Dec. 13, 2017 — The U.S. Department of Justice issued a press release yesterday announcing three settlements in excess of $4.5 million for natural resource damages at the Sheboygan River and Harbor Superfund site.

According to the settlement, Tecumseh Products Co., Thomas Industries, Inc., and Wisconsin Public Service Corp., are liable for historic industrial discharges of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and/or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) into the Sheboygan River — occurring in sufficient concentrations to cause injury to many types of natural resources, including invertebrates, fish, amphibians, birds, and mammals.   

The settlements with these three separate companies will resolve claims brought by NOAA and its co-trustees and will include proposed projects that protect 324 acres of unique habitat and improve public recreational access. The co-trustees will jointly manage the funds to implement restoration projects described in the restoration plan.

The Sheboygan River site encompasses the lower 14 river miles of the Sheboygan River, from Sheboygan Falls downstream to and including the Sheboygan Harbor on Lake Michigan, as well as adjoining floodplain areas.

For more information, visit the Damage Assessment, Remediation, and Restoration Program page here. 

Additional Resources: 

• To comment on the settlement and view the settlement consent decrees, visit the Department of Justice website. 
• The public may also comment on the Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment and proposed restoration projects. 
• For more information visit the Sheboygan River and Harbor case website.