St. Louis River Area of Concern Remediation

Background

The St. Louis River and Duluth/Superior Harbor, historically polluted by industries like logging and papermaking, have experienced significant ecological degradation. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) are addressing these issues through a comprehensive cleanup plan. Bay West, a key participant in the project, has contributed through extensive data collection, development of remediation plans, and overseeing dredging and remediation efforts. Our work has significantly reduced the AOC’s ecological impairments, marking progress towards the goal of remediation, and ongoing monitoring to maintain the river’s health.

Bay West collecting sediment samples on the St. Louis River in the Duluth/Superior Harbor.

Project Details

Bay West has acted as an important piece of this project. Our team of experts gathered a wide variety of data—including sediment chemistry, toxicity and bioaccumulation data, and bathymetry—to develop numerous remediation plans for the St. Louis River Area of Concern. Bay West’s data collection efforts included accessing water bodies with no boat access, collecting sediment cores from frozen sediment, gathering thousands of mayfly larvae for tissue analysis, and sending divers to collect sediment from behind dock walls.

During remediation activities, Bay West oversaw contractors during contaminated sediment dredging and restoration activities to ensure the successful execution of the remedy. As a result of these remediation activities, beneficial use impairments in the St. Louis River Area of Concern have decreased significantly.

The partnerships and innovative solutions that Bay West has developed and executed have allowed great progress to be made toward contaminated sediment remediation in the St. Louis River Area of Concern. Bay West continues to monitor contamination levels to ensure the effectiveness of remediation activities and to document the health of the river.

Up-close view of Bay West employees collecting sediment samples.

Recent Experience

PFAS Destruction Using Supercritical Water Oxidation

In partnership with General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS), Bay West is exploring the viability and cost-efficiency of using supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) for treating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Tests achieved a remarkable 99.94% reduction in PFAS highlighting SCWO’s potential for effective PFAS destruction.

Eglin AFB Munitions Investigation and Removal

Bay West conducts munitions investigation and removal at Eglin Air Force Base, allowing the site to be continuously utilized for training. Bay West collaborated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other state and federal agencies to provide military munitions support.

Perham Investigation and Remediation

The East Otter Tail County Fairgrounds in Perham, Minnesota, served as a mixing station and depository for unused arsenic-based grasshopper bait in the 1940s. Bay West has helped ensure the ongoing protection of communities and the environment with various site investigation, optimization studies, and groundwater modeling.

Superior Plating Remediation and Oversight

The largest plating facility in the Midwest was closed due to soil and groundwater contamination. Bay West is pivotal in providing support and oversight for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and its cleanup efforts.