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 01, 2010 through March 12, 2010, ERRS began setting up the command post area located behind City Hall.  ERRS also  worked with the City of St. Clair Shores to identify staging areas and use of steel plate while dewatering the storm sewer.  START worked on access with West Marine which is where the outfall is located.  Access was granted on March 10, 2010.

During the week of March 15, 2010, EPA arranged for the dewatering of the storm drain. Dewatering the storm drain is an important initial step in removing sediments contaminated with PCB from he storm sewer system. Once lake water and run-off water is removed from the drain, EPA will be able to access the storm sewer with specialized equipment that will remove sediments within the drains.

On March 17, 2010 ERRS set up a large plate that prevented the flow of water from the lake back into the storm sewer. This plate isolated the Lange canal outfall. Once the plate was in place and secured, two 8-inch pumps were inserted into the outfall area.  The dewatering of the sewer system began and continued throughout the night of March 17, 2010.  The water was pumped over the steel plate. Debris was contained within the containment.  The water levels within the contained area dropped and pumping continued.

On March 18th and 19th, 2010, dewatering activities continued. The water is being pumped over the new plate from the the area in between that plate and the existing weir at the outfall of the sewer.

From March 22, 2010 through March 26, 2010 dewatering activities continued and crews began jet vacuming the drain along Bon Brae.  Large pieces of debris and sediment were found in the line and caused issues with decanting the water off the truck.  Crews removed the debris and staged it for disposal.  The removed sediment was dumped into the roll-off box for solidification.  The wier that was installed in December 2009 was removed from the manhole on March 22, 2010.  Two water samples were collected from the oufall area to confirm the PCB levels in both the the clear and dirty water.  The results, for total PCBs, were 59 ppb and 220 ppb respectively. 

START delivered the Emergency Contingency Plan to local police, fire, hospital and city manager.  

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

Ongoing, numerous leads have been pursued in the past by multiple agencies.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

After completion of the action memorandum with approval from ERB management, the following actions will be undertaken.

• Dewater the section of drain along Bon Brae Road and clean the high level PCB and sediment from it,
• Install up to 25 in-sewer weirs to act as a sediment traps to allow for more effective sampling of the sediments and also help to pinpoint the location PCBs are entering the sewer,
• Conduct sampling activities in several distinct areas where current City contractors believe PCBs may be entering the drain,
• Dispose of all collected PCB waste sediments,
• Remove and dispose of the temporary "pom-pom" oil retention device, and
• Clean the outfall structure where sediments have collected adjacent to the canal.