The St. Clair Shores PCB Drain #2 Site is located in St Clair Shores, Michigan.  Several studies and two removal actions have been conducted in the area for PCB contamination. A source of PCBs still exists at the site and may encompasse a several block area where PCBs have been documented to be present in significant quantities in an underground storm drain and utility corridor.  

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

From March 1, 2010, through March 26, 2010, EPA and its contractors established the Site command post, installed a weir plate at the outfall of the 10 Mile Drain system, initiated drain dewatering, and initiated jet-vac cleaning of the sediments from the sewer system.  START delivered the Emergency Contingency Plan to local police, fire, hospital and the city manager.  

From March 29, 2010 through April 12, 2010 dewatering activities and jet vacuuming the drain along Bon Brae, Harper Road and Jefferson Road continued.  The line is being cleaned so that weirs can be installed to act as sediment traps in the sewer and to help identify the area PCBs are entering the sewer.  To date, 4 of 15 proposed weirs are in place. The crews also began solidifying the sediment that was off-loaded from the vac truck into the roll-off box.  A sample of  this wastestream was collected and submitted for disposal analysis.  Crews installed weirs in manholes along Bon Brae west of Harper Road.  Jet vacuuming activities were completed on April 09, 2010.    

EPA and its contractors also secured access to 93 properties to conduct magnetic resonance (MR) and ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys.  Based on these surveys, locations were selected for collection of soil samples utilizing geoprobe technology. Six properties showed some type of anomaly and will be further investigated with geoprobe borings.   

From April 13, 2010 through April 23, 2010 ERRS continued to install weirs inside the drain along Bon Brae and Harper Avenue.   A total of 15 weirs were installed and properly fitted at each location.  ERRS also began deconning the vac truck that was used for jet- vac activities.  Wipe samples were collected and determined the truck was no longer contaminated. 

On April 19, 2010, the large steel plate installed at the outfall to dewater the line was removed along with the pumps.  The plate was returned to the City of St. Clair Shores. 

EPA also began geo-probing at specific locations where anomalies were found with the GPR/EM.  The survey identified six properties where soil borings were collected.   A total of 43 sample locations were collected and ** samples were submitted for PCB analysis.   

As of April 23, all site activities were completed and all equipment was removed from site.  Five roll-off boxes of PCB contaminated soil were removed from site. 


2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)

Ongoing, numerous leads have been pursued in the past by multiple agencies. One reported dump area directly coincides with an MR and GPR anomaly and will be the first area to be investigated with geoprobe cores collected.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

Complete Removal Report. 


2.2.2 Issues
There exists both known and unknown sources of PCBs in this area. Specifically for this reason, the site is being studied for the potential to become a remedial action. Further thorough assessment is planned to better determine the location and source of the contamination and to provide a long-term remediation.