&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste And
Emergency Response
(OS-240)
EPA/540/8-91/037
September 1991
PB92-963247
National
Priorities
List Sites:
MICHIGAN
1991
Printed on Recycled Paper
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Publication #9200.5-723A
September 1991
NATIONAL PRIORITIES LIST SITES:
Michigan
U.S. Environmental P--pf,*c?lon Asencv
Region 5, Library 'P1' '•' " " '
77 West Jackson -
Chicago, IL 605.: ,
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Office of Emergency & Remedial Response
Office of Program Management
Washington, DC 20460
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If you wish to purchase copies of any additional State volumes contact:
National Technical Information Service (NTIS)
U.S. Department of Commerce
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
(703) 487-4650
The National Overview volume, Superfund: Focusing on the Nation at Large (1991),
may be ordered as PB92-963253.
The complete set of the overview documents, plus the 49 state reports may be ordered
as PB92-963253.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Introduction:
A Brief Overview 1
Super fund:
How Does the Program Work to Clean Up Sites? 5
The Volume:
How to Use the State Book 13
NPL Sites:
In the State of Michigan 17
The NPL Report:
Progress to Date 19
The NPL Fact Sheets:
Summary of Site Activities 21
Appendix A: Glossary:
Terms Used in the Fact Sheets 187
Appendix B: Repositories of
Site Information 203
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INTRODUCTION
WHY THE SUPERFUND
PROGRAM?
As the 1970s came to a close, a series of
headline stories gave Americans a
look at the dangers of dumping indus-
trial and urban wastes on the land. First there
was New York's Love Canal. Hazardous
waste buried there over a 25-year period
contaminated streams and soil, and endangered
the health of nearby residents. The result:
evacuation of several hundred people. Then
the leaking barrels at the Valley of the Drums
in Kentucky attracted public attention, as did
the dioxin-tainted land and water in Times
Beach, Missouri.
In all these cases, human health and the envi-
ronment were threatened, lives were disrupted,
and property values were reduced. It became
increasingly clear that there were large num-
bers of serious hazardous waste problems that
were falling through the cracks of existing
environmental laws. The magnitude of these
emerging problems moved Congress to enact
the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act in 1980.
CERCLA — commonly known as Superfund
— was the first Federal law established to deal
with the dangers posed by the Nation's hazard-
ous waste sites.
After Discovery, the Problem
Intensified
Few realized the size of the problem until the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
began the process of site discovery and site
evaluation. Not hundreds, but thousands of
potential hazardous waste sites existed, and
they presented the Nation with some of the
most complex pollution problems it had ever
faced.
Since the Superfund program began, hazard-
A
Brief
Overview
ous waste has surfaced as a major environ-
mental concern in every part of the United
States. It wasn't just the land that was con-
taminated by past disposal practices. Chemi-
cals in the soil were spreading into the ground-
water (a source of drinking water for many)
and into streams, lakes, bays, and wetlands.
Toxic vapors contaminated the air at some
sites, while improperly disposed or stored
wastes threatened the health of the surrounding
community and the environment at others.
The EPA Identified More than 1,200
Serious Sites
The EPA has identified 1,245 hazardous waste
sites as the most serious in the Nation. These
sites comprise the National Priorities List; sites
targeted for cleanup under Super-fund. But
site discoveries continue, and the EPA esti-
mates that, while some will be deleted after
lengthy cleanups, this list, commonly called
the NPL, will continue to grow by approxi-
mately 50 to 100 sites per year, potentially
reaching 2,100 sites by the year 2000.
THE NATIONAL CLEANUP
EFFORT IS MUCH MORE THAN
THE NPL
From the beginning of the program, Congress
recognized that the Federal government could
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INTRODUCTION
not and should not address all environmental
problems stemming from past disposal prac-
tices. Therefore, the EPA was directed to set
priorities and establish a list of sites to target.
Sites on the NPL (1,245) thus are a relatively
small subset of a larger inventory of potential
hazardous waste sites, but they do comprise
the most complex and compelling cases. The
EPA has logged more than 35,000 sites on its
national inventory of potentially hazardous
waste sites and assesses each site within one
year of being logged.
THE EPA IS MAKING PROGRESS
ON SITE CLEANUP
The goal of the Superfund program is to tackle
immediate dangers first and then move through
the progressive steps necessary to eliminate
any long-term risks to public health and the
environment.
Superfund responds immediately to sites
posing imminent threats to human health and
the environment at both NPL sites and sites not
on the NPL. The purpose is to stabilize,
prevent, or temper the effects of a release of
hazardous substances, or the threat of one, into
the environment. These might include tire
fires or transportation accidents involving the
spill of hazardous chemicals. Because they
reduce the inreat a site poses to human health
and the environment, immediate cleanup
actions are an integral part of the Superfund
program.
Immediate response to imminent threats is one
of Superfund's most noted achievements.
Where imminent threats to the public or
environment were evident, the EPA has initi-
ated or completed emergency actions that
attacked the most serious threats of toxic
exposure in more than 2,700 cases.
