Cleaning up the Lower Fox

Marketplace, Aug 5, 2008 by Reinsch, Lee Marie

In 1998 and 1999, the EPA removed 8,200 cubic yards of sediment, 112 pounds of PCBs, by dredging. The project showed that dredging could be done safely and for less money than other options.

In 2002 and 2003, 800,000 cubic yards of sediments were slated to be dredged and disposed of, although a revised record of decision reports a modification to the mandate - that some of the plans for dredging be changed to capping and covering. Between 2004 and 2008, another 335,000 cubic yards of sediments were dredged.

Appleton to De Pere: By project's end, some 3.5 million cubic yards should be dredged and 3.7 million cubic yards of sediment containing PCBs should be capped. This is a modified version of the original plan, which called for dredging of 7.1 million cubic yards and capping 500,000 cubic yards. This modification is expected to be accomplished faster and for less money, $390 million, compared with a previous estimate of $ 580 million, according to the EPA.

De Pere to Green Bay: In 1999 and 2000, a dredging project removed 80,000 cubic yards of sediment, 3,400 pounds of which were PCBs.

Dredging at a hotspot north of the De Pere Dam removed 130,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment. A sand cover will be placed over areas with high levels of PCBs.

Green Bay: Limited dredging and monitored natural recovery is the plan of attack - dredging to the extent that is feasible, then capping the remaining sediment with three layers of sand and stone and monitoring the cap in the long term to ensure no leaks happen.

"It's too expensive to dredge completely, and too difficult because it has too much shore line," says Mortara. Dredging completely would mean digging beneath the shoreline.

Research on caps on other rivers has proven their results satisfactory, Mortara says, so she and the Friends of the Fox support the EPA and DNR's decision.

"I didn't get any feeling that they were just trying to get it done the cheapest way possible," Mortara said. "I feel like they are using prudence and due diligence. Since they have come forward and said dredging and capping would work, we believe in that."

Who pays?

There are still several years ahead in the cleanup project to wade through, and part of that time could be spent slinging mud in court. Two of the paper mills deemed responsible for the pollution recently named a slew of surrounding municipalities in a lawsuit to help pay for cleanup costs.