February-March, 2000
Vol. 4, No. 2
Table of Contents
DNR Sued for Violating Water Law at Feedlot
Environmental Justice ~ Call to Action
Minergy Case Settled
Earthweek Events
"Our Environmental Destiny"
CRANDON MINE SPEAKING TOUR & RALLY
EPA Urged to Perform Emergency PCB Clean-upScientists Comment on the 56/57 DemoBanquet Highlights
Scientists Comment on River Cleanup
WHAT YOU CAN DO
DNR Sued for Violating Water Law at Feedlot
CWAC and Other Citizens Bring First Statewide Challenge to the
DNR's
Permitting Program for Large Animal Feedlots
The DNR violated state and federal water laws when it issued a
permit to a factory farm near Bonduel, in Shawano County.
Clean Water Action Council has petitioned the DNR for a Contested
Case Hearing on the permit.
Other petitioners include a neighbor, a nearby small family farmer,
sportsfishers, and the Wisconsin's Environmental Decade.
We maintain that the DNR has a pattern of approving permits for
large factory farms (for dairy, these are facilities with 700 or more milking
cows) without adequately examining and controlling the detrimental impact
the farms will have on an area's
water supply.
The petitioners are specifically challenging the permit issued
to
Tauchen Harmony Valley, Inc. for its gross violations of state and
federal
water laws.
"The agency has been on notice for months that they are not meeting
state and federal laws, but has chosen to ignore the law as it relates
to
factory farms," according to Melissa Scanlan, Legal Director of Midwest
Environmental Advocates and attorney for the petitioners in this case.
"The law clearly prohibits these facilities from using our
public waterways as conveyances of pollution, yet the DNR issued a
permit
that allows the facility to discharge pollutants for well over a year
before they are required to correct any manure runoff and seepage
problems," Scanlan added.
Federal and state law prohibits discharges from these facilities
from the day they start operating with 700 or more dairy cows, yet
the DNR
has given this facility over one year before they need to stop polluted
runoff and seepage from their manure lagoons from entering public waters.
In violation of state water laws, the facility in question also
failed to produce a manure management plan prior to receiving a permit.
"DNR's failure to require nutrient management plans for factory
farms is not only a violation of law, it is a violation of common sense,"
said David Zaber, Director of Water Quality Programs at Wisconsin's Environmental
Decade. "A proper waste management plan provides critical information on
potential pollution of lakes, rivers
and groundwater resources. Without a plan, the DNR and the public have
no
way of judging the potential for pollution and thus, cannot make an
informed decision on issuance of a permit. DNR should never have issued
this permit."
Ivan Klosterman, a petitioner and fourth generation family dairy
farmer who lives and farms near the Tauchen Facility sees the DNR's
action
as a direct threat to his business. "We small dairy farmers are
struggling
to survive in this marketplace and when our state agencies turn the
other
way and fail to require the large facilities to follow the law, they
are
failing the small family farmer," said Klosterman.
"The influx of these large animal facilities is not the invisible
hand of the market at work, but the intentional policy of our government
agencies. The DNR's actions provide yet another environmental
subsidy that
boosts large dairy facilities' ability to compete in the marketplace,"
said
Scanlan.
"This is nothing more than pollution-based prosperity.
It is a
threat to our environment, our small, family farming heritage, and
rural
economic development," said Rebecca Katers, Executive Director of Clean
Water Action Council and a petitioner in the case.
For more info. contact: Melissa Scanlan, Midwest Environmental
Advocates, 608-251-5047.
Environmental Justice ~ Call to Action
One-Day Conference
Saturday, April 8 --- 9 am to 2 pm
at the Ecumenical Center, UW-Green Bay
Walk-in registration begins at 9 am.
The public is welcome at a free conference with nationally known speakers
(including Bunyun Bryant and Thomas Stevens) on environmental problems
which disproportionately hurt low-income and minority people, and their
children, with serious long-term social consequences.
A local example is the Fox River PCB and mercury contamination,
where people financially or culturally dependent on eating local fish
and
ducks face much higher health risks than the general public.