The ultimate goal for a hazardous waste site on
the NPL is a permanent solution to an environ-
mental problem that presents a serious threat
to the public or the environment. This often
requires a long-term effort. The EPA has
aggressively accelerated its efforts to perform
these long-term cleanups of NPL sites. More
cleanups were started in 1987, when the
Superfund law was amended, than in any
previous year. By 1991, construction had
started at more than four times as many sites as
in 1986! Of the sites currently on the NPL,
more than 500 — nearly half — have had
construction cleanup activity. In addition,
more than 400 more sites presently are in the
investigation stage to determine the extent of
site contamination and to identify appropriate
cleanup remedies. Many other sites with
cleanup remedies selected are poised for the
start of cleanup construction activity. In
measuring success by "progress through the
cleanup pipeline," the EPA clearly is gaining
momentum.
THE EPA MAKES SURE
CLEANUP WORKS
The EPA has gained enough experience in
cleanup construction to understand that envi-
ronmental protection does not end when the
remedy is in place. Many complex technolo-
gies — like those designed to clean up ground-
water — must operate for many years in order
to accomplish their objectives.
The EPA's hazardous waste site managers are
committed to proper operation and mainte-
nance of every remedy constructed. No matter
who has been delegated responsibility for
monitoring the cleanup work, the EPA will
assure that the remedy is carefully followed
and that it continues to do its job.
Likewise, the EPA does not abandon a site
even after the cleanup work is done. Every
five years, the Agency reviews each site where
residues from hazardous waste cleanup still
remain to ensure that public and environmental
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INTRODUCTION
health are being safeguarded. The EPA will
correct any deficiencies discovered and will
report to the public annually on all five-year
reviews conducted that year.
CITIZENS HELP SHAPE
DECISIONS
Superfund activities also depend upon local
citizen participation. The EPA's job is to
analyze the hazards and to deploy the experts,
but the Agency needs citizen input as it makes
choices for affected communities.
Because the people in a community where a
Superfund site is located will be those most
directly affected by hazardous waste problems
and cleanup processes, the EPA encourages
citizens to get involved in cleanup decisions.
Public involvement and comment does influ-
ence EPA cleanup plans by providing valuable
information about site conditions, community
concerns, and preferences.
The State and U.S. Territories volumes and the
companion National overview volume provide
general Superfund background information
and descriptions of activities at each NPL site.
These volumes clearly describe what the
problems are, what the EPA and others partici-
pating in site cleanups are doing, and how we,
as a Nation, can move ahead in solving these
serious problems.
USING THE STATE AND
NATIONAL VOLUMES TOGETHER
To understand the big picture on hazardous
waste cleanup, citizens need to hear about both
environmental progress across the country and
the cleanup accomplishments closer to home.
Citizens also should understand the challenges
involved in hazardous waste cleanup and the
decisions we must make, as a Nation, in
finding the best solutions.
The National overview, Superfund: Focusing
on the Nation at Large (1991), contains impor-
tant information to help you understand the
magnitude and challenges facing the
Superfund program, as well as an overview of
the National cleanup effort. The sections
describe the nature of the hazardous waste
problem nationwide, threats and contaminants
at NPL sites and their potential effects on
human health and the environment, vital roles
of the various participants in the cleanup
process, the Superfund program's successes in
cleaning up the Nation's serious hazardous
waste sites, and the current status of the NPL.
If you did not receive this overview volume,
ordering information is provided in the front of
this book.
This volume compiles site summary fact sheets
on each State or Territorial site being cleaned
up under the Superfund program. These sites
represent the most serious hazardous waste
problems in the Nation and require the most
complicated and costly site solutions yet
encountered. Each book gives a "snapshot" of
the conditions and cleanup progress that has
been made at each NPL site. Information
presented for each site is current as of April
1991. Conditions change as our cleanup
efforts continue, so these site summaries will
be updated annually to include information on
new progress being made.
To help you understand the cleanup accom-
plishments made at these sites, this volume
includes a description of the process for site
discovery, threat evaluation, and long-term
cleanup of Superfund sites. This description,
How Does the Program Work to Clean Up
Sites?, will serve as a reference point from
which to review the cleanup status at specific
sites. A glossary defining key terms as they
apply to hazardous waste management and site
cleanup is included as Appendix A in the back
of this book.
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SUPERFUND
The diverse problems posed by hazard-
ous waste sites have provided the EPA
with the challenge to establish a consis-
tent approach for evaluating and cleaning up
the Nation's most serious sites. To do this, the
EPA has had to step beyond its traditional role
as a regulatory agency to develop processes
and guidelines for each step in these techni-
cally complex site cleanups. The EPA has
established procedures to coordinate the
efforts of its Washington, D.C. Headquarters
program offices and its front-line staff in ten
Regional Offices, with the State and local
governments, contractors, and private parties
who are participating in site cleanup. An
important part of the process is that any time
How Does the
Program Work
to Clean Up
Sites?
THREE-STEP SUPERFUND PROCESS
STEP1
Discover site and
determine whether
an emergency
exists *
STEP 2
Evaluate whether a
site is a serious threat
to public health or
environment
STEPS
Perform long-term
cleanup actions on
the most serious
hazardous waste
sites in the Nation
* Emergency actions are performed whenever needed in this three-step process.
during cleanup, work can be led by the EPA
or the State or, under their monitoring, by
private parties who are potentially responsible
for site contamination.
