The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) signed a project agreement to remediate contaminated sediment in the “ponds behind Erie Pier,” two ponds surrounded by shallow marsh wetlands in the St. Louis River Area of Concern (AOC).
The sediment was primarily contaminated with PCBs, PAHs, mercury, and chromium. Here's how we worked with stakeholders to clean up the sediment and the resulting impact of our work.
How we remediated sediment contaminated with PCBs, PAHs, mercury, and chromium:
Hired as the subcontractor of a joint venture, Brennan remediated 47,915 cubic yards of contaminated sediment in the two ponds near the Duluth-Superior Harbor. Our role consisted of dredging all contaminated sediment in the project area, dewatering the sediments on-site, and placing 6 inches of clean cap material over the dredged area.
The cleanup reduced toxins in the “benthic” or bottom-dwelling community in the ponds, reducing the contaminants in the macroinvertebrates that live in the pond sediment and provide an important food source for fish.
We thank all Brennan team members for their involvement in the Ponds Behind Erie Pier project. Thank you to the US Environmental Protection Agency, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Environmental Quality Management, Jacobs Solutions, and everyone involved on-site for making it 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
About J.F. Brennan Company
J.F. Brennan Company, Inc. (Brennan) is a fourth-generation, family-owned marine construction firm specializing in environmental remediation, dam construction, commercial dive, harbor management, and submarine cable services. Working closely with public and private owners of water-based infrastructure since 1919, Brennan operates nationwide throughout coastal and inland waterways.
