Remediation Plans Progress On Lower Menominee River

Updates on two remediation plans highlighted the Thursday, July 19 meeting of the Lower Menominee River Area of Concern Citizens Advisory Committee meeting.

Jim Cox of Ansul/Tyco reported the planned dredging in the Tyco Remediation Plan began on July 10. There are 3 main contractors working on the dredging, which employ 40-45 people and 17 local residents have been hired by the contractors.

Cox added that about 950 cubic yards of material have been removed from the river bottom thus far. The material is being tested, treated and dried before it will be transported to the landfill site. During the dredging operation, Tyco has been in constant contact with local industries using the river so that the dredging operations and shipping stay out of each other’s way. Cox stated the EPA has had nothing but positive responses so far for the work being done.

A question was asked about possibly lighting all the buoys around the dredging operation and the person stated it looked like none of the orange buoys were lit. Cox responded that bigger, lighted buoys are being brought in so that safety on the river, especially at night, can be maintained.

Jennifer Short from Wisconsin Public Service updated the sediment remediation plans for the site formerly known as the Marinette Manufactured Gas Plant. She introduced Brian Bartoszek, WPS representative in charge of the remediation.

Bartoszek explained the history of the site in question. The Marinette Manufactured Gas plant was in operation from 1901 to 1960 and was operated by the Marinette Lighting Company on the site of what is now the Marinette Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Manufactured gas plants were part of the gas production process from the 1800s to the mid-1900s, pretty much the ‘pre natural gas’ era. Called “Town Gas,” manufactured gas was usually produced from coal and was used for things like lighting street lamps and eventually for cooking. The process of making the gas can basically be described as decomposition. The gas portion was purified before it was distributed. The by-products of tar and coke were used for various things, but sometimes they were disposed of or stored on the property. In some cases this led to an impact on the soil, groundwater and sediment.

Bartoszek stated that the Marinette plant was pretty good about not polluting, but it has been discovered that some tar and residuals have been discovered in and on the bottom of the river. The majority of evidence is found in the slough that runs from the old plant site to the river.

Bartoszek continued that most of the contaminants were removed when the Waste Water Treatment Plant was constructed, but testing has shown that residuals are still observed in the Menominee River. WPS has done sediment sampling and has designed a remediation plan, which has been submitted to the state and federal government for approval.

Details of the plan include a coffer dam from the east edge of the Nest Egg Marina property to the west edge of the Marinette Marine property. About 5000 cubic yards of material will be removed and dewatered. The water removed will be treated on-site and returned to the river. The plan includes using the Boom Landing Boat Launch area as a dewatering site, thus meaning it will be closed during the duration of the project. Another detail of the plan includes capping the site with sand. Any contaminated material will be hauled to an approved landfill.

Once approval is given for the plan, there will be a 30 day public comment period. Bartoszek said that WPS is hoping the plan will be approved in the next few weeks and that work on the site can begin in early September. If that is the case, the work should be completed by December and all the equipment removed by the start of the spring walleye season.

Jeff Knoop from The Nature Conservancy presented a discussion he called “Conservation Easements 101.” A conservation easement is a restriction placed on a piece of property to protect its associated resources.

The easement is either voluntarily donated or sold by the landowner and constitutes a legally binding agreement that limits certain types of uses or prevents development from taking place on the land in perpetuity while the land remains in private hands.

Conservation easements protect land for future generations while allowing owners to retain many private property rights and to live on and use their land, at the same time potentially providing them with tax benefits.

In a conservation easement, a landowner voluntarily agrees to sell or donate certain rights associated with his or her property - often the right to subdivide or develop - and a private organization or public agency agrees to hold the right to enforce the landowner’s promise not to exercise those rights. In essence, the rights are forfeited and no longer exist.

An easement selectively targets only those rights necessary to protect specific conservation values, such as water quality, migration routes, scenic value, historic value, agricultural value, forestry value, recreation and trail value, and is individually tailored to meet a landowner’s needs. Because the land remains in private ownership, with the remainder of the rights intact, an easement property continues to provide economic benefits for the area in the form of jobs, economic activity and property taxes.

A conservation easement is legally binding, whether the property is sold or passed on to heirs. Because use is permanently restricted, land subject to a conservation easement may be worth less on the open market than comparable unrestricted and developable parcels. Sometimes conservation easements will enable the landowner to qualify for tax benefits in compliance with Internal Revenue Service rules.

The Nature Conservancy is obligated to oversee and enforce the terms of the easement. As a result, a representative of the Conservancy will periodically schedule visits to the property to make sure the land continues to be used according to the easement.

For more information on conservation easements and the Nature Conservancy, please visit their website: www.nature.org.