The process for discovery of the site, evalu-
ation of threat, and the long-term cleanup of
Superfund sites is summarized in the follow-
ing pages. The phases of each of these steps
are highlighted within the description. The
flow diagram above provides a summary of the
three-step process.
Although this book provides a current "snap-
shot" of site progress made only by emergency
actions and long-term cleanup actions at
Superfund sites, it is important to understand
the discovery and evaluation process that leads
to identifying and cleaning up these most •
serious uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous
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SUPERFUND.
waste sites in the Nation. The discovery and
evaluation process is the starting point for this
summary description of Superfund involve-
ment at hazardous waste sites.
STEP 1: SITE DISCOVERY AND
EMERGENCY EVALUATION
How does the EPA learn about
potential hazardous waste sites?
Site discovery occurs in a number of ways.
Information comes from concerned citizens.
People may notice an odd taste or foul odor in
their drinking water or see half-buried leaking
barrels; a hunter may come across a field
where waste was dumped illegally. There may
be an explosion or fire, which alerts the State
or local authorities to a problem. Routine
investigations by State and local governments
and required reporting and inspection of
facilities that generate, treat, store, or dispose
of hazardous waste also help keep the EPA
informed about actual or potential threats of
hazardous substance releases. All reported
sites or spills are recorded in the Superfund
inventory (CERCLIS) for further investigation
to determine whether they will require cleanup.
What happens If there is an imminent
danger?
As soon as a potential hazardous waste site is
reported, the EPA determines whether there is
an emergency requiring an immediate cleanup
action. If there is, they act as quickly as
possible to remove or stabilize the imminent
threat. These short-term emergency actions
range from building a fence around the con-
taminated area to keep people away, or tempo-
rarily relocating residents until the danger is
addressed, to providing bottled water to resi-
dents while their local drinking water supply is
being cleaned up or physically removing
wastes for safe disposal.
However, emergency actions can happen at
any time an imminent threat or emergency
warrants them. For example, if leaking barrels
are found when cleanup crews start digging in
the ground or if samples of contaminated soils
or air show that there may be a threat of fire or
explosion, an immediate action is taken.
STEP 2: SITE THREAT EVALUATION
If there Isn't an Imminent danger, how
does the EPA determine what, if any,
cleanup actions should be taken?
Even after any imminent dangers are taken
care of, in most cases, contamination may
remain at the site. For example, residents may
have been supplied with bottled water to take
care of their immediate problem of contami-
nated well water, but now it's time to deter-
mine what is contaminating the drinking water
supply and the best way to clean it up. The
EPA may determine that there is no imminent
danger from a site, so any long-term threats
need to be evaluated. In either case, a more
comprehensive investigation is needed to
determine if a site poses a serious, but not
imminent, danger and whether it requires a
long-term cleanup action.
Once a site is discovered and any needed
emergency actions are taken, the EPA or the
State collects all available background infor-
mation not only from their own files, but also
from local records and U.S. Geological Survey
maps. This information is used to identify the
site and to perform a preliminary assessment of
its potential hazards. This is a quick review of
readily available information to answer the
questions:
• Are hazardous substances likely to be
present?
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SUPERFUND
• How are they contained?
• How might contaminants spread?
• How close is the nearest well, home, or
natural resource area such as a wetland
or animal sanctuary?
• What may be harmed — the land,
water, air, people, plants, or animals?
Some sites do not require further action be-
cause the preliminary assessment shows that
they do not threaten public health or the envi-
ronment. But even in these cases, the sites
remain listed in the Superfund inventory for
record-keeping purposes and future reference.
Currently, there are more than 35,000 sites
maintained in this inventory.
If the preliminary assessment
shows a serious threat may exist,
what's the next step?
Inspectors go to the site to collect additional
information to evaluate its hazard potential.
During this site inspection, they look for
evidence of hazardous waste, such as leaking
drums and dead or discolored vegetation.
They may take some samples of soil, well
water, river water, and air. Inspectors analyze
the ways hazardous materials could be pollut-
ing the environment, such as runoff into
nearby streams. They also check to see if
people (especially children) have access to
the site.
How does the EPA use the results of
the site Inspection?
Information collected during the site inspection
is used to identify the sites posing the most
serious threats to human health and the envi-
ronment. This way, the EPA can meet the
requirement that Congress gave them to use
Superfund monies only on the worst hazardous
waste sites in the Nation.
To identify the most serious sites, the EPA
developed the Hazard Ranking System (HRS).
The HRS is the scoring system the EPA uses to
assess the relative threat from a release or a
potential release of hazardous substances from
a site to surrounding groundwater, surface
water, air, and soil. A site score is based on
the likelihood that a hazardous substance will
be released from the site, the toxicity and
amount of hazardous substances at the site, and
the people and sensitive environments poten-
tially affected by contamination at the site.
Only sites with high enough health and envi-
ronmental risk scores are proposed to be added
to the NPL. That's why 1,245 sites are on the
NPL, but there are more than 35,000 sites in
the Superfund inventory. Only NPL sites can
have a long-term cleanup paid for from
Superfund, the national hazardous waste trust
fund. Superfund can, and does, pay for emer-
gency actions performed at any site, whether
or not it's on the NPL.
