For Immediate News Release: April 21, 2009

Red Cliff, Wisconsin – In the summer and early fall of 2008 investigation of barrels of previously classified munitions debris from the cold war era that had been disposed in western Lake Superior continued as research contractors surveyed the lake bottom in an effort to identify and document the location of the barrels. The investigation is funded by a Cooperative Agreement (CA) through the Native American Lands Environmental Mitigation Program (NALEMP), between the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians and the U. S. Department of Defense (DoD).

Researchers from environmental contractor EMR, the Large Lakes Observatory of the University of Minnesota Duluth, Red Cliff and support contractors working from the R/V Blue Heron performed a Geophysical Survey of suspected barrel locations, covering a 96 square mile area of the western Lake Superior lake bottom in search of the barrels. Using sonar methods of side scan and sector scan surveying all seven of the potential dump sites identified in previous studies were investigated.

A total of 591 targets with a high probability of being the disposed barrels were identified within the Talmadge River, Sucker River and Lester River sites in Lake Superior. Targets, believed to be barrels, were identified and mapped. Many of the targets were visually inspected using the submersible ROV to confirm whether or not they were barrels associated with this investigation. The condition of these barrels demonstrated signs of varying degrees of degradation, with notable oxidation (rusting) and exposed internal concrete in many. Objects believed to be munitions parts were sometimes observed within the concrete. The French River, Shoreview Road, Knife River, and Knife Island Sites were eliminated as likely dump sites for the barrels associated with this investigation as no barrels were found within these areas.

Recently, the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and the Department of Defense established an additional cooperative agreement for 2009 and 2010 to continue the investigation. The CA authorizes funding to operate the program and conduct further investigation that will include the recovery of up to 70 of the barrels, analyses of the contents of the barrels, reporting of the results of the investigation, proper disposal of the barrels contents, and project analysis and outreach to the public and stakeholders in sharing the information obtained. Planning is underway for barrel recovery and analysis to commence as early as the summer of 2009.

Additional funding has been requested for the collection of sediment and water samples to conduct a site specific toxicological study. These funds and the ability to move forward with these tasks are pending approval based on the availability of fiscal year 2009 funds. The results of the barrel recovery analyses and toxicological study are considered key to determining the potential threat the contents of the barrels may pose to area residents, aquatic life and the environment, and whether or not preservation of the rich resources cherished by all who share the splendor of Lake Superior warrants further remedial efforts

Tracey Ledder, Environmental Department Manager

Attention: Red Cliff Environmental Department
NALEMP Program
88385 Pike Rd. Hwy 13
Bayfield, WI 54814

Email Comments to: tracey.ledder@redcliff-nsn.gov