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In April of 1999, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a $50,000 Technical Assistance Grant (TAG), another $50,000 Grant in September of 2001, and a final $50,000 Grant in July of 2003 to a coalition of local and regional citizen groups affected by the proposed Lower Fox River Superfund Site. Clean Water Action Council is the "fiscal sponsor" and coordinator of the grant, and is required to provide an additional 20% in matching funds and services (equal to a total of $37,500 over 6 years) as part of the project. In reality, we’ve devoted much more than a 20% match in volunteer time alone.

The EPA provides the grants to allow citizens to hire technical advisors to assist in analyzing technical information presented by the government for cleaning up the river. The money is also provided for distributing this information to the public. We’re required to do detailed federal accounting, many hours of paperwork, and contracts.

The idea is to help "level the playing field" and provide an independent source of expert opinion for citizens who face confusing and highly technical arguments paid for by the Fox River polluters, or presented by government officials. The industries have hired world-class scientists to argue their position. They’ve also hired public relations consultants and have enormous budgets for TV advertising, mass mailings, programs and newspaper ads. At the same time, they’ve had several lobbyists and law firms working regularly at the local, state and federal level for several years. Concerned citizens are at a distinct disadvantage.

Our coalition includes a variety of groups across a broad geographical area impacted by Fox River PCBs: Clean Water Action Council, with 12,000 members and contributors in Northeast Wisconsin.; Wisconsin's Environmental Decade, with 5,000 members and contributors in Northeast Wisconsin.; Great Lakes United, an umbrella international group with 150 organizations and 500 individual members in the Great Lakes region, including several on Lake Michigan; Door County Environmental Council, with 400 members in Door County; Chappee Rapids Audubon Society, with 100 members in Marinette County; Northeast Wisconsin Student Environmental Coalition (which includes student ecology clubs from 8 different schools in the area), and the Brown County Conservation Alliance, representing 14 organizations in Brown County (including the DePere Sportsmen's Club, Gardeners Club of Green Bay, Green Bay Area Great Lakes Sport Fishermen, Green Bay Boating Club, Green Bay Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Green Bay Duck Hunters, Izaak Walton League - Brown County Chapter, N.E. Wis. Audubon Society, N.E. Wis. Beagle Club, N.E. Wis. Chapter of Ducks Unlimited, Southern Brown County Conservation Club, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary - Green Bay Chapter, and Clean Water Action Council.) 

Key Aspects of Our TAG Project

• We've hired three experts --- a toxicologist, Dr. Jeffrey Foran, to examine the human and wildlife health risk assessments which form the basis of the cleanup standard, a geologist, Donna Boreck, to examine the sediment cleanup, remediation and landfilling technologies being proposed, and an engineer, William Acker, to review the cost and feasibility of the cleanup.  They will help us write detailed technical comments about the government proposals. Much of their analysis has been delayed for 2 years, due to governmental delays in the release of the final Remedial Investigation Feasibility Study (the sediment cleanup proposal).

• We will hold 5 public programs (in Sturgeon Bay, Green Bay, Appleton, Oshkosh and Marinette) with our toxicologist as guest speaker, during the public comment period after the final "Remedial Investigation Feasibility Study" is released. We’ll provide background information to help the public better understand the study, answer questions and discuss the issues.

• Each coalition organization has committed to writing newsletter articles and boosting publicity about the Fox River PCB issue, including publicity of public hearings and comment periods. This is an ongoing, continuous effort.

• Clean Water Action Council committed to distributing Fox River PCB factsheets door-to-door in several Northeast Wisconsin communities, and at meetings. The door-to-door effort has concluded (after visiting tens of thousands of homes), but the meeting handouts continue regularly.

• Clean Water Action Council committed to creating this "Fox River Watch" webpage, to serve as an ongoing information resource. This requires maintenance and updating on a regular basis.

• Clean Water Action Council committed to sending several mass mailings, and making phone calls to encourage public involvement in key public hearings and written comment periods. (Because the government proposals have been more complicated --- i.e.: federal/state disputes --- and have taken longer than expected, we’ve already had to spend more than projected.)

• Funds will also be used to advertise the existence of the website, TAG expert programs, public hearings, and public comment opportunities.

Technical Assistance Grant Homepage – U.S. EPA

EPA Contacts Regarding the TAG

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