Press release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESeptember 5,
2012
FRIDAY: United States and Canada to Announce
Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement
WASHINGTON – U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson and Canadian
Environment Minister Peter Kent will sign an updated Great Lakes Water Quality
Agreement on Friday, September 7th. Administrator Jackson and Minister Kent will
hold a short press availability following the signing ceremony.
The
agreement, last updated in 1987, addresses critical health issues in the Great
Lakes region and is a model of binational cooperation to protect water quality.
The two governments began negotiations in 2009 to strengthen the agreement.
WHO: U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P.
Jackson
Canadian
Environment Minister Peter Kent
WHAT:
Signing ceremony and press availability
WHEN:
2 p.m. EDT, Friday, September 7,
2012
WHERE: Embassy of Canada,
501 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001.
R147
Showing posts with label Lakes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lakes. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
EPA Announces 2012 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Grants to Make Beaches Safer in Michigan and Wisconsin
Press release from EPA:
MEDIA CONTACT: Phillippa Cannon, 312-353-6218, cannon.phillippa@epa.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 12-OPA074
EPA Announces 2012 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Grants to Make Beaches Safer in Michigan and Wisconsin
Chicago (August 28, 2012) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced seven Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grants, totaling over $2.6 million, to improve water quality at Great Lakes beaches in Michigan and Wisconsin.
The grants were announced by EPA Regional Administrator and Great Lakes National Program Manager Susan Hedman at Samuel Myers Park in Racine, Wisconsin, at one of the beaches targeted for work under the grants.
“These Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grants will improve water quality, allowing people to enjoy more days at Great Lakes beaches,” said Hedman. “The projects will make beaches safer, by eliminating harmful bacteria and other sources of contamination.”
Over the last three years, GLRI has provided more than $29 million for 78 projects to protect and restore Great Lakes beaches. This funding has paid for sanitary surveys at 400 beaches, allowing beach managers to identify contamination sources and to implement projects that reduce or eliminate pollution. The GLRI has also funded eight projects to better forecast beach conditions and to develop technologies such as Smartphone apps to issue real-time alerts about swimming bans and beach closures.
Projects announced today include:
• $1 million (two grants of $500,000 each) to the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh to redesign eight Wisconsin beaches to reduce bacteria levels, resulting in fewer swimming bans and beach closures. The beaches are: Red Arrow Park Beach, Marinette; Crescent Beach, Algoma; Red Arrow Park Beach, Manitowoc; Thompson West End Park, Washburn; Grant Park, South Milwaukee; Samuel Myers Park, Racine; and Simmons Island and Eichelman Parks, Kenosha.
• $179,700 to the City of Marquette, Michigan, to lower health risks and to improve water quality at two Lake Superior beaches in Marquette by using green management practices to reduce contamination.
• $500,000 to the City of Marysville, Michigan, to install rain gardens and other green infrastructure to reduce contaminated stormwater runoff and to deter geese at Chrysler Beach on the St. Clair River.
• $500,000 to the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority for green infrastructure to reduce contaminated stormwater runoff at Lake St. Clair Metropark (Metro Beach.)
• $217,015 to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to construct rain gardens, plant native grass and install a filtration system to improve water quality and reduce health risks at Sherman Park and Four Mile beaches in Sault Ste. Marie.
• $263,188 to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to build a green stormwater infiltration system at New Buffalo City Beach to reduce bacteria and nutrient levels.
The GLRI, initially proposed by President Obama in February 2009, is the largest investment in the Great Lakes in over two decades. EPA is one of 16 federal agencies working to implement the GLRI Action Plan, which is available at http://www.glri.us.
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Grants to Make Beaches Safer in Michigan and Wisconsin
City of Marquette, Michigan
Making Lake Superior Beaches Safer through Green Practices
Grant awarded: $179,700
This project supports the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, pursuant to Public Law 112-74. The City of Marquette - Making Beaches Safer Project will reduce risks to human health and improve water quality at two Lake Superior beaches in the City of Marquette, Michigan by implementing green management practices to reduce bacteriological, algal and chemical contamination that have been identified through the use of Great Lakes beach sanitary surveys.
City of Marysville, Michigan
Chrysler Beach Stormwater Improvements
Grant awarded: $500,000
This project supports the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, pursuant to Public Law 112-74. Stormwater and excess Canada goose populations are causing elevated E. coli concentrations at Chrysler Beach on the St. Clair River. Stormwater runoff from two beach parking lots is currently captured in traditional storm drain systems and is discharged just upstream of the beach. Rain gardens will be installed as “green infrastructure” at both parking lots to filter the majority of stormwater runoff. Vegetation will be planted to deter geese from congregating at the beach. Impervious surfaces at the beach will be reduced, and the stormwater outfall that discharges to the beach will be redirected. These activities are expected to improve the water quality and reduce the number of beach closings.
Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority, Michigan
Reducing the Impact of Stormwater at Lake St. Clair Metropark (Metro Beach)
Grant awarded: $500,000
This project supports the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, pursuant to Public Law 112-74. Stormwater at Lake St. Clair Metropark (Metro Beach) is currently captured in a traditional storm drain system and discharged to Lake St. Clair. Pollutants from automobiles and waterfowl that congregate in the parking lot negatively affect stormwater quality and contribute to beach closings (49 in last 3 years). Passive biological treatment systems will be used to reduce stormwater runoff and improve water quality. An additional 1.2 acres of pavement will be removed (11.5 acres were removed under Phase I of the project funded in 2011) and converted to panels of grass and native vegetation to capture runoff and direct it to the marsh. Further, the applicant will construct deep swales within the parking lot below the stormwater system, cut the existing storm pipes, and intercept the water in the swales, thereby eliminating all of the stormwater directly entering Black Creek/Lake St. Clair.
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Chippewa County Beach Restoration
Grant awarded: $217,015
This project supports the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, pursuant to Public Law 112-74. Implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) will restore water quality and reduce health risks at two beaches in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, that have large numbers of visitors. BMPs to be installed include a rain garden, infiltration trenches, small dunes, plantings of native beach grass, a filtration system, and riprap.
New Buffalo Green Stormwater Project
Grant awarded: $263,188
This project supports the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, pursuant to Public Law 112-74. The New Buffalo City Beach is impacted by beach closures, caused largely by excessive amounts of E. coli. This project involves construction of a green storm water infiltration system at the beach, and will reduce E. coli and nutrients. Runoff will be conveyed from E. coli sources to a 0.5-acre green stormwater infiltration area along the Galien River. Drainage from the E. coli source areas is proposed to be captured through a combination of catch basins, piping and open channels. The drainage will flow through filtration areas into a treatment area containing a variety of hydrophilic vegetation (i.e., a “rain garden”) which will capture nonpoint source stormwater runoff from the surrounding area and deter waterfowl.
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Implementation of Beach Redesigns at Northern Wisconsin Beaches
Grant awarded: $500,000
This project supports the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, pursuant to Public Law 112-74. In this project, four beaches in northern Wisconsin will be redesigned to reduce any potential threats to human health caused by bacteria in the beach environment. The redesign plans will incorporate a variety of measures, including: developing a system of swales and small dunes between parking areas and the beach to intercept and filter contaminated stormwater runoff; raising the profile of the beach to allow the sand areas to dry out more quickly, removing jetties to reduce the presence of stagnant water near the beach, and installing vegetated areas around the parking lot area to allow runoff to infiltrate and to provide cover for waterfowl predators (thereby lessening the unsanitary impacts of gulls and other waterfowl).
Implementation of Beach Redesigns at Southern Wisconsin Beaches
Grant awarded: $500,000
MEDIA CONTACT: Phillippa Cannon, 312-353-6218, cannon.phillippa@epa.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 12-OPA074
EPA Announces 2012 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Grants to Make Beaches Safer in Michigan and Wisconsin
Chicago (August 28, 2012) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced seven Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grants, totaling over $2.6 million, to improve water quality at Great Lakes beaches in Michigan and Wisconsin.
The grants were announced by EPA Regional Administrator and Great Lakes National Program Manager Susan Hedman at Samuel Myers Park in Racine, Wisconsin, at one of the beaches targeted for work under the grants.
“These Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grants will improve water quality, allowing people to enjoy more days at Great Lakes beaches,” said Hedman. “The projects will make beaches safer, by eliminating harmful bacteria and other sources of contamination.”
Over the last three years, GLRI has provided more than $29 million for 78 projects to protect and restore Great Lakes beaches. This funding has paid for sanitary surveys at 400 beaches, allowing beach managers to identify contamination sources and to implement projects that reduce or eliminate pollution. The GLRI has also funded eight projects to better forecast beach conditions and to develop technologies such as Smartphone apps to issue real-time alerts about swimming bans and beach closures.
Projects announced today include:
• $1 million (two grants of $500,000 each) to the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh to redesign eight Wisconsin beaches to reduce bacteria levels, resulting in fewer swimming bans and beach closures. The beaches are: Red Arrow Park Beach, Marinette; Crescent Beach, Algoma; Red Arrow Park Beach, Manitowoc; Thompson West End Park, Washburn; Grant Park, South Milwaukee; Samuel Myers Park, Racine; and Simmons Island and Eichelman Parks, Kenosha.
• $179,700 to the City of Marquette, Michigan, to lower health risks and to improve water quality at two Lake Superior beaches in Marquette by using green management practices to reduce contamination.
• $500,000 to the City of Marysville, Michigan, to install rain gardens and other green infrastructure to reduce contaminated stormwater runoff and to deter geese at Chrysler Beach on the St. Clair River.
• $500,000 to the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority for green infrastructure to reduce contaminated stormwater runoff at Lake St. Clair Metropark (Metro Beach.)
• $217,015 to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to construct rain gardens, plant native grass and install a filtration system to improve water quality and reduce health risks at Sherman Park and Four Mile beaches in Sault Ste. Marie.
• $263,188 to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to build a green stormwater infiltration system at New Buffalo City Beach to reduce bacteria and nutrient levels.