Why are sites proposed to the NPL?
Sites proposed to the NPL have been evaluated
through the scoring process as the most serious
problems among uncontrolled or abandoned
hazardous waste sites in the U.S. In addiaon, a
site will be proposed to the NPL if the Agency
for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
issues a health advisory recommending that
people be moved away from the site. The NPL
is updated at least once a year, and it's only
after public comments are considered that
these proposed worst sites officially are added
to the list.
Listing on the NPL does not set the order in
which sites will be cleaned up. The order is
influenced by the relative priority of the site's
health and environmental threats compared to
other sites, and such factors as State priorities,
engineering capabilities, and available tech-
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SUPERFUND
nologies. Many States also have their own list
of sites that require cleanup; these often contain
sites that are not on the NPL and are scheduled
to be cleaned up with State money. And, it
should be noted again that any emergency
action needed at a site can be performed by the
Superfund, whether or not a site is on the NPL.
A detailed description of the current progress in
cleaning up NPL sites is found in the section of
the 1991 National overview volume entitled
Cleanup Successes: Measuring Progress.
How do people find out whether the
EPA considers a site a national
priority for cleanup under the
Superfund Program?
All NPL sites, where Superfund is responsible
for cleanup, are described in the State and
Territorial volumes. The public also can find
out whether other sites, not on the NPL, are
being addressed by the Superfund program by
calling their Regional EPA office or the Super-
fund Hotline at the numbers listed in this book.
STEP 3: LONG-TERM CLEANUP
ACTIONS
After a site Is added to the NPL, what
are the steps to cleanup?
The ultimate goal for a hazardous waste site on
the NPL is a permanent, long-term cleanup.
Since every site presents a unique set of chal-
lenges, there is no single all-purpose solution.
A five-phase "remedial response" process is
used to develop consistent and workable
solutions to hazardous waste problems across
the Nation:
1. Remedial Investigation: investigate in
detail the extent of the site contamination
2. Feasibility Study: study the range of
possible cleanup remedies
3. Record of Decision or ROD: decide
which remedy to use
4. Remedial Design: plan the remedy
5. Remedial Action: carry out the remedy
This remedial response process is a long-term
effort to provide a permanent solution to an
environmental problem that presents a serious
threat to the public or environment.
The first two phases of a long-term cleanup are
a combined remedial investigation and feasibil-
ity study (RI/FS) that determine the nature and
extent of contamination at the site and identify
and evaluate cleanup alternatives. These
studies may be conducted by the EPA or the
State or, under their monitoring, by private
parties.
Like the initial site inspection described earlier,
a remedial investigation involves an examina-
tion of site data in order to better define the
problem. However, the remedial investigation
is much more detailed and comprehensive than
the initial site inspection.
A remedial investigation can best be described
as a carefully designed field study. It includes
extensive sampling and laboratory analyses to
generate more precise data on the types and
quantities of wastes present at the site, the type
of soil and water drainage patterns, and specific
human health and environmental risks.
The result of the remedial investigation is
information that allows the EPA to select the
cleanup strategy that is best suited to a particu-
lar site or to determine that no cleanup is
needed.
Placing a site on the NPL does not necessarily
mean that cleanup is needed. It is possible for
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SUPERFUND
a site to receive an HRS score high enough to
be added to the NPL, but not ultimately require
cleanup actions. Keep in mind that the purpose
of the scoring process is to provide a prelimi-
nary and conservative assessment of potential
risk. During subsequent site investigations, the
EPA may find either that there is no real threat
or that the site does not pose significant human
health or environmental risks.
How are cleanup alternatives
identified and evaluated?
The EPA or the State or, under their monitor-
ing, private parties identify and analyze spe-
cific site cleanup needs based on the extensive
information collected during the remedial
investigation. This analysis of cleanup alterna-
tives is called a feasibility study.
Since cleanup actions must be tailored exactly
to the needs of each individual site, more than
one possible cleanup alternative is always
considered. After making sure that all potential
cleanup remedies fully protect human health
and the environment and comply with Federal
and State laws, the advantages and disadvan-
tages of each cleanup alternative are compared
carefully. These comparisons are made to
determine their effectiveness in the short and
long term, their use of permanent treatment
solutions, and their technical feasibility and
cost.
To the maximum extent practicable, the rem-
edy must be a permanent solution and must use
treatment technologies to destroy principal site
contaminants. Remedies such as containing the
waste on site or removing the source of the
problem (like leaking barrels) often are consid-
ered effective. Often, special pilot studies are
conducted to determine the effectiveness and
feasibility of using a particular technology to
clean up a site. Therefore, the combined
remedial investigation and feasibility study can
take between 10 and 30 months to complete,
depending on the size and complexity of the
problem.
Does the public have a say in the
final cleanup decision?
Yes. The Superfund law requires that the
public be given the opportunity to comment on
the proposed cleanup plan. Their concerns are
considered carefully before a final decision is
made.