Between 2,500
and 5,000 subsistence anglers currently fish the Fox River, and up
to 80%
may be unaware of warnings against eating the fish, according to recent
government surveys.
The conference is coordinated by Brian Merkel, assistant professor
of human biology at UW-Green Bay.
For more information, call (920) 465-2642 or (800) 892-2118
Clean Water Action Council, along with the Friends of Neenah Parks,
and Ann & John Gillen, have settled our case against the Minergy
Corporation and City of Neenah.
We had jointly challenged the use by a private corporation of
public land on the shore of Little Lake Butte des Morts in Neenah,
on the
grounds that under the Public Trust Doctrine the land was supposed
to be
for public uses only.
Over the past 3 years, the case had gone through several levels
of
courts, including the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and the case could have
continued in this fashion much longer. We agreed it was time
to end the
action due to lack of citizen resources to continue (another cost of
losing
the Public Intervenor.)
Under terms of the settlement, we agreed to cease legal action
in
exchange for a commitment by the City to use the land rental fee from
Minergy solely for Neenah parks purposes.
We also secured a strong Wisconsin Supreme Court precedent
acknowledging that citizens have a right to legal actions advocating
for
public rights in Wisconsin natural resources. This precedent
can now be
used by other citizens in Wisconsin.
April 15 --- River & Bay Cleanup Day . 9 am to 12 noon
Contact: Rama Zenn, 391-4620
Help clean up litter along the waterfront
April 15 --- Baird Creek Cleanup Day 8:30 am to 12 noon
Contact: Rebecca Cleveland, 469-3728
Help clean up litter in the park
April 15 --- Marking Aliens for Removal 12 noon
Triangle Hill Park, by Baird Creek
Help mark Eurasian Honeysuckle and Buckthorn in woods
for removal, to help restore natural forest habitat
April 15 --- River Rally (following cleanup) noon to 2 pm
Material Recycling Facility, 2561 S. Broadway
Ashwaubenon --- Contact: Wes Damro, 492-4950
Food, music, booths, tours, & free T-shirts while
supplies last
April 16 --- Baird Creek Parkway Hike 1 pm
Beginning at Christa McAuliff Park
Contact: Charlie Frisk, 468-1956
Hike led by Wes Ebert, Pres. Baird Creek Parkway Pres.
April 19 --- Earth Fair -- East DePere High School 8 am to 3 pm
Contact: Melissa Schink, 336-6312
April 19 --- Greenways of Green Bay 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Brown County Library
Contact: Kim Diaz, 496-9464
April 20 --- What is Sustainable Green Bay Anyway?
Brown County Library 5 pm to 8:45 pm
Contact: Annette Weissbach, 492-5865
April 22 --- Appleton Fox River Bank Cleanup 9 am to 12 noon
Contact: Jim Parker, 734-2017 or John Howard, 830-8533
Nationally Recognized Activist, Author and
Speaker
Robert Kennedy, Jr. to Speak at UW-Green Bay on
"Our Environmental Destiny"
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is an exceptionally powerful speaker, and is
chief
prosecuting attorney for the Hudson Riverkeeper (very familiar with
General
Electric's PCB contamination of the Hudson River, NY) and senior attorney
with Natural Resources Defense Council. He has a long history
of writing
and environmental and political leadership, and in 1997 wrote the book
"The
Riverkeepers", co-written with Hudson Riverkeeper John Cronin.
April 26 --- 8:00 p.m.
Phoenix Room, UW-Green Bay Student Union
CRANDON MINE SPEAKING TOUR & RALLY
The Wolf Watershed Educational Project (WWEP) will hold a Rally
to
Stop the Crandon Mine, on Saturday, April 29 at 1 pm at the State Capitol
in Madison. The rally will demand a halt to the proposed Crandon mine
and
electrical transmission lines, as part of what organizers call a grassroots
"people power" movement against "corporate power" in Wisconsin.
The rally
will also support environmental justice, and back a Seventh Generation
Amendment to the State Constitution, protecting Wisconsin's environment
as
the common property of all citizens.
