Ten-Mile Drain Site

Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) Fish Advisory

MDCH has issued a “Do Not Eat” advisory for all fish taken from the Lange/Revere canals and carp and catfish caught in Lake St. Clair. In July 2011, fish samples were collected from Lake St. Clair from an area up to five miles north and four miles south of the 10 Mile/Lange/Revere canals. When that information is available, it will be presented to the public.

2011-2012 Michigan Fish Advisory
A Family Guide to Eating Michigan Fish

Site Information

St. Clair Shores, Michigan (Macomb County)
EPA ID# MIN000510063
NPL Site Narrative
Alias(es):
PCB Drain, St. Clair Shores PCB Drain #2, St. Clair Shores Drain, 10 Mile Drain PCB Spill

Contact Information

Community Involvement Coordinator
Megan McSeveney (mcseveney.megan@epa.gov)
312-886-1972 or 800-621-8431, ext. 61972

Remedial Project Manager
Colleen Moynihan (moynihan.colleen@epa.gov)
312-353-8196 or 800-621-8431, ext. 38196

Additonal Contacts
Autumn Lawson
Project Manager
Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment
(lawsona@michigan.gov)
517-241-2120

Repositories

(where to view written records)

St. Clair Shores Public Library
22500 Eleven Mile Road
St. Clair Shores, MI
Mon. - Thurs.: 9 a.m.- 9 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: Closed

Links

EPA Superfund Home Page
Region 5 Superfund
Superfund Frequent Questions

Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry

ATSDR info on PCBs

City of St. Clair Shores

Background

The Ten-Mile Drain Site is located northeast of the City of Detroit and on the western shore of Lake St. Clair, Macomb County, Michigan. The geographical coordinates of the site are latitude 42°29'12" North and longitude -82°53'56" West. The site encompasses a several block area where polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been documented to be present in significant quantities in an underground storm sewer drain system. The ten-mile storm sewer system is approximately 15 feet underground and empties into two residential canal systems connected to Lake St. Clair. The area of concern for this site includes sewer lines in and around the intersection of Bon Brae Street and Harper Avenue in St Clair Shores, Michigan, and other areas to be determined for further investigation and sampling. (more...)

Send feedback to the Community Involvement Coordinator

You will need the free Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more.

Site Updates

September 2011

In July, EPA presented a proposed interim cleanup plan for the Ten-Mile Drain site at a public meeting held on July 26, 2011 in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. EPA is proposing to conduct monthly monitoring and removal, as needed, of PCB-contaminated oil and sediments that are accumulating behind a series of weirs installed in the underground storm sewer drain during a prior EPA removal action. The purpose of the interim source control activities would be to slow the discharge of PCB contamination to the Lange and Revere canals, while EPA continues its remedial investigation and until a final cleanup plan is selected for the site.

In late August, EPA crews took sediment samples from the 10 mile/Lang/Revere canals as part of the ongoing investigation into the Ten Mile Drain Superfund Site. EPA took photos of the sampling.

EPA conducted a focused source investigation in late spring 2011. The results of that investigation are currently being reviewed by the EPA in conjunction with state and local partners.

EPA expects to be back out in the community with an update on the interim action ROD and the spring source investigation before the end of the year. EPA may not have the results of the sediment sampling before the end of the year, however when those results are received they will be released to the public.

July 2011

EPA is planning a proposed plan meeting and public comment period for the Ten-Mile Drain site. At the meeting EPA will share details of a an interim cleanup plan to periodically remove and properly dispose of the persistent PCB oil and contaminated sediment that accumulates behind special barriers called weirs in the Ten-Mile Drain system in St. Clair Shores. People will have an opportunity to comment about EPA's interim cleanup plan through a public comment period and also at a proposed plan meeting. Additionally, EPA will hold an informal open house to help residents understand the scope of the cleanup plan from 2-4 p.m., Tuesday, July 26, 2011, at Blossom Heath Inn, St. Clair Shores.

Recent Activities

March-April 2010: EPA removed water from the drain and installed 15 weirs (small dams), bringing total number of weirs to 17; removed PCB oil and PCB-contaminated sediment from within the drain.
May 2010: City of St. Clair Shores began monitoring weirs and periodically sampling behind weirs to keep track of sediment and PCB levels.
September 2010: Ten-Mile Drain site placed on National Priorities List, making it eligible for investigation and cleanup under Superfund Program.
February 26, 2011: PCB oil removed and absorbent snares placed at six weir locations with PCB contamination; absorbent snares soak up oil and further inhibit movement of contamination.
April-May 2011: EPA took 90 samples in an effort to identify source of PCBs within Ten-Mile Drain system.
April 2011: City of St. Clair Shores inspected absorbent snares and removed and replaced snares containing oil; clean absorbent snares placed at four weir locations.
July 26, 2011: Open House and Public meeting to present proposed weir maintenance activities for review and public comment.
Late August 2011: EPA crews took sediment samples from the 10 Mile/Lang/Revere canals as part of the ongoing investigation into the Ten Mile Drain Superfund Site

National Priorities List (NPL) Status Update

In September 2010, the Ten-Mile Drain site was placed on the National Priorities List (NPL). The NPL is a roster of the nation's hazardous waste sites eligible for investigation and cleanup under EPA's Superfund program. The transfer of the site to EPA's remedial branch will allow for additional funding and resources.

Technical Documents

City of St. Clair Shores - Sampling/Monitoring updates 2011
Removal Action Technical Direction Document (PDF) (290pp, 2.8MB) June 2011
Hazard Ranking System Document (PDF) (41pp, 1MB) March 2011
Interim Action Measures for PCB Oil/Sediment Monitoring and Removal (PDF) (4pp, 143K) March 2011
Site Inspection Report (PDF) (387pp, 50MB) December 2009 - - please request on CD-ROM from the Community Involvement Coordinator

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