The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) partnered to remediate contaminated sediment in the Ponds Behind Erie Pier. The project targeted two backwater ponds surrounded by shallow marsh wetlands in Duluth, Minnesota. PCBs, PAHs, mercury, and chromium contaminated the sediment throughout the project area.
As a subcontractor for a joint venture, Brennan remediated 47,915 cubic yards of contaminated sediment. The work took place in two ponds near the Duluth-Superior Harbor within the St. Louis River Area of Concern (AOC). Brennan dredged all contaminated sediment from the project area. Our team dewatered the sediment on-site. We then placed six inches of clean cap material over the dredged areas.
The cleanup reduced toxins affecting the benthic, or bottom-dwelling, community in the ponds. It also reduced contaminants in macroinvertebrates living within the pond sediment. Those macroinvertebrates provide an important food source for fish.
We thank every Brennan team member who contributed to the Ponds Behind Erie Pier project. We also thank the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Environmental Quality Management, Jacobs Solutions, and everyone on-site for making the project successful.
Funding for this project was provided jointly by the EPA and MPCA as part of a multi-project task:
- Contract #68HERH19D009
- Task Project #68HE0521F0071
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