The WWEP is also holding a Mining Speaking Tour to colleges,
high
schools, and youth groups around the state.
The WWEP is a statewide alliance of environmental groups (including
Clean Water Action Council, Native Americans, sportfishing groups,
local
residents, unionists, students, and others educating local communities
on
metallic sulfide mining (particularly Rio Algom's proposed Crandon
zinc-copper-gold mine), build local community organizing skills, and
establish links between Native American and non-Native communities
in
support of environmental protection.
The speaking tour is to inform young people about mining, to
encourage them to form their own environmental groups, and to give
the
resources for existing youth environmental clubs to take up the mining
issue.
The rally theme of "People Power Against Corporate Power"
questions the trade-off of our state's resources for corporate profits,
and
opposes the influence of corporations in Wisconsin's political process.
Many people think that the Crandon mine is dead, because the
moratorium law passed two years ago. But the DNR is undermining the
intent
of the moratorium, so the mine is far from dead.," said Al Gedicks,
executive secretary of the Wisconsin Resources Protection Council,
"We
demand that the DNR halt the mine permitting process, because of the
company's flawed predictions on groundwater reduction. The mine disaster
in
Europe has also led us to demand a cyanide ban in Wisconsin mines."
The rally will also support the restoration of the Public
Intervenor and an independent DNR chief, will oppose the Perrier spring
pumping proposals, and will oppose unnecessary transmission lines.
Public
utility corporations would use the lines to import hydroelectricity
from
dammed and destroyed Manitoba Cree rivers, and use them to power the
Crandon mine and cities far out of the state.
The speaking tour is in response to stepped-up mining company
activity in Wisconsin schools.
On Saturday, April 29, students will leaflet the Farmers' Market
in
the morning, and gather at U.W. Library Mall for a 12:30 march up State
Street, with some marchers carrying props or wearing costumes. The
rally
(for people of all ages) will begin at the State Capitol State Street
steps
at 1 pm, with speakers from around the state. At 2:30 pm, participants
will
gather for a feast and meeting/workshops at the MATC Downtown campus.
At
7:00 pm, many will attend the Powwow taking place at the MATC Truax
campus.
Those who cannot attend the rally are urged to show their opposition
to the
Crandon mine by putting out lawn signs and bumperstickers.
RALLY POSTERS may be printed directly from
---http://www.alphacdc.com/treaty/poster_info.html
For more info call the Mining Hotline toll-free at (800) 445-8615,
or log
on http://www.treatyland.com
-- or go to ---
http://www.alphacdc.com/treaty/youth_edu.html
To invite speakers, see the SPEAKERS BUREAU at
http://www.alphacdc.com/treaty/speakers.html,
or contact George Rock (715) 882-4800 or Bob Schmitz (920) 499-3075.
EPA Urged to Perform Emergency PCB Clean-up
The equivalent of a major toxic PCB spill has occurred in the
Fox
River as the result of an incomplete dredging demonstration near the
Fort
James Corporation in Green Bay.
Clean Water Action Council recently urged the U.S. EPA to step
in
immediately to clean up the problem to protect public health and wildlife.
Last fall's dredging demonstration at the worst Fox River PCB
hotspot, known as "56/57," removed only a fourth of the 120,000 cubic
yards
of contaminated sediments identified in the hotspot. Sampling results
were
finally publicized this past week showing the dredging cut into buried
layers with more than 280 ppm PCBs and left them exposed to the river
currents. 50 ppm PCBs are considered hazardous waste under
state and
federal laws.
This hotspot exposure is the equivalent of open barrels of
hazardous waste on the river bottom. At any other time,
this would be
considered an emergency situation, but our government agencies have
yet to
take action.
Clean Water Action Council has publicly opposed this project
due to
the deliberate poor design and lack of funding for proper remediation.
In
addition, the state signed a contract last fall with Fort James Corporation
relieving the company of further liability if they performed only a
partial
cleanup.
