrates the tangible benefits that can come from cooperation between all levels of federal, state and local government. By working together we are removing the impairments to our waterways that resulted from our long industrial history,” said Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele.  “This significant portion of the Milwaukee River and its natural resources are now cleaner, safer and more sustainable. We embrace the triumphant return of this park land to the greater use and enjoyment of our citizens.”

The Milwaukee River section of the Area of Concern extends from Cedar Creek downstream through the Outer Harbor. It includes Cedar Creek, Lincoln Creek and portions of the Menomonee, Little Menomonee and Kinnickinnic rivers.  In the 1980s, the U.S. and Canada identified 43 highly degraded shoreline areas along the Great Lakes.  Today there are 30 AOCs wholly in the U.S. or shared with Canada.

The Great Lakes provide 30 million Americans with drinking water and underpin a multi-billion dollar economy.  In February 2009, President Obama proposed the GLRI, the largest investment in the Great Lakes in two decades. 




The Action Plan, which covers FY 2010 through 2014, was developed by a task force of 16 federal departments and agencies to implement the president’s historic initiative.  It calls for aggressive efforts to address five urgent priority focus areas:

•Cleaning up toxics and toxic hot spot areas of concern.
•Combating invasive species.
•Promoting near-shore health by protecting watersheds from polluted runoff.
•Restoring wetlands and other habitats.
•Tracking progress, education and working with strategic partners.

The plan also ensures accountability by establishing measures of progress and benchmarks for success.
For more on this project and the Legacy Act, visit www.epa.gov/glla. 

For more on the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, see www.glri.us.

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