Hamilton Reef
09-27-2004, 10:49 AM
EPA, state announce cleanup plan for Detroit River's Black Lagoon
http://www.detnews.com/2004/metro/0409/27/metro-285551.htm
TRENTON-- One of the Detroit River’s most toxic hot spots will be the first contaminated sediment site to be cleaned up under the Great Lakes Legacy Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday.
Dredging at the site will begin in mid-October and the project will be completed using $4.2 million in Legacy Act funds and $2.3 million from the state’s Clean Michigan Initiative. The project is expected to be finished by mid-January.
“Purging the Black Lagoon underscores our commitment to protecting the Great Lakes,” EPA Administrator Michael Leavitt said in a statement. “Targeting this riverbed contamination means every drop of water flowing through here will be cleaner.”
In some places, biologists say, the toxic sediment in Black Lagoon is 10 feet deep. The project announced by Leavitt at the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality will remove about 90,000 cubic yards of sediment.
The lagoon has accumulated decades’ worth of heavy metals, mercury, PCBs, oils, grease and other pollutants from industry. River currents swirl in a circular motion at the lagoon, letting suspended toxic materials drop to the bottom.
On the Net: Environmental Protection Agency: http://www.epa.gov
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality: http://www.michigan.gov/deq
http://www.detnews.com/2004/metro/0409/27/metro-285551.htm
TRENTON-- One of the Detroit River’s most toxic hot spots will be the first contaminated sediment site to be cleaned up under the Great Lakes Legacy Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday.
Dredging at the site will begin in mid-October and the project will be completed using $4.2 million in Legacy Act funds and $2.3 million from the state’s Clean Michigan Initiative. The project is expected to be finished by mid-January.
“Purging the Black Lagoon underscores our commitment to protecting the Great Lakes,” EPA Administrator Michael Leavitt said in a statement. “Targeting this riverbed contamination means every drop of water flowing through here will be cleaner.”
In some places, biologists say, the toxic sediment in Black Lagoon is 10 feet deep. The project announced by Leavitt at the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality will remove about 90,000 cubic yards of sediment.
The lagoon has accumulated decades’ worth of heavy metals, mercury, PCBs, oils, grease and other pollutants from industry. River currents swirl in a circular motion at the lagoon, letting suspended toxic materials drop to the bottom.
On the Net: Environmental Protection Agency: http://www.epa.gov
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality: http://www.michigan.gov/deq