South Marina Drive PCB Cleanup
The City completed a sediment assessment at 1950 South Marina Drive in the Grand Trunk Slip (aka Skipper Buds Slip) in September 2018. This assessment identified polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) at analytical concentrations that exceeded the 50 mg/kg Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) threshold. Between 2018 and 2021 the City and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource (WDNR) completed additional investigations in the Grand Trunk Slip to define the vertical and horizontal extent of the PCB impacts.
The City simultaneously conducted a series of sampling events in a storm sewer located immediately adjacent to South Marina Drive and the Grand Trunk Wetland. PCB contamination above the TSCA threshold was discovered in storm sewer.
A Notification for Hazardous Substance Discharge for PCB impacted sediment in the storm sewer was reported to WDNR on February 2, 2021. WDNR notified the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) of a PCB release and issued a Responsible Party letter to the City on February 15, 2021. The case was assigned a project management and DNR BRRTS Activity No. 02-41-587190 and DNR FID No. 341331430.
A series of meetings and conversations occurred between the City, WDNR, and US EPA to determine the regulatory requirements for investigating the extent of the contamination. The City submitted a Work Plan to the US EPA to delineate the PCB contamination and it was approved on July 22, 2021. The City began implementing the Work Plan in late summer 2021 and completed dye testing, outfall testing, water level monitoring, and sampled areas adjacent to the storm sewer.
Throughout 2022 and 2023 the City worked with private property owners in the area to identify and delineate potential sources of contamination. This work included dye testing, mapping, sampling, and the removal of drums and other hazardous materials. This work is on-going and will continue into 2024.
Partner Lead: City of Milwaukee
Status: Implementation
Outcome: Cleaned-up Waterways
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