Region 5 Superfund (SF)

U.S. EPA REGION 5
MILWAUKEE COUNTY
MILWAUKEE

Congressional District # 04

BURNHAM CANAL - MILLER COMPRESSING COMPANY

EPA ID# WIN000510222
Last Updated: September, 2009

Site Description

The Burnham Canal Site (the Site) is a Superfund Alternative Site (SAS).The Burnham Canal used to be a federally authorized navigation channel; it had been dredged and maintained by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). As of 1987, the Canal is no longer being dredged. The Site is located in an industrial area, in the southern portion of the Menomonee River Valley of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Miller Compressing is a copper wire reclamation and non-ferrous recycling facility located adjacent to the Burnham Canal. Operations were performed on the Site from late 70’s through the mid 80’s. Operations have either ceased or have been moved away from the Site.

Site Responsibility

This site is being addressed through responsible parties' actions with federal oversight.

Threats and Contaminants

The target contaminants include six heavy metals (cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, silver and zinc) and Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). The pathways of concern include surface water, sediment, and soil; the potential receptors include benthic organisms, outdoor workers, construction workers and trespassers; and the exposure routes are dermal contact and ingestion.

The U.S. EPA does not recommend consumption of fish caught in the Burnham Canal.

Cleanup Progress

Prior to getting involved with EPA's Superfund program Miller Compressing  conducted  their own investigations of the Burnham Canal including its western terminus. In July of 2008, Miller Compressing signed an agreement with with EPA to conduct a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study for the Site. The RI/FS is currently in progress and the expected completion date is December 2010.

Community Involvement

The U.S. EPA recently conducted  interviews with community members and local stakeholders in order to prepare a Community Involvement Plan (CIP), which documents U.S. EPA's strategies for effectively communicating with the community. Once the CIP is finalized,  it we be made available in an information respository near the site.

Contacts

Remedial Project Manager, U.S. EPA
nefertiti simmons (simmons.nefertiti@epa.gov)
(312) 886-6148