Clean Water Action Council has called on Frank Lyons, the Regional
Administrator for EPA, to take action. The federal government
may now be
the only agency able to quickly enforce an emergency cleanup at this
hotspot. The state has ignored our concerns, signed contracts
limiting
their enforcement ability, and allowed money rather than sound science
to
drive their decisions.
Background on 56/57 Project
This "demonstration" has been flawed since it's inception in
January 1997, when Gov. Thompson arranged a surprise $10 million contract
settlement between the state and the Fox River Group (seven paper
industries responsible for the PCB contamination). The
news media,
public, federal agencies, and tribes were not informed or consulted
until
the contract was already signed.
$7 million of the settlement was earmarked for one Fox River
dredging demonstration, and the 56/57 hotspot was chosen as the site.
The
contract specified that the Fox River Group would hire consultants
and
contractors nominated by the polluters for the work.
When it became clear last year that $7 million was not enough,
the
DNR negotiated another surprise, secret contract which relieved Fort
James
Corp. of liability in exchange for an additional $2 million in cleanup
funding.
Under the contract, Fort James was only responsible for removing
80,000 cubic yards of the 120,000 cubic yards at the site.
But because the
project was started too late in the year and several suspicious technical
problems arose, only 30,000 cubic yards were removed. (... note
that most
of the technical problems at 56/57 did not occur at the DNR/EPA controlled
demonstration project near Little Chute and Kimberly.)
For two years, Clean Water Action Council has warned this project
would be a disaster, and felt it was deliberately promoted by the paper
industry to falsely portray dredging as a dangerous cleanup option
for the
Fox River, to build support for their "natural recovery" do-nothing
option.
Recent publicity from the paper industry reinforces this belief,
as
they now claim the 56/57 project proves their concerns, they lay the
blame
DNR, and they deny responsibility for the choice of contractors at
the
site.
In essence, this project is a fraud. It's not a demonstration,
it's not a cleanup, and it doesn't represent progress. Polluters
should
not be allowed to use this badly designed project as a precedent for
the
rest of the Fox River cleanup, or as a nation-wide example of the failure
of dredging.
Many government agencies have already shown elsewhere that sediment
dredging can be conducted safely, when proper procedures are used.
Clean
Water Action Council supports the dredging, removal, and detoxification
treatment of PCB hotspot sediments.
This project has been used by the DNR and Governor to mislead
the
public, and to pretend that progress is being made.
The state has been
anxious to show progress, in an effort to keep the federal government
out
of the process.
Yet the demonstration was never a true "demonstration," as DNR
staff have admitted many times. No new technologies were used,
though
citizens had hoped innovative new PCB destruction technologies (such
as
gas-phase reduction, thermal desorption, etc.) would be used to destroy
the
PCBs rather than simply landfill them.
DNR staff have told Clean Water Action Council members they
consider the project the beginning of the actual cleanup and they simply
wanted to get started. If this is the case, the project
sets a bad
example, and illustrates the failure of the state's emphasis on a
"cooperative approach" with polluters.
Scientists Comment on the 56/57 Demo
(The following is a letter sent on
March 15 to the DNR by the STAC)
As you are aware, the Science & Technical Advisory Committee
(STAC)
of the Lower Fox River And Green Bay Remedial Action Plan (RAP) has
been
actively involved with assessment and planning of remediation activities
on
the Lower Fox River for more than a decade.
We have watched closely the planning process for the Site 56/57
demonstration project as proposed by the Fox River Group (FRG).
Based on the information available, we supported moving forward
with the demonstration project, though we have expressed a number of
concerns regarding how the data generated by the project would be
interpreted. [Clean Water Action Council is disappointed
the STAC
supported this project --- because it conflicts with the STAC's stated
desire to take a "whole river perspective" and was designed to NOT
cleanup
the whole 120,000 cubic yards in the hotspot.]
The STAC met yesterday to review information currently available
regarding the Site 56/57 demonstration project. In the
interest of
brevity and timeliness, we wish to submit the following comments.
