Overview

The Fox River Cleanup Project entered its second year of cleanup activity on April 5 with dredging near the project's Green Bay Processing Facility.  Current dredging operations are north of the De Pere Bridge.  2010 dredging and processing will continue until about mid-November.   

The Fox River Cleanup Project, designed to reduce risk to human health and the environment due to the presence of PCBs in Fox River sediment, is a multi-year cleanup effort that includes dredging and capping.  (Click here to view a video with an overview of the Fox River Cleanup Project.) 

The project officially started with dredging and processing on April 28, 2009.  The first year of dredging and capping concluded in mid-November.      

The Lower Fox River Remediation LLC, created by Appleton Papers Inc. and NCR Corporation, is funding the cleanup on the 13.3 mile stretch of the Fox River from Little Rapids to the bay.   

Dredging

Dredging involves removing sediment from the riverbed.  The sediment is dewatered and the resulting dry filter cake material is transported by truck to a landfill. 

Capping

Capping and sand covering involves adding cover above PCB containing sediment by placing sand and gravel on the river bottom.  Capping and covering further prevents the PCBs from being released into the river.  The thickness of the caps vary from a six inch sand cover to a 33 inch cover of sand, gravel and quarry stone.

Facilities

As part of the Fox River Cleanup Project, a processing facility has been constructed along the river in Green Bay where dewatering, sediment processing, water treatment and sediment analysis will take place.

A staging facility is located between Little Rapids and De Pere to support the pipeline to the spreader barge and manage capping and covering materials.  Contaminated sediment will be handled only at the Green Bay Processing Facility.   

Transportation

A Transportation Plan has been developed that outlines primary and secondary routes for trucking processed sediment for disposal.   

Safety

Throughout the project, safety is a top priority.  Rigorous health and safety plans are in place for all aspects of the project, including safety on the river for project workers as well as boaters, anglers and other recreational river users.  

As of mid-July, the project has topped 645,000 work hours without a lost time incident. (Trucking hours are not included in that figure)

In addition, the Fox River Cleanup Group has reached out to the public on a number of levels to be sure that area residents are informed about the work that is taking place. 

The Fox River Cleanup Project is good for the environment, good for area residents and families, and good for the local economy. 

You can reach the Fox River Cleanup Group at 877-FOX-RIVR (369-7487) or info@foxrivercleanup.com.