Recent stories, opinions and photos

Issue Date	Department	Headline
05-22-2013	Front Page	Marinette Marine Dedicates New Construction Module
05-22-2013	Front Page	Bank Robbery Investigation Still Going On
05-22-2013	Front Page	Co. Law Enforcement Discusses 5-Year Plan
05-22-2013	Front Page	21 Years In Prison In Fatal Car Crash
05-22-2013	Front Page	Criminal Justice Discusses Prevention/Treatment Issues
05-22-2013	Sports	Cougars (15-1) Head Into Playoffs On Winning Note
05-22-2013	Sports	Lena’s Huberty Heads To Nationals;Qualifies For 2
05-22-2013	Sports	Marinette Boys Claim 5 Golds, Peshtigo Girls Register A Pair
05-22-2013	Sports	Suring Sweeps Regional Honors
05-22-2013	Perspectives	From our readers
05-22-2013	Perspectives	Tales from the old-timer
05-22-2013	Perspectives	Country Cousin
05-22-2013	News	Goodman Legion Memorial Plans
05-22-2013	News	Benefit Ride June 8 for Late Trish Waschbisch
05-22-2013	News	Area Students Earn UW-Milwaukee Degrees
05-22-2013	News	Area Students on Dean’s List
05-22-2013	Community - Wausaukee	Athelstane Fund Raiser is July 13
05-22-2013	Community - Wausaukee	Church Weekend Rummage, Bake Sale
05-22-2013	Community - Wausaukee	SC Fire, Rescue Picnic is Aug. 10
05-22-2013	Community - Wausaukee	Legion Post 66 List Memorial Weekend Plans
05-22-2013	Community - Crivitz	Crivitz Wolverine 5K Run, Walk June 1
05-22-2013	Community - Crivitz	Loomis Historical Meeting June 6
05-22-2013	Community - Crivitz	Wear Poppy To Remember Those Who Sacrificed All
05-22-2013	Community - Crivitz	Witt Ford Announces Dealership Expansion Project
05-22-2013	Community - Coleman	Woman’s Club Plant Sale for Scholarships
05-22-2013	Community - Coleman	Abigail Panske; Abigail Gross
05-22-2013	Community - Coleman	Stellmachers Have Girl
05-22-2013	Community - Coleman	Coleman School Presented Global Excellence Awards
05-22-2013	Obituaries	Frances L. Wood
05-22-2013	Obituaries	Harold J. Willette, Sr.
05-22-2013	Obituaries	Marilyn M. Werner
05-22-2013	Obituaries	Terese Lynn Trepanier
05-22-2013	Obituaries	Sally B. Swanson
05-22-2013	Obituaries	Florence A. Roggenbuck
05-22-2013	Obituaries	Donald A. Raymus
05-22-2013	Obituaries	Peter Orlando
05-22-2013	Obituaries	Glenn Maloney
05-22-2013	Obituaries	Doris J. Laitinen
05-22-2013	Obituaries	Robert E. Koutnik, Sr.
05-22-2013	Obituaries	John S. Kennedy
05-22-2013	Obituaries	Raymond D. Hoyum
05-22-2013	Obituaries	Mary Jane Hearley
05-22-2013	Obituaries	Jeffery D. Guay
05-22-2013	Obituaries	Robert W. Gaulke
05-22-2013	Obituaries	James Allen Erickson
05-22-2013	Obituaries	William W. England
05-22-2013	Obituaries	Helene R. Crawford
05-22-2013	Obituaries	Carol Clark
05-22-2013	Obituaries	Joyce Christensen
05-22-2013	Obituaries	Clara Boivin
05-22-2013	Obituaries	Dolores F. Berger
05-16-2013	Front Page	Mike, Anita Folgert Are Recipients Of Touhey Award
05-16-2013	Front Page	Predicts New Learning Center Will Be “A Shining Light” For Marinette Schools
05-16-2013	Front Page	Tourism Draws Millions For State, 4 County Area
05-16-2013	Front Page	Water & Sewer Committee Moves Ahead With Loan
05-16-2013	Front Page	Commend City Officer’s Work On Murder Case
05-16-2013	Obituaries	Lorna M. Techmeier
05-16-2013	Obituaries	James R. Schaut
05-16-2013	Obituaries	Nora E. Salewsky
05-16-2013	Obituaries	Ralph R. Runge
05-16-2013	Obituaries	James P. Reindl
05-16-2013	Obituaries	Uta Rasmussen
05-16-2013	Obituaries	Virginia Ellsworth Plier
05-16-2013	Obituaries	Ursula J. Peters
05-16-2013	Obituaries	Walter J. Moucha, Sr.
05-16-2013	Obituaries	Kasimir Melnyk
05-16-2013	Obituaries	Bernadette E. Meek
05-16-2013	Obituaries	Shirley Jean Johnson
05-16-2013	Obituaries	Julie N. Jeske
05-16-2013	Obituaries	George L. Hayden
05-16-2013	Obituaries	Patricia L. Gomber
05-16-2013	Obituaries	James A. Erickson,
05-16-2013	Obituaries	Frank M. Dudek
05-16-2013	Obituaries	Judith A. Carrillo
05-16-2013	Obituaries	Shirley Ann Bishop
