Restoring Lower Green Bay/Fox River AOC (timeline)

Year Critical Action
2013

University of Wisconsin Extension releases a fact scheet on the status of each BUI in the AOC.


A judge rules that all 7 companies EPA considers responsible for PCB contamination at the Lower Green Bay/Fox River cleanup site must complete the required cleanup work. EPA can require any of them to do all or portions of the remaining work.

2012

An update to the Remedial Action Plan is released that builds on information from the 2011 RAP.


US Army Corps of Engineers begins the Cat Island restoration project. 4.3 miles of stone dike will be constructed and concrete culverts will be installed.


360,000 cubic yards of PCB-contaminated sediment are dredged. About 1.5 million cubic yards were dredged between 2009 and 2011.

2011

A stage II Remedial Action Planupdate is released that describes key remedial actions taken since 1993 and idenfies future projects and challenges associated with each BUI.

2010-2011

Several laws are passed that reduce or ban phosphorus in household materials, reduce phosphorus runoff from farms and set new water quality standards.

2009

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources identifies delisting targets for each of the BUIs in Lower Green Bay/Fox River Area of Concern.

2003-2008

E. Coli is measured consistently to determine if beach health is improving. Testing reveals the health overall is good. However, more remedial projects are needed to meet delisting criteria.

2003

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service releases an environmental assessment and restoration plan for the AOC.

1993

An update to the Remedial Action Plan is published. Current progress is described and future goals are identified.


EPA, WDNR and other partners complete the $13 million Green Bay and Fox River mass balance studies to determine the extent of PCB contamination from Lake Winnebago to Green Bay. The fate and transport of PCBs in the river and bay system are modeled.

1988

The first stage of the Lower Green Bay/Fox River Remedial Action Plan is released.