EPA to Hold Public Meeting on PCBs

The Environmental Protection Agency will return to the city July 26 to meet with residents about a short-term plan to remove and dispose of PCB oil and contaminated sediment from the 10 Mile Drain.

Among the items included in the proposed plan is the installation of absorbent material in the drain behind weirs, which are barriers installed to stop the movement of contamination into local canals.

"We will go into detail about the proposed weir maintenance activity," said Colleen Moynihan, project manager. 

Following the public meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 26, , and an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. also at Blossom Heath, the EPA will review comments and will attach them to a document submitted for funding. 

Moynihan said the site is a priority, and "we could be out maintaining by the end of the year." 

"We really want to make sure we mitigate the contamination traveling through the drain," she added.

In February,  up to 3 inches of contaminated sediment behind some of the 17 weirs installed in the drain to slow the movement of PCBs through the storm sewer and into local canals. A similar project is what currently is proposed for the drains.

Despite several cleanups of the 10 Mile Drain since PCBs were first discovered in 2002, the drain has been recontaminated. Last year, the site was placed on the Superfund National Priorities List.