United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region VI
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

The EPA, working in cooperation with the City of Donna, Donna Irrigation District, TCEQ, DSHS, Texas Parks and Wildlife, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry will conduct a removal action for the depopulation of contaminated fish in the Donna Canal.  The larger, edible sized fish in Donna canal are contaminated with PCBs above US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowable consumption limits.

On August 23, 2008 the EPA finished conducting phase one of the contaminated fish removal from the Donna canal and demobilized from the site.

A total of approximately 7,800 fish were collected, 22 different species were identified by USFWS, the smallest fish caught was a mosquito fish (2.8 cm in length, weighing <1 gram) and the largest fish was a Smallmouth Buffalo (76 cm in length, weighing approximately 7 kilograms or 15.4 lbs.).  

Of the 22 different species identified, a total of 22 whole body, and 19 fillets from 9 different species of fish were sent to a laboratory for analysis of PCBs.  The samples of fish were taken from three separate areas along the entire length of an 8 mile stretch of the canal.  

A brief summary of the fish samples are as follows:

No Arochlors were detected in any sample from segment 1.

Almost all of the samples from segments 2 and 3 contained arochlors,however many of the concentrations were less than the quantitation limit of 33 ug/kg (ppb).

The highest concentrations detected were the 410 ug/kg from a whole body Gar sample from segment 2, a 350 ug/kg fillet sample of a Smallmouth Buffalo in segment 2, and a 130 ug/kg whole body Tilapia sample form segment 2.

On September 19, 2008 a roll off box (10 fish, 1 PPE, 6 trash) containing 17 55-gallon drums of nonhazardous PCB-contaminated fish  was disposed of to the El Centro Landfill in Robstown, Texas whose plans are for immediate burial to minimize odor.

Provide maintenance to fish barrier fencing until phase two of the fish removal begins in Janurary of 2009.

Conduct phase two of the removal of contaminated fish from the Donna canal site 4 to 6 months after the completion of phase one.  Expected mobilization date for phase two is January 2009.

None.