EPA Begins Removing PCB-Contaminated Soil from Joe Louis Greenway Construction Site in Detroit
CHICAGO (July 7, 2025) – This summer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is removing soil contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, discovered during the construction of the Joe Louis Greenway biking and walking trail in Detroit, Michigan.
During construction, the city of Detroit conducted sampling that showed PCB-contaminated soil in a vacant lot at 8013 W. Chicago that will be part of the trail. At the city’s request, EPA conducted extended confirmation sampling that showed elevated levels of PCBs in a 400-foot by 90-foot area within the property. On June 25, EPA began excavating and stockpiling contaminated soil. The agency will transport the contaminated soil off-site for disposal and the city will backfill the excavation with clean fill. The cleanup is anticipated to take four to five weeks.
PCBs were domestically manufactured from 1929 until it was banned in 1979. Due to its non-flammability, chemical stability, high boiling point and electrical insulating properties, PCBs were used in hundreds of industrial and commercial applications. They have been demonstrated to cause a variety of adverse health effects, and range of toxicity. PCBs do not readily break down once in the environment and can remain for long periods without intervention.
More information about the response is available at the 8013 W. Chicago PCB removal website.
To learn more about PCBs, visit EPA’s Polychlorinated Biphenyls page.
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