The results of the remedial investigation and
feasibility study, which also point out the
recommended cleanup choice, are published in
a report for public review and comment. The
EPA or the State encourages the public to
review the information and take an active role
in the final cleanup decision. Fact sheets and
announcements in local papers let the commu-
nity know where they can get copies of the
study and other reference documents concern-
ing the site. Local information repositories,
such as libraries or other public buildings, are
established in cities and towns near each NPL
site to ensure that the public has an opportunity
to review all relevant information and the
proposed cleanup plans. Locations of informa-
tion repositories for each NPL site described in
this volume are given in Appendix B.
The public has a minimum of 30 days to
comment on the proposed cleanup plan after it
is published. These comments can be written
or given verbally at public meetings that the
EPA or the State are required to hold. Neither
the EPA nor the State can select the final
cleanup remedy without evaluating and provid-
ing written answers to specific community
comments and concerns. This "responsiveness
summary" is part of the EPA's write-up of the
final remedy decision, called the Record of
Decision, or ROD.
The ROD is a public document that explains
the cleanup remedy chosen and the reason it
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SUPERFUND.
was selected. Since sites frequently are large
and must be cleaned up in stages, a ROD may
be necessary for each contaminated resource or
area of the site. This may be necessary when
contaminants have spread into the soil, water,
and air and affect such sensitive areas as
wetlands, or when the site is large and cleaned
up in stages. This often means that a number
of remedies, using different cleanup technolo-
gies, are needed to clean up a single site.
If every cleanup action needs to be
tailored to a site, does the design
ofthe remedy need to be tailored,
too?
Yes. Before a specific cleanup action is carried
out, it must be designed in detail to meet
specific site needs. This stage of the cleanup is
called the remedial design. The design phase
provides the details on how the selected rem-
edy will be engineered and constructed.
Projects to clean up a hazardous waste site may
appear to be like any other major construction
project but, in fact, the likely presence of
combinations of dangerous chemicals demands
special construction planning and procedures.
Therefore, the design of the remedy can take
anywhere from six months to two years to
complete. This blueprint for site cleanup
includes not only the details on every aspect of
the construction work, but a description of the
types of hazardous wastes expected at the site,
special plans for environmental protection,
worker safety, regulatory compliance, and
equipment decontamination.
Once the design is completed,
how long does it take to actually
clean up the site, and how much
does it cost?
The time and cost for performing the site
cleanup, called the remedial action, sue as
varied as the remedies themselves. In a few
cases, the only action needed may be to remove
drums of hazardous waste and to decontami-
nate them, an action that takes limited time and
money. In most cases, however, a remedial
action may involve different and expensive
cleanup measures that can take a long time.
For example, cleaning polluted groundwater or
dredging contaminated river bottoms can take
several years of complex engineering work
before contamination is reduced to safe levels.
Sometimes the selected cleanup remedy de-
scribed in the ROD may need to be modified
because of new contaminant information
discovered or difficulties that were faced
during the early cleanup activities. Taking into
account these differences, each remedial
cleanup action takes an average of 18 months
to complete and ultimately costs an average of
$26 million to complete all necessary cleanup
actions at a site.
Once the cleanup action is
completed, is the site
automatically "deleted" from the
NPL?
No. The deletion of a site from the NPL is
anything but automatic. For example, cleanup
of contaminated groundwater may take up to
20 years or longer. Also, in some cases, long-
term monitoring of the remedy is required to
ensure that it is effective. After construction of
certain remedies, operation and maintenance
(e.g., maintenance of ground cover, groundwa-
ter monitoring, etc.), or continued pumping and
treating of groundwater may be required to
ensure that the remedy continues to prevent
future health hazards or environmental damage
and ultimately meets the cleanup goals speci-
fied in the ROD. Sites in this final monitoring
or operational stage of the cleanup process are
designated as "construction complete."
It's not until a site cleanup meets all the goals
and monitoring requirements of the selected
10
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SUPERFUND
remedy that the EPA can officially propose the
site for deletion from the NPL, and it's not
until public comments are taken into consid-
eration that a site actually can be deleted from
the NPL. All sites deleted from the NPL and
sites with completed construction are included
in the progress report found later in this book.
Can a site be taken off the NPL if
no cleanup has taken place?
Yes. But only if further site investigation
reveals that there are no threats present at the
site and that cleanup activities are not neces-
sary. In these cases, the EPA will select a "no
action" remedy and may move to delete the
site when monitoring confirms that the site
does not pose a threat to human health or the
environment.
In other cases, sites may be "removed" from
the NPL if new information concerning site
cleanup or threats show that the site does not
warrant Superfund activities.
A site may be removed if a revised HRS
scoring, based on updated information, results
in a score below the minimum for NPL sites.
A site also may be removed from the NPL by
transferring it to other appropriate Federal
cleanup authorities, such as RCRA, for further
cleanup actions.
Removing sites for technical reasons or trans-
ferring sites to other cleanup programs pre-
serves Superfund monies for the Nation's most
pressing hazardous waste problems where no
other cleanup authority is applicable.
Can the EPA make parties
responsible for the contamination
pay?
Yes. Based on the belief that "the polluters
should pay," after a site is placed on the NPL,
the EPA makes a thorough effort to identify
and find those responsible for causing con-
tamination problems at a site. Although the
EPA is willing to negotiate with these private
parties and encourages voluntary cleanup, it
has the authority under the Superfund law to
legally force those potentially responsible for
site hazards to take specific cleanup actions.