1.) In spite of the importance of this project, and the extensive
planning
effort involved, we find it difficult to believe that only 30,000 of
the
originally identified 80,000 cubic yards sediment were removed during
the
dredging project prior to ceasing activities for the winter. The original
project time frame, as identified by the FRG, called for completion
of
dredging and processing of all sediment by the end of November.
[This
winter freeze-up is the same critical mistake the DNR made at the other
demonstration project.]
2.) We are very concerned that the reported PCB concentrations
remaining
at the surface of the sediment management units that were only partially
dredged are extremely high, up to 280 ppm. If our information is correct,
this area now exhibits the highest concentration of surficial sediments
in
the entire river system. These concentrations, if left in the
river,
represent a substantial increase in the potential environmental risk
to the
biota of the lower Fox River and Green Bay. Expected spring river flows,
even in a dry year such as this, can be expected to resuspend these
bottom
sediments into the water column, making them available for accumulation
by
algae and other organisms in the food chain, and ultimately in humans.
This
is not the case where dredging was conducted to the planned depth;
only
where dredging was left incomplete.
3.) Based on available data, we concur with the DNR's conclusion
that,
where properly performed to the necessary sediment depth, dredging
has been
demonstrated at Site 56/57 to be a viable option for removal of PCB
contaminated sediments.
If the project had been completed as originally designed, all
data
currently available indicate that the previously identified mass of
PCBs
would have been safely removed, and the residual sediment surface
concentrations would be within acceptable levels.
[Clean Water Action Council disagrees that acceptable PCB levels
would be left behind in the remaining 40,000 cubic yards not planned
for
removal. Approximately 838 lbs of PCBs would be left
behind at the Fort
James site. By comparison, DNR spent about $4 million removing
100 lbs of
PCBs at the Deposit N demo in Kimberly and Little Chute.]
4.) The STAC strongly recommends that the demonstration project
be
completed as quickly as possible. To leave the site in its current
condition invites an unacceptable level of environmental risk. We strongly
encourage the appropriate parties to focus their joint resources on
remediating this significant problem.
5.) Should a voluntary agreement for project completion not be
forthcoming, we would then recommend that legal proceedings be initiated,
either by the DNR or the EPA, to ensure completion of the project as
quickly as possible.
6.) Finally, we recommend that environmental monitoring be initiated
immediately, to document the downstream transport of PCBs from this
area of
high PCB contamination.
In summary, we find it completely unacceptable for the
demonstration project to remain unfinished. Completion of the project
represents the only environmentally sound and ethically appropriate
solution to the problem. Swift action by the FRG
to resolve this situation would undoubtedly have a positive impact
on public
credibility.
Scientists Comment on River Cleanup
(Another statement issued by the STAC.)
The Lower Fox River and Green Bay Remedial Action Plan [RAP]
process has been heavily involved in the Fox River contaminated sediments
issue for more than a decade.
From the very beginning of this effort, the goal of the Science
and
Technical Advisory Committee [a RAP committee] has been to identify,
evaluate and incorporate the best science and policy into the remediation
process as is possible. Towards that goal we have worked
with any and all
parties who have shown interest in this process.
Although it has taken more than a decade to complete studies,
the
technical and scientific information we now have available to
us is both
extensive and state-of-the-art. The transport and fate
of PCBs in the
Green Bay system are better understood than in any comparably sized
system
in the world. This history of well-planned, thorough
studies throughout
the Fox River and Green Bay has provided the level of information essential
to the formulation of wise, longterm remediation strategies that will
ensure success.
We acknowledge and appreciate the work done to date by the federal
and state agencies, tribes, industries and others who have been concerned
with the health of the Fox River, Green Bay and Lake Michigan ecosystems.
The complexity of the Fox River ecosystem virtually assures that
no
easy answer will be found to remediate the contaminated sediments to
the
satisfaction of all parties. That being said, we
would like to highlight
the following issues which need to be addressed regardless of which
specific action plan may be chosen for implementation.
