Significant progress achieved in bluff cleanup

The recent aerial photo (at right) shows the extensive progress made since a bluff collapse occurred at our Oak Creek site on Oct. 31.

A 40-ton trailer pulled from the shoreline on Nov. 21 was the final large item to be removed. All items that potentially could have contained fuel or other oil-based fluids also are out of the water as well as the majority of the smaller construction items.

Additionally, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Wisconsin DNR and We Energies have jointly concluded that the amount of material that went into Lake Michigan as a result of the collapse is far less than originally estimated. The original estimate of 2,500 cubic yards was a very rough, very preliminary estimate made on the day of the collapse. Now that the Coast Guard, DNR and We Energies have had a chance to thoroughly examine the bluff collapse site, we believe that approximately 725 cubic yards of dry material is the amount that entered the lake.


Read statement on latest information available on bluff collapse and amount of material that went into Lake Michigan. [PDF]

Remaining work includes removal of small debris, additional sediment sampling and restoration of the seawall. The bluff has been stabilized, and the material that slid down the slope has been removed from the area.

Water quality test results released Nov. 11 by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) showed no threat to public health or safety.

DNR page on Oak Creek bluff collapse cleanup, including water quality test results

“Water quality at the spill site is close to the normal water quality of Lake Michigan,” said Lloyd Eagan, DNR water leader for southern Wisconsin. “Outside the spill site, the water quality is normal. There will not be long term impacts to the aquatic environment once the spilled material is removed.”

We continue to work cooperatively with the DNR, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Environmental Protection Agency on the safe and responsible cleanup of the site. We used both land-based and marine-based cranes to lift materials from the water. Most of the material that slid down the now-stabilized slope has been removed.

A portion of the expenses, such as those incurred to remove material and equipment that washed into lake, will be incurred by the company this year as an operational expense and will not be passed on to customers. Completing the root cause analysis of the bluff failure at the site is necessary before we can accurately answer the entire question of who will pay for the recovery costs. Results of the root cause analysis, for example, will help determine whether insurance coverage will apply for any of the costs.

Background

The collapse of a portion of an embankment on the south end of the Oak Creek Power Plant site gave way at approximately 10:45 a.m. Oct. 31. Soil and several tool storage trailers used for construction activity slid down the bluff to the Lake Michigan shoreline. Several construction storage trailers and vehicles were pushed into Lake Michigan as a result.

About a dozen personnel were working in the vicinity at the time of the incident. We accounted for all workers, and no injuries were reported. Most of the construction workers were able to resume work.

The area of the collapse is south of the location where a $900 million air-quality control system for the original units at the Oak Creek Power Plant is under construction. The collapse did not affect operations at the original Oak Creek units or the newer units at the site expansion.

Some of the material that washed into the lake included coal ash used in the 1950s to fill a ravine on the site, which was a common practice by utilities at the time. The practice was discontinued several decades ago.

Coal ash is made up mostly of silica, which is similar to sand, and has not been classified as carcinogenic by the EPA. The agency currently classifies coal ash as nonhazardous. Coal ash is re-used in many ways, including road building and construction.


Site on Oct. 31, the day the collapse occurred.