All work performed by these parties is closely
guided and monitored by the EPA and must
meet the same standards required for actions
financed through the Superfund.
Because these enforcement actions can be
lengthy, the EPA may decide to use Superfund
monies to make sure a site is cleaned up
without unnecessary delay. For example, if a
site presents an imminent threat to public
health and the environment or if conditions at a
site may worsen, it could be necessary to start
the cleanup right away. Those responsible for
causing site contamination are liable under the
law (CERCLA) for repaying the money the
EPA spends in cleaning up the site.
Whenever possible, the EPA and the Depart-
ment of Justice use their legal enforcement
authorities to require responsible parties to pay
for site cleanups, thereby preserving Superfund
resources for emergency actions and for sites
where no responsible parties can be identified.
11
-------
THE VOLUME
The site fact sheets presented in this
book are comprehensive summaries
that cover a broad range of information.
The fact sheets describe hazardous
waste sites on the NPL and their locations, as
well as the conditions leading to their listing
("Site Description"). The summaries list the
types of contaminants that have been discov-
ered and related threats to public and ecologi-
cal health ("Threats and Contaminants").
"Cleanup Approach" presents an overview of
the cleanup activities completed, underway, or
planned. The fact sheets conclude with a brief
synopsis of how much progress has been made
in protecting public health and the environ-
ment. The summaries also pinpoint other
actions, such as legal efforts to involve pollut-
ers responsible for site contamination and
community concerns.
The fact sheets are arranged in alphabetical
order by site name. Because site cleanup is a
dynamic and gradual process, all site informa-
tion is accurate as of the date shown on the
bottom of each page. Progress always is being
made at NPL sites, and the EPA periodically
will update the site fact sheets to reflect recent
actions and will publish updated State vol-
umes. The following two pages show a ge-
neric fact sheet and briefly describe the infor-
mation under each section.
HOW CAN YOU USE THIS STATE
BOOK?
You can use this book to keep informed about
the sites that concern you, particularly ones
close to home. The EPA is committed to
involving the public in the decision making
process associated with hazardous waste
cleanup. The Agency solicits input from area
residents in communities affected by Super-
fund sites. Citizens are likely to be affected
not only by hazardous site conditions, but also
by the remedies that combat them. Site clean-
How to Use
the State
Book
ups take many forms and can affect communi-
ties in different ways. Local traffic may be
rerouted, residents may be relocated, tempo-
rary water supplies may be necessary.
Definitive information on a site can help
citizens sift through alternatives and make
decisions. To make good choices, you must
know what the threats are and how the EPA
intends to clean up the site. You must under-
stand the cleanup alternatives being proposed
for site cleanup and how residents may be
affected by each one. You also need to have
some idea of how your community intends to
use the site in the future, and you need to
know what the community can realistically
expect once the cleanup is complete.
The EPA wants to develop cleanup methods
that meet community needs, but the Agency
only can take local concerns into account if it
understands what they are. Information must
travel both ways in order for cleanups to be
effective and satisfactory. Please take this
opportunity to learn more, become involved,
and assure that hazardous waste cleanup at
"your" site considers your community's
concerns.
13
-------
THE VOLUME
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Dates when the site was
Proposed, made Final, and
Deleted from the NPL.
SITE RESPONSIBILITY
Identifies the Federal, State,
and/or potentially respon-
sible parties that are taking
responsibility for cleanup
actions at the site.
SITE NAME
STATE
EPA ID* ABCOOOOOOO
EPA REGION XX
CONGRESSIONAL DIST XX
COUNTY NAME
LOCATION
hreats and Contaminants
Response Action Status
Environmental Progress =^=
ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS
A summary of the actions to reduce the threats to
nearby residents and the surrounding environment;
progress towards cleaning up the site and goals of
the cleanup plan are given here.
14
-------
THE VOLUME
SITE DESCRIPTION
This section describes the location and history of the site. It includes descrip-
tions of the most recent activities and past actions at the site that have con-
tributed to the contamination. Population estimates, land usages, and nearby
resources give readers background on the local setting surrounding the site.
THREATS AND CONTAMINANTS
The major chemical categories of site contamination are noted, as well as
which environmental resources are affected. Icons representing each of the
affected resources (may include air, groundwater, surface water, soil, and
contamination to environmentally sensitive areas) are included in the margins
of this section. Potential threats to residents and the surrounding environ-
ments arising from the site contamination also are described.
CLEANUP APPROACH
This section contains a brief overview of how the site is being cleaned up.
RESPONSE ACTION STATUS
Specific actions that have been accomplished or will be undertaken to clean
up the site are described here. Cleanup activities at NPL sites are divided
into separate phases, depending on the complexity and required actions at the
site. Two major types of cleanup activities often are described: initial,
immediate, or emergency actions to quickly remove or reduce imminent
threats to the community and surrounding areas; and long-term remedial
phases directed at final cleanup at the site. Each stage of the cleanup strategy
is presented in this section of the summary. Icons representing the stage of
the cleanup process (initial actions, site investigations, EPA selection of the
cleanup remedy, engineering design phase, cleanup activities underway, and
completed cleanup) are located in the margin next to each activity descrip-
tion.