05-16-2013	Obituaries	Donald M. Allard
05-16-2013	Sports	Marinette Golfers Win Menominee Meet; Bieberitz Is Medalist
05-16-2013	Sports	Track Regionals To Begin May 20
05-16-2013	Sports	Peshtigo Captures M-O Conference Crowns
05-16-2013	Sports	Coleman Finishes Perfect�Again!
05-16-2013	News	Set Babysitting Class for May 25
05-16-2013	News	Town Peshtigo Sets Cleanup Day
05-16-2013	News	Marinette Legion Brat Fry Dates
05-16-2013	News	Church Dinner, Auction May 19
05-16-2013	Perspectives	From our readers
05-16-2013	Perspectives	Tales from the old-timer
05-16-2013	Perspectives	Country Cousin
05-16-2013	Community - Wausaukee	Grand Germany Tour Sept. 15-24
05-16-2013	Community - Wausaukee	Wausaukee Blood Drive is June 10
05-16-2013	Community - Wausaukee	Wausaukee Memorial Services Slated May 27
05-16-2013	Community - Wausaukee	Wausaukee Students Help Plant Nursery Stock Trees
05-16-2013	Community - Crivitz	Jeff Diges Memorial Bike Run June 29, Hold Pool Tourney
05-16-2013	Community - Crivitz	TB Rescue Bake, Rummage Sale
05-16-2013	Community - Crivitz	Co. Elderly Golf Scramble July 12
05-16-2013	Community - Crivitz	Crivitz Sister Cities Future On Line At May 22 Meeting
05-16-2013	Community - Coleman	Coleman High School Graduation is June 1
05-16-2013	Community - Coleman	2 Top Coleman Seniors
05-16-2013	Community - Coleman	Fine Art Nite at Coleman School
05-16-2013	Community - Coleman	Coleman Services for Memorial Day
05-08-2013	Front Page	Marinette Police Memorial To Officers Lost In Duty
05-08-2013	Front Page	City Adopts New Sewer Rates, Fire Dept. Fees
05-08-2013	Front Page	Co. Move Toward Medical Examiner Model Rejected
05-08-2013	Front Page	Centenarian Marks Birthday May 5th
05-08-2013	Front Page	Folgerts Chosen For Touhey Award Recipients
05-08-2013	Front Page	Million Dollar Bail Set In Homicide Case
05-08-2013	Obituaries	Irene Zoellner
05-08-2013	Obituaries	Lila V. Tippett
05-08-2013	Obituaries	Clarence E. Treptow
05-08-2013	Obituaries	Dennis L. Tachick
05-08-2013	Obituaries	Roger K. Schiefelbein
05-08-2013	Obituaries	Sharon A. Ronan
05-08-2013	Obituaries	Robert Ranallo, Sr.
05-08-2013	Obituaries	Jerry Rakowski
05-08-2013	Obituaries	James Prefontaine
05-08-2013	Obituaries	Spencer B. Patz
05-08-2013	Obituaries	Lila E. Miller
05-08-2013	Obituaries	Patricia Mathey
05-08-2013	Obituaries	Helen J. Lemery
05-08-2013	Obituaries	William H. Keller
05-08-2013	Obituaries	Alice Johnson
05-08-2013	Obituaries	Ronald Cedric Henning
05-08-2013	Obituaries	Algin T. Hendricksen
05-08-2013	Obituaries	Paul G. Grunwald
05-08-2013	Obituaries	Cheryl Lynn Gallo
05-08-2013	Obituaries	Gyneth Gadtzke
05-08-2013	Obituaries	Crystal Ann Gabriel
05-08-2013	Obituaries	Curtis P. Frank, Sr.
05-08-2013	Obituaries	Della A. DeStarkey
05-08-2013	Obituaries	Daniel P. Barney
05-08-2013	News	Girl Scout Carnival at Peshtigo June 2
05-08-2013	News	5th Annual EMS 5K Walk/Run
05-08-2013	News	Brazeau Annual Fundraiser July 27
05-08-2013	Community - Wausaukee	Wagner Board Meets May 14
05-08-2013	Community - Wausaukee	SC Fire, Rescue Auxiliary May 13
05-08-2013	Community - Wausaukee	Lions To Clean Hwy. 180 May 11
05-08-2013	Community - Wausaukee	Legion Post 66 Meeting May 11
05-08-2013	Community - Crivitz	CHS 5K Run/ Walk is June 1
05-08-2013	Community - Crivitz	Legion Trap 22
05-08-2013	Community - Crivitz	Middle Inlet Plans for Memorial Day
05-08-2013	Community - Crivitz	Middle Inlet Plans 33rd Annual Reunion
05-08-2013	Community - Coleman	Area Cadets at State Challenge Academy
05-08-2013	Community - Coleman	Parkway Ladies Start
05-08-2013	Community - Coleman	Comins Graduates Basic
05-08-2013	Community - Coleman	Graduates Basic
05-08-2013	Sports	Wausaukee Golfers Win 9-Hole M-O Tournament
05-08-2013	Sports	Bulldogs Grab M-O Lead
05-08-2013	Sports	Marines Shine At Home Invite
05-08-2013	Sports	Coleman Clinches M-O Title Share
05-02-2013	Obituaries	Patricia J. Waschbisch
05-02-2013	Obituaries	Bessie Riley