United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region V
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

The Ruddiman Creek and Pond remediation is located in Muskegon, County, Michigan and consists of approximately 2.3 miles of creek, a 21-acre pond, and approximately 39 acres of wetlands adjacent to the pond and creek.  The pond discharges to Muskegon Lake and then to Lake Michigan.  The Ruddiman Creek drainage is approximately 3,000 acres, and includes the cities of Muskegon, Norton Shores, Muskegon Heights, and Roosevelt Park.  All four cities have storm sewers contributing the Ruddiman Creek.  The watershed includes properties used for industrial, commercial, residential, and recreational pruposes.  

Currently the main branch of Ruddiman Creek is posted as a No Swimming, Fishing or Recreation Area due in part ot contaminated sediment.  The primary contaminants of concern include cadmium at 25 parts per millions (ppm), chromium at 2,900 ppm, polychlorinated biphenyls at 6 ppm and lead at 1,200 ppm.  

The $10.6 million project is expected to take about nine months and remove approximately 80,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment.  Upon completion of the sediment removal, the creek and pond will be reconstructed and water flow patterns restored.

The project is a joint effort between the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO).  This project is being performed under the authority and guidelines provided by the Clean Michigan Initiative of 1998 and the Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2002.  USEPA Emergency Response Branch is providing assistance by conducting project oversight and providing contract support.

Environmental Quality Management (EQM) began mobilizing equipment and materials to the site on August 8, 2005.  During the week, they also met with subcontractors to discuss site operations and scheduling.  

During the week of August 15, 2005 site prep activities began.  This included clearing and grubbing of three work areas, constructing a pad for the water treatment system, building access roads and documenting pre-existing transportation haul route conditions.

During the week of August 22, 2005 construction of the work areas continued.  Items completed include two staging pads for contaminated sediment, the pier for off-loading barges, a parking lot around the office trailers, and the water treatment system.  A kick-off press conference was held on August 25, 2005.  Approximately 80 people attended and listened to the following speakers: US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Johnson, Congressman Elhers, Congressman Hoekstra, the Mayor of Muskegon, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Director Steve Chester, and Citizen Activist Theresa Bernhardt.

Planned actions for next week include continued construction of work areas and roads as well as installing a weir to raise the water level in Ruddiman Pond.

Once all site set-up work is complete, dredging in both the Ruddiman Pond and the main branch of Ruddiman Creek will begin.

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