SITE FACTS
Additional information on activities and events at the site are included in this
section. Often details on legal or administrative actions taken by the EPA to
achieve site cleanup or other facts pertaining to community involvement with
the site cleanup process are reported here.
—
-------
THE VOLUME
The "icons," or symbols, accompanying the text allow the reader to see at a glance which envi-
ronmental resources are affected and the status of cleanup activities at the site.
Icons in the Threats and
Contaminants Section
Contaminated Groundwater resources
in the Contaminated Groundwater in
the vicinity or underlying the site.
(Groundwater is often used as a
drinking water source.)
Contaminated Surface Water and
Sediments on or near the site. (These
include lakes, ponds, streams, and
rivers.)
Contaminated Air in the vicinity of
the site. (Air pollution usually is
periodic and involves contaminated
dust particles or hazardous gas emis-
sions.)
Contaminated Soil and Sludges on or
near the site. (This contamination
category may include bulk or other
surface hazardous wastes found on the
site.)
Threatened or contaminated Environ-
mentally Sensitive Areas in the vicin-
ity of the site. (Examples include
wetlands and coastal areas or critical
habitats.)
Icons in the Response Action
Status Section
Initial Actions have been taken or are
underway to eliminate immediate
threats at the site.
Site Studies at the site to determine the
nature and extent of contamination are
planned or underway.
Remedy Selected indicates that site
investigations have been concluded,
and the EPA has selected a final
cleanup remedy for the site or part of
the site.
Remedy Design means that engineers
are preparing specifications and
drawings for the selected cleanup
technologies.
Cleanup Ongoing indicates that the
selected cleanup remedies for the
contaminated site, or part of the site,
currently are underway.
Cleanup Complete shows that all
cleanup goals have been achieved for
the contaminated site or part of the
site.
Environmental Progress summa-
rizes the activities taken to date to
protect human health and to clean
up site contamination.
16
-------
NPL SITES
The State of
Michigan
Surrounded by three of the Great Lakes, including Lake Huron and Lake Superior, Michigan is
located within EPA Region 5, which includes five midwestern states. Michigan covers 58,527
square miles consisting of low rolling hills, which give way to northern tablelands of hilly belts
in the Lower Peninsula. In the Upper Peninsula, level land with swamps gives way to a rugged
western region. According to the 1990 Census, the state experienced a 0.4% increase in popula-
tion between 1980 and 1990 and currently has approximately 9,295,000 residents, ranking 8th in
U.S. populations. Manufacturing is one of Michigan's principal industries, including transporta-
tion equipment, machinery, fabricated and primary metals, food products, rubber, and plastics.
Other principal state industries include agriculture, services, mining, and tourism.
How Many NPL Sites
Are in the State of Michigan?
Proposed
Final
Deleted
0
78
_i
79
Where Are the NPL Sites Located?
Congressional Districts 1, 8, 16,19 1 site
Congressional District 2,1 2 sites
Congressional District 12 4 sites
Congressional District 4 6 sites
Congressional Districts 3,6,10,11 8 sites
Congressional District 5 11 sites
Congressional District 9 18 sites
What Type of Sites Are on the NPL
in the State of Michigan?
# of sites type of sites
21 Municipal & Industrial Landfills
12 Chemical & Allied Products
9 Metals & Allied Products
4 Electroplating
4 Recyclers
4 Disposal Facilities
3 Automotive
3 Drycleaners
19 Others (Electronics & equipment, spills, Federal
facility, textiles, lumber & wood, petroleum
refining, rubber & plastics, copper & allied products).
17
April 1991
-------
NPL SITES
75--
60--
in ...
0>45-
'35
»30-l-
15--
How Are Sites Contaminated and What Are the Principal* Chemicals?
Groundwater: Volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) and heavy metals
(inorganics).
Soil and Solid Waste: Volatile
organic compounds (VOCs), heavy
metals (inorganics), polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs), and pesticides.
Surface Water and Sediments:
Heavy metals (inorganics), volatile
organic compounds (VOCs), and poly-
chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
Air: Volatile organic compounds
(VOCs), heavy metals (inorganics),
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and
plastics.
GW Soil SW Sed Air Solid
Waste
Contamination Area
* Appear at 11% or more sites
Where Are the Sites in the Superfund Cleanup Process?*
37
Sites
with
Studies
Underway
5
Sites
with
Remedy
Selected
13
Sites
with
Remedy
Design
17
Sites
with
Cleanup
Ongoing
1
Site
with
Construction
Complete
2
Deleted
Sites
In addition to the activities described above, initial actions have been taken at 57 sites as interim
cleanup measures.
'Cleanup status reflects phases of site activities rather than administrative accomplishments.
April 1991
18
-------
THE NPL REPORT
The following Progress Report lists all
sites currently on, or deleted from, the
NPL and briefly summarizes the status
of activities for each site at the time this
report was prepared. The steps in the Super-
fund cleanup process are arrayed across the
top of the chart, and each site's progress
through these steps is represented by an arrow
indicating the current stage of cleanup.
