The EPA, working in cooperation with the City of Donna, Donna Irrigation District, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Texas Parks and Wildlife, US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) conducted a removal action for the depopulation of PCB-contaminated fish from the Donna Canal. Historical fish data from DSHS has documented that the larger, edible sized fish in Donna canal are contaminated with PCBs above U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowable consumption limits.
On February 16, 2009, EPA, USFWS, and EPA contractors re-mobilized to the site to conduct Phase 2 of the fish depopulation work in the Donna Canal. This phase mirrored the work done in Phase 1 and was conducted to remove fish missed during the first phase.
The final count on fish removed from the canal during the Phase 2 work was approximately 15,182 with twenty five different species identified by USFWS. The total count on fish removed from the canal from both phases of work was approximately 23,000.
Whole body and fillet samples collected from several different edible species of fish were sent to a laboratory last week for analysis of PCBs and % Lipids (Whole body only). Three surface water samples from Donna Canal and one drinking water sample from the City of Donna Water Treatment Plant were also collected and submitted to the laboratory for analysis last week. Data from the fish and water samples is expected to be submitted by March 6, 2009.
Field work for Phase 2 was completed on February 27, 2009.
None at this time.
All fish removed from Donna Canal during Phase 2 activities were disposed of offsite at a permitted landfill.
All fish barriers installed during Phase 1 were removed at the end of Phase 2 work (February 27, 2009). One of the barriers between the east and west Donna Reservoirs was also replaced at the end of Phase 2 work due to the fact it was damaged at some point between Phase 1 and Phase 2 work.
None.
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