A Manitowoc city official says there’s some environmental investigation activity going on at the former Mirro site on Washington Street. Manitowoc Community Development Director, April Kroner, tells SeehaferNews.com the work being performed is the first round of soil/groundwater sampling. Kroner explains that the investigation is two-pronged: to delineate or describe the PCB impacts to soil & groundwater at two target areas, and install soil borings/wells in the “known historic release areas” to confirm the presence and extent of contaminant impacts. The activity will continue through tomorrow and the work is being managed by the city’s Consultant, Harris Byers with Stantec. A roto-sonic drill is used because of the amount of buried concrete rubble and foundations associated with multiple phases of industrial development at the Mirro site, often with one slab poured over the previous one.
Kroner says the concrete slabs can’t be removed until the site investigation work is completed, so the sub-slab soil quality can be determined and extract any identified source areas prior to capping. City staff & the consultant are expected to meet with the state DNR next month to discuss the results. The city will have estimated costs by this summer for any required cleanup and they’ll seek funding opportunities to perform the work. Marketing of the old Mirro site won’t begin until the environmental assessment is finished.