Progress
To Date
Large and complex sites often are organized
into several cleanup stages. For example,
separate cleanup efforts may be required to
address the source of the contamination,
hazardous substances in the groundwater, and
surface water pollution, or to clean up differ-
ent areas of a large site. In such cases, the
chart portrays cleanup progress at the site's
most advanced stage, reflecting the status of
site activities rather than administrative
accomplishments.
• An arrow in the "Initial Response" cate-
gory indicates that an emergency cleanup or
initial action has been completed or currently
is underway. Emergency or initial actions are
taken as an interim measure to provide im-
mediate relief from exposure to hazardous site
conditions or to stabilize a site to prevent
further contamination.
• A final arrow in the "Site Studies"
category indicates that an investigation to
determine the nature and extent of the
contamination at the site currently is ongoing.
• A final arrow in the "Remedy Selection"
category means that the EPA has selected the
final cleanup strategy for the site. At the few
sites where the EPA has determined that
initial response actions have eliminated site
contamination, or that any remaining
contamination will be naturally dispersed
without further cleanup activities, a "No
Action" remedy is selected. In these cases, the
arrows are discontinued at the "Remedy
Selection" step and resume in the
"Construction Complete" category.
• A final arrow at the "Remedial Design"
stage indicates that engineers currently are
designing the technical specifications for the
selected cleanup remedies and technologies.
• A final arrow in the "Cleanup Ongoing"
column means that final cleanup actions have
been started at the site and currently are
underway.
• A final arrow in the "Construction
Complete" category is used only when all
phases of the site cleanup plan have been
performed, and the EPA has determined that no
additional construction actions are required at
the site. Some sites in this category currently
may be undergoing long-term operation and
maintenance or monitoring to ensure that the
cleanup actions continue to protect human
health and the environment.
• A check in the "Deleted" category indicates
that the site cleanup has met all human health
and environmental goals and that the EPA has
deleted the site from the NPL.
Further information on the activities and
progress at each site is given in the site "Fact
Sheets" published in this volume.
19
April 1991
-------
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April 1991
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22
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April 1991
-------
THE NPL FACT SHEETS
Summary
of Site
Activities
EPA REGION 5
25
ApriM991
-------
Who Do I Call with Questions?
The following pages describe each NPL site in Michigan, providing specific
information on threats and contaminants, cleanup activities, and environmen-
tal progress. Should you have questions, please call the EPA's Region 5
Office in Chicago, Illinois or one of the other offices listed below:
EPA Region 5 Superfund Community Relations Office
EPA Region 5 Superfund Office
EPA Superfund Hotline
EPA Headquarters Public Information Center
Michigan Superfund Office
(312)353-2073
(312) 886-7456
(800) 424-9346
(202) 260-2080
(517)373-8448
April! 991
26
-------
ADAM'S PLATING
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID006522791
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 03
Ingham County
Lansing
The 1-acre Adam's Plating site has been used for electroplating operations since 1964. Before
electroplating operations began, the site was used by a dry cleaning company. In the mid-1950s, an
underground storage tank containing solvents was discovered to be leaking and was removed.
Wastewaters from the electroplating operations were discharged to the storm sewers until 1971,
when the site was connected to the municipal sanitary sewers. Wastewaters were discharged directly
into the municipal sewers until the mid-1970s. Subsequently, wastewaters were collected, stored,
and treated prior to discharge into the sewers. Wastewaters first were stored on site in a partially
buried tank, which was removed when it was discovered to be leaking. Currently, wastewater
storage is in an underground storage tank in the southwestern corner of the site. Evidence that a
contaminant release may have occurred first was observed in 1980. While removing a tree on a
neighboring property, an old tile drain was broken, and residents observed "green water" entering
the hole. Later, this "green water" flooded the basement of a nearby home and was pumped into the
yard. This pumping system continued until the flooding problem was reported to the Ingham County
Health Department in 1981. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) found that
wastewater with a high chromium content was saturating soils. In 1981, the MDNR found
trichloroethylene (TCE), a dry cleaning solvent, in the soil as well. Approximately 185,600 people
depend on drinking water from municipal wells within 3 miles of the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/24/88
Final Date: 03/31/89
Threats and Contaminants
The soil is contaminated with TCE and chromium. Direct contact with or accidental
ingestion of contaminated soil poses a potential health threat.
27
April 1991
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in a single long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
Response Action Status
Entire Site: The EPA currently is conducting an investigation to determine the extent
and nature of contamination and to select final methods for site cleanup. The investigation
is being conducted in two phases. Phase 1 included preliminary planning, including the
development of a field sampling plan. Phase 2 will include the field work and studies leading to
remedy selection. The investigation is expected to be completed in 1993.
Environmental Progress
After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary investigations and determined that
no immediate actions were required at the Adam's Plating site while studies are taking place and
cleanup activities are being planned.
April 1991
28
ADAM'S PLATING
-------
ALBION-SHERIDAN
TOWNSHIP LANpFILL
MICHIGAN
EPAID*MID980504450
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
ONGRESSIONALDIST. 02
Calhoun County
1 mile east of Albion
From 1966 to 1981, the 30-acre Albion-Sheridan Township Landfill site accepted municipal refuