E.P.A. okays MMSD cleanup and sampling project for PCB-contaminated parks and schools

No. 07-OPA139

(Chicago, Ill. - Aug. 10, 2007) E.P.A. Region five today approved a cleanup and sampling project for PCB-contaminated parks and school properties submitted by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District.

The approach suggested by MMSD follows EPA's countrywide guidelines and allows the park and school properties to be reopened as quickly as possible.

MMSD contractors, working under E.P.A. oversight, will clean up hot spots at 2 school park properties with PCB contamination above one part per million. One is on a grassy area at Dyer School Park, 151 N. 80th Saint The other is at a baseball diamond at Wick School Park, 4929 W. Vliet Saint

Additionally, MMSD contractors will collect a 2nd round of samples at twelve properties where PCB levels are below one ppm but merit further analysis.

The properties in this group are: other portions of both Dyer and Wick School parks, and parks at Burnham School, Carmen School, Custer School, Hamilton School, Lewis School, Pulaski School and South Division School, as well as Grant, Root River and Sheridan Co. parks.

In July, MMSD confirmed that sludge-derived fertilizer containing PCBs had been spread at 25 school parks and five park district properties in Milwaukee County. E.P.A. has overseen the collection and analysis of in excess of 800 soil samples collected from the 30 properties.

PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, are a group of toxic chemicals that were widely used as coolants, insulators and lubricants. They are of concern because they concentrate in the food chain resulting in health hazards to people, fish and wildlife. Congress banned the manufacture of new PCBs in 1976, and PCBs still in use are strictly regulated.

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