The GLRI, initially proposed by President Obama in February 2009, is the largest investment in the Great Lakes in over two decades. EPA is one of 16 federal agencies working to implement the GLRI Action Plan, which is available at http://www.glri.us.
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Grants to Make Beaches Safer in Michigan and Wisconsin
City of Marquette, Michigan
Making Lake Superior Beaches Safer through Green Practices
Grant awarded: $179,700
This project supports the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, pursuant to Public Law 112-74. The City of Marquette - Making Beaches Safer Project will reduce risks to human health and improve water quality at two Lake Superior beaches in the City of Marquette, Michigan by implementing green management practices to reduce bacteriological, algal and chemical contamination that have been identified through the use of Great Lakes beach sanitary surveys.
City of Marysville, Michigan
Chrysler Beach Stormwater Improvements
Grant awarded: $500,000
This project supports the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, pursuant to Public Law 112-74. Stormwater and excess Canada goose populations are causing elevated E. coli concentrations at Chrysler Beach on the St. Clair River. Stormwater runoff from two beach parking lots is currently captured in traditional storm drain systems and is discharged just upstream of the beach. Rain gardens will be installed as “green infrastructure” at both parking lots to filter the majority of stormwater runoff. Vegetation will be planted to deter geese from congregating at the beach. Impervious surfaces at the beach will be reduced, and the stormwater outfall that discharges to the beach will be redirected. These activities are expected to improve the water quality and reduce the number of beach closings.
Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority, Michigan
Reducing the Impact of Stormwater at Lake St. Clair Metropark (Metro Beach)
Grant awarded: $500,000
This project supports the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, pursuant to Public Law 112-74. Stormwater at Lake St. Clair Metropark (Metro Beach) is currently captured in a traditional storm drain system and discharged to Lake St. Clair. Pollutants from automobiles and waterfowl that congregate in the parking lot negatively affect stormwater quality and contribute to beach closings (49 in last 3 years). Passive biological treatment systems will be used to reduce stormwater runoff and improve water quality. An additional 1.2 acres of pavement will be removed (11.5 acres were removed under Phase I of the project funded in 2011) and converted to panels of grass and native vegetation to capture runoff and direct it to the marsh. Further, the applicant will construct deep swales within the parking lot below the stormwater system, cut the existing storm pipes, and intercept the water in the swales, thereby eliminating all of the stormwater directly entering Black Creek/Lake St. Clair.
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Chippewa County Beach Restoration
Grant awarded: $217,015
This project supports the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, pursuant to Public Law 112-74. Implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) will restore water quality and reduce health risks at two beaches in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, that have large numbers of visitors. BMPs to be installed include a rain garden, infiltration trenches, small dunes, plantings of native beach grass, a filtration system, and riprap.
New Buffalo Green Stormwater Project
Grant awarded: $263,188
This project supports the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, pursuant to Public Law 112-74. The New Buffalo City Beach is impacted by beach closures, caused largely by excessive amounts of E. coli. This project involves construction of a green storm water infiltration system at the beach, and will reduce E. coli and nutrients. Runoff will be conveyed from E. coli sources to a 0.5-acre green stormwater infiltration area along the Galien River. Drainage from the E. coli source areas is proposed to be captured through a combination of catch basins, piping and open channels. The drainage will flow through filtration areas into a treatment area containing a variety of hydrophilic vegetation (i.e., a “rain garden”) which will capture nonpoint source stormwater runoff from the surrounding area and deter waterfowl.
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Implementation of Beach Redesigns at Northern Wisconsin Beaches
Grant awarded: $500,000
This project supports the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, pursuant to Public Law 112-74. In this project, four beaches in northern Wisconsin will be redesigned to reduce any potential threats to human health caused by bacteria in the beach environment. The redesign plans will incorporate a variety of measures, including: developing a system of swales and small dunes between parking areas and the beach to intercept and filter contaminated stormwater runoff; raising the profile of the beach to allow the sand areas to dry out more quickly, removing jetties to reduce the presence of stagnant water near the beach, and installing vegetated areas around the parking lot area to allow runoff to infiltrate and to provide cover for waterfowl predators (thereby lessening the unsanitary impacts of gulls and other waterfowl).
Implementation of Beach Redesigns at Southern Wisconsin Beaches
Grant awarded: $500,000
This project supports the Great Lakes
Restoration Initiative and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, pursuant to
Public Law 112-74. In this project, four beaches in southern Wisconsin will be
redesigned to reduce potential threats to human health caused by bacteria in the
beach environment. The beach redesigns will incorporate a variety of measures,
including: installing rain gardens or wetland cells to retain and filter
contaminated stormwater from nearby paved surface areas; encouraging dune
formation to reduce the impacts of stormwater runoff and to make the beach
environment less attractive to gulls; modifying beach grooming practices to
reduce the presence of bacteria; and implementing activities such as increasing
the number of trash receptacles on the beach and discouraging the feeding of
gulls and other waterfowl to lessen their unsanitary impacts.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
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/
(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/
Friday, February 17, 2012
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:
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.
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.
•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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