Long Range Goals
The long range clean up goals for the river
and Bay should include, at
a minimum, that the water be considered suitable as a source for drinking
(after standard levels of treatment), and that no
categories of fish within these waters are contaminated to the extent
that
they compromise the health of humans or wildlife consuming them on
a
regular basis. Because fish, wildlife and water move freely
throughout
the system, the entire Green Bay system must be taken into account
when
weighing long and short-term impacts of rehabilitation.
Remediation Strategies
In order to obtain any significant clean up in the lower Fox River,
and to prevent extending the long-term contamination of greater Green
Bay,
dredging of contaminated sediments within the lower Fox River must
occur.
There are no technical or scientific reasons to unnecessarily delay
this
action. Certainly, cleanup efforts must
be
undertaken in a method that results in the minimum amount of contaminated
sediments being resuspended and transported downstream.
The STAC is of
the opinion that this requires a whole river perspective rather than
the
piecemeal approach now being used.
Furthermore, there is the potential for massive transport of
contaminated sediments from the river to the Bay as a consequence of
a
major flushing event in the river [major storm or ice melt].
Recent major
flow events have occurred in 1990 and 1993. Therefore,
removal of
contaminated material should occur as soon as possible, before it is
transported into the Bay where it cannot be recovered.
Sediment Disposal
Local landfilling of dredged contaminated sediments is the only
environmentally sound method currently practical for disposal of a
significant fraction of the volume of contaminated sediments identified
in
the draft Feasibility Study. Given the choices of cost
effective
technologies currently available, there are no technical, scientific
or
health (human or ecosystem) reasons that support delay of the removal
and
disposal of contaminated sediments in appropriately designed local
landfills.
Implicit in this action is an understanding by the local community
that disposal of dredged sediments in landfills imposes an obligation
and
commitment for long-term maintenance to prevent recontamination of
the
environment.
The risk of recontamination, however, is minuscule compared to
the
widespread contamination that currently exists and does not under any
possible circumstance override the necessity for removing contaminated
sediments from the river. The overwhelming scientific evidence
at hand
indicates that it is far better to put sediments into secure locations
like
landfills rather than to allow them to remain in unconfined situations
where they continue to circulate and harm the environment indefinitely.
[Clean Water Action Council agrees landfills will be necessary
for
the high-volume, low-level residues --- but we urge detoxification,
breakdown treatments for the sediments containing high concentrations
of
PCBs. This minimizes future health risks at landfills.]
Cost Issue
The DNR's RI/FS document is still in draft stage.
However, if the
costs identified in the draft document are even remotely accurate,
we feel
that the proposed cleanup is affordable.
If the most complete alternatives were chosen (Alternative A
for
Reaches I and II, and Alternative B for Reaches III and IV), the total
estimated cost is expected to be $200-300 million. For
this expenditure,
94% of the estimated mass of PCB's remaining in the Fox River sediments
would be removed.
Economies of scale make removal now less expensive and more
effective than returning to remove additional sediment at a later time.
The volume of dredging proposed is feasible over a period of years
and is
comparable to the estimated volume of backlog dredging proposed by
the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers for the port's navigation channels.
This is a
reasonable action. It is also comparable to other local
major
construction projects under discussion by private entities (e.g.,
waterfront real estate developments, renovation or replacement of Lambeau
Stadium).
Furthermore, because the cost is amortized over the life of the
project (7-10) years, divided between at least the seven Potentially
Responsible Parties, this should not be a financial burden which would
cause any secure company to close their doors. The precedent
for
substantial investments towards improved water quality in the Fox River
was
established long ago, most notably to control conventional pollutants
in
the mid 1970's.
Approximately $300 million were spent both from public and private
sector monies to construct secondary wastewater treatment facilities
at
paper mills and community sewage treatment plants.
Benefits of Moving Forward with the Cleanup
The benefits of remediation in terms of water quality and the
future protection of wildlife and human health will be significant
and
long-term. The payback extends indefinitely, and future
generations will
reap the benefits in terms of improved ecosystem health forever.
These benefits will directly translate into building a sound
economy for the future. Tourism and recreational activity
will most
certainly increase as environmental conditions improve.
Riverfront
property values have risen dramatically in recent years, with the trend
expected to continue. Downtown waterfront areas in cities
all around the
Great Lakes have blossomed, resulting in economic boons to local
communities. In other words, this is a good investment.
In addition, significant additional benefits not considered in
the
assessment process will also accrue as a result of the removal of millions
of cubic meters of organic rich sediments from the river.
These sediments
contain high concentrations of organic matter, nutrients and a host
of
other exotic and natural compounds that are both known and suspected
degraders of water quality. While we can not at present
quantify these
additional benefits, they are consistent with the RAP objective of
restoring beneficial uses to Green Bay.
Rationale for Acting Now
It has taken years to understand the extent of the problem and
to
develop a strategy for its solution. This has been time
well spent.
However, it is essential that now that we can see the light at the
end of
the tunnel, we move forward with expediency.
The benefits are greatest today, they only decrease with time
and
significant delays could reduce the effectiveness of the remediation
effort
with no reduction in cost to us.
Despite the wealth and quality of information available, there
still are divisions between government partners on the interpretation
of
the data. It is imperative that these differences be resolved
fully and
quickly in order to reach mutually acceptable remediation decisions.
This
must be a high priority for immediate action by the governmental entities.
Recommendations
Given the extensive amount of information now available regarding
the extent of contamination, the technologies available, and the potential
for continued detrimental impacts to human and ecosystem health within
the
Fox River valley and the Great Lakes basin as a whole, the STAC recommends:
1.) That the local community, in cooperation with both public
and private
sector parties, pursue the preparation of a final remediation strategy
for
clean up of the Fox River contaminated sediments, and expedite the
establishment of sites for long-term disposal of dredge spoils.
2.) Ideally, if no constraints existed, because of the persistence
and
potential negative effects of PCBs in the environment, removal of nearly
all PCBs from the Fox River would be desirable, and ignoring the problem
is
not acceptable.
3.) To obtain the maximum benefit for the environment, time is
of the
essence. We urge that a mechanism be found which allows
actual
remediation activities to begin at the earliest possible opporutnity
rather
than delaying the start of projects until a final binding agreement
is
reached about funding and liabilityy issues. Further, if the
final
remediation strategy includes multiple river reaches, remediation should
begin as soon as possible in all areas simultaneously. Current
information
supports the view that resuspension impacts are minimal, and are outweighed
by the potential impacts of delay of removal of the larger mass of
PCBs in
the sediments.
4.) Despite our best attempts at modeling the ecosystem, there
is
considerable uncertainty in predicting sediment resuspension and
deposition, food chain interactions and changes in fish tissue PCB
concentrations over decades, especially for Green Bay.
Consequently,
there is are large uncertainties in distinguishing
the risk/benefits to
humans, fish and wildlife under alternative action and no-action scenarios.
Given these uncertainties and the likelihood for legal, financial and
technical constraints, we recommend that a balance be sought during
implementation between the benefits of sediment remediation and other
ecosystem (ecological and human services) restoration alternatives.
[An
example of ecological services: purchase for preservation
and/or creation
of good wildlife habitat along the waterfront, as compensation for
past
damages. Human services could include improved recreational
sites along
the waterfront.]
5.) A rigorous and quantitative monitoring effort must also be
part of any
remediation implementation in order to continuously reassess their
effectiveness. Data generated by this monitoring program should
be used to
revise the remediation alternative as necessary.
STAC Members
John Kennedy, staff scientist with Green Bay Metropolitan
Sewerage District
Dr. Val Klump, engineering professor and
sediment expert, UW-Milwaukee
Dr. H.J. (Bud) Harris, ecologist and
emeritus professor, UW-Green Bay
Dr. Ken Stromborg, toxicologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service
Terry Lychwick, fisheries biologist, DNR
Dr. Michael Kraft, political science
professor, UW-Green Bay
Victoria Harris, advisory services, UW Sea Grant Institute
Dr. John Stoll, natural resource economics
professor, UW-Green Bay
Dr. David Dolan, natural & applied
sciences assistant professor, statistics
Dr. Paul Sager, prof. of limnology (study of waterbodies),
UW-Green Bay
George Boronow, DNR subteam leader, Fox River Geographical
Mgmt. Unit
Tom Nelson, staff scientist with Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin
Paul Baumgart, Fox/Wolf Basin 2000
Bruce Johnson, Fox/Wolf Basin 2000
Janet Smith, Field Office Supervisor, U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service
Dr. James Hodgson, biology professor, St.
Norbert College
Jerry Smith, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Dr. Karen Stanlaw, Medical Doctor
Greg Hill, DNR staff
Bob Paulson, DNR staff
Charlie Verhoeven, DNR staff
Please write to the EPA and DNR to urge then to finish the job at
56/57, and require the immediate cleanup of the full 120,000 cubic
yards of
toxic sediment there, not just the previous goal of only 80,000 cubic
yards.
Sec. George Meyer, Wis. DNR
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707
meyerg@dnr.state.wi.us
Frank Lyons, Regional Administrator
U.S. EPA - Region 5
77 West Jackson Street
Chicago, IL 60604
We had a great time at our Annual Banquet this year, and want
to
express our appreciation to all those who made it possible:
Special recognition is due to Curt & Linda Andersen.
Curt arranged for all the food, dish rentals and transport to Green Isle
Park, and they both did yeoman's work in final food preparation and table
settings. And they both helped with the final
cleanup as well.
In addition, Curt made our two award
plaques at his cabinetry shop,
Country Woodworker, and donated a small door-prize clock and a beautiful
large clock for a silent auction fundraiser.
Mike Katers also provided essential food preparation, setup and
cleanup assistance. Ginnie Buettner, Steve & Sandy
Abitz, and Mary Beth &
Frank Arnett, and Tom & Patricia Kees also assisted with setup.
Other contributors to the banquets success included beautiful
guitar music and singing donated by Matt Manders and Nate Riopelle
which
created great atmosphere for the event.
Hinterland Beer donated a quarter barrel of their locally brewed
beer as a fundraiser during our social hour, and John Hermanson acted
as
barkeep.
Bob Schmitz helped man the registration tables and greet newcomers,
while many members helped set up the tables, chairs, tableclothes and
dishes.
Board members each donated door prizes. Also, Herb
& Ginnie
Buettner, of the Wild Wolf Inn, donated two certificates for rafting
trips,
and Life Tools Outfitters donated several outdoor items.
We were very pleased to have Rita LeGros perform the invocation
once again at the beginning of our dinner, and to have Curt Andersen,
Tom
Kees, Steve Abitz and Bob Schmitz coordinate segments of the program.
Elections proceeded smoothly, with the only major changes being
the
installation of a new President (Tom Kees) and Vice President (Alice
McCombs).
We all applauded as Curt Andersen was thanked for his three years
of great service and activism as prior President for our group.
He's been
a great spokesperson, is staying with our Board, and will undoubtedly
continue as an irrepressible commentator on local environmental issues.
Environmental Advocate
Award for the Year 2000
We were very pleased to give Chuck Sleeter our annual award for
his
courageous battle to get elected and persevere as chair of Nashville
Town
Board, opposing the Crandon Mine. He's a great example
of a regular
individual (a retired police officer) who makes a huge impact
by getting
involved. He gave a wonderful talk about the mining issue.
Bob Schmitz
passed a hat at the banquet and raised $350 to assist the Town with
it's
legal fight against Rio Algom mining company.
Environmental Volunteers Award for the Year 2000
We were also very honored to award Bernice and Cliff Katers
for their several years of behind-the-scenes assistance with handwriting
and mailing thousands of membership renewal notices, and assisting
with
monthly newsletter folding, labeling, sorting and bundling.
They've been very gracious in providing the personal touch of
hand addressed envelopes, and timely mailing assistance when we're frantic
to get our notices out in time.
As a result of their help, we've been able to maintain a high
quality, up-to-date mailing list of current members, a major accomplishment
now that we have several thousand members.
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