The Milwaukee Die Cast Site is an abandoned property (owner deceased) in a mixed residential, commercial, and industrial area in the City of Milwaukee. The building, sub-slab soil, surrounding soil, and groundwater were contaminated with polychlorinated byphenols (PCB) and chlorinated solvents (PCE and TCE). Despite a fence around the property, there was frequent trespassing at the Site. PCBs were identified in the sanitary and stormwater sewer systems servicing Milwaukee Die Casting. EPA’s Site Assessment confirmed contamination warranting a time-critical removal action at the facility and in the storm sewer, but not in the sanitary sewer system.
Pharmacia LLC and Fisher Controls International LLC agreed in March, 2013 to conduct a time-critical removal action at the Site, with EPA oversight, pursuant to an Administrative Order on Consent. The Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee (RACM) assumed ownership of the Site to facilitate the clean-up. Site security and stabilization measures began on May 17, 2013. The property was disconnected from the City storm sewers on September 18, 2013. The building was demolished in spring and summer, 2014. The underground tunnel systems were removed during the summer of 2014. Excavation of contaminated soil occurred in the spring and summer of 2015. The cap and final grading was completed in October, 2015. The Institutional Control requirements and Cap Maintenance Plan were approved in April, 2018. The Site (source property and neighboring impacted properties) must remain industrial and meet TSCA low occupancy requirements. The Final Removal Report and AOC Completion are expected in June, 2018. At that time, care of the site will revert to RACM.
Specific information about the removal activities is available in Monthly Progress Reports (Documents Section).
