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PCB Contamination

• What are PCBs?
• PCBs in the Fox River
• PCBs and Health

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Fox River Project

BACKGROUND

The Lower Fox River, from Lake Winnebago to Green Bay, is the largest tributary to Lake Michigan located in Wisconsin. The Fox River Valley has been an area of substantial growth and development. Over time, this growth has resulted in impacts to the aquatic environment from industrial, municipal, and other discharges to the river. Since the 1970's, stricter laws and regulations have resulted in significant improvements to the Fox River's water quality.

However, toxic substances, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), are still present in the river sediment. In 1988, a study was conducted to determine the sources and quantities of PCBs in the Lower Fox River. The study determined that the river sediment contributes a significant amount of PCBs to the river water. Thirty-five sediment deposits, containing an estimated 8,800 lbs. of PCBs, were identified in the 32 miles of river upstream of the DePere dam. Another PCB mass was identified in the seven miles of river downstream of the DePere dam containing between 44,000 and 88,000 lbs.

From 1991 through 1995, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted several follow-up studies. These studies indicated that PCB concentrations in the sediments in an area near the Fort James Turning Basin were the highest in the river. Because of the high PCB concentrations, this area, named Sediment Management Unit (SMU) 56/57, was selected for a demonstration project to evaluate full-scale sediment removal and disposal from the Lower Fox River.

By a 1997 agreement with the State of Wisconsin, the Fox River Group of companies (comprised of Appleton Papers Inc., Fort James Corporation, NCR Corporation, P.H. Glatfelter Company, Riverside Paper Corporation, U.S. Paper Mills Corp., and Wisconsin Tissue Mills Inc.) are providing up to $8 million for the design, implementation, and monitoring of a sediment restoration project below the DePere Dam. The demonstration project is to be designed to provide important information regarding large-scale sediment restoration projects in the Lower Fox River.

HEALTH CONCERNS

Over time, PCBs have attached to the river sediment and have accumulated in the tissue of bottom feeding organisms. As these organisms are eaten, PCBs are concentrated into the tissues of higher organisms such as birds, fish, and other wildlife.

PCBs are suspected of causing deformities and reproductive abnormalities in exposed wildlife. Some scientists have seen a connection between PCBs and developmental and behavioral problems in children whose mothers consumed PCB-contaminated fish during pregnancy. For this reason, certain species of fish and waterfowl from the Lower Fox River are listed in a consumption advisory warning people of potential risks to their health.

PROJECT GOALS

This demonstration project will generate information to assess the effectiveness and expense of large-scale sediment dredging and disposal of contaminated sediments from the Lower Fox River. The information collected will be valuable in making long-term decisions on the future of the Lower Fox River. In the process, a significant area of PCB containing sediment will be removed from the river.

KEY PROJECT ELEMENTS

The SMU 56/57 demonstration project will include hydraulic dredging of contaminated sediment, on-shore dewatering (removing water from the sediment), water treatment, and the transportation and disposal of PCB-containing sediments.

Dredging

Sediments will be removed from the river bottom using hydraulic dredging. Similar to an "underwater vacuum", the hydraulic dredge will pump a slurry of sediment and water through a pipe to a temporary on-shore dewatering facility constructed on the former Shell Oil Company property, located north of SMU 56/57.

Dewatering

Water will be removed from the dredged sediments using a process called mechanical dewatering. Two lined settling basins will be constructed on the former Shell Oil Company property. The settling basins will temporarily hold the sediment and water slurry while the dewatering and water treatment facilities process the dredged materials.

After the dredged slurry is placed into a settling basin, the solids will be allowed to settle by gravity, and will thicken within 18 to 24 hours. The thickened sludge will be pumped to the mechanical dewatering equipment (e.g., belt presses). Thereafter, the sediment will be solidified with a drying agent (e.g., lime) as needed to prepare for transportation and disposal.

Water Treatment

Water pumped from the settling basins and collected during mechanical dewatering will be pumped to an engineered water treatment system for removal of particulates and PCBs. The treated water will be discharged to the Lower Fox River in accordance with a Wisconsin Pollution Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) permit issued by the WDNR.

Transportation and Disposal

After dewatering and solidification, the sediments will be loaded into trucks and then transported to an approved Wisconsin landfill. The WDNR has received bids for transporting and disposing of the dried sediment, and is in the process of facilitating necessary approvals and public notices with the lowest cost qualified bidder. The landfill must meet strict WDNR requirements to ensure safe long-term disposal, including design features, operational practices, monitoring, and long-term care.

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING

To meet stringent state and federal requirements, the project will incorporate environmental controls to protect the health of people and wildlife, as well as water, air, and soil.

The river outside the dredge area will be protected by a special containment system called a silt curtain. The silt curtain will be anchored to the river bottom and buoyed by flotation devices. The curtain will contain construction-related disturbance to the sediment. Upon completion of dredging, the silt curtain will be removed.

Water quality will be monitored at several locations, both upstream and downstream of SMU 56/57, as well as within the silt curtain, during dredging. If monitoring shows water quality impacts outside the silt curtain, the dredging will stop and operational procedures will be modified and/or additional controls will be used to protect the river.

PERMITTING PROCESS

Local, state, and federal laws and rules regulate all aspects of the SMU56/57 demonstration project. The permits and assessments required to complete the SMU 56/57 demonstration project include:

• A WDNR Chapter 30 Permit (Stats.), which regulates dredging, shoreland, and in-stream activities.
  
• A WDNR NR 213 (Adm. Code) approval for the dewatering and water treatment facility.
  
• A WDNR Chapter 283 (Stats.) WPDES Permit, which regulates water treatment and discharge.
  
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit, which regulates structures in the waterway and dredging.
  
• An Environmental Assessment (EA), which describes the overall impacts, benefits, and consequences of the project and provides for public input and comment.
  
• WDNR solid waste transport and disposal authorization.
  
• Various local zoning and land use permits and approvals.
  

SCHEDULE

The anticipated schedule for beginning construction of the demonstration project is September 1998. Sediment removal activities would begin in October. Dredging is anticipated to take approximately two months. The sediments would be landfilled soon after dewatering and solidification are completed. The work is anticipated to be completed by the end of the year.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROJECT?

The WDNR will oversee the SMU 56/57 demonstration project with funding from the Fox River Group (FRG). The FRG is composed of seven paper companies who are, or were, located along the Fox River and are participating in the design and implementation of the project.

HOW TO STAY INFORMED

Public meetings will be held to keep residents informed of progress and seek input on various aspects of the project. Meetings will be noticed in local newspapers.

SMU 56/57 DESIGN TEAM

• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
  
• Fox River Group of Companies
  
• Montgomery Watson
  
• Harrington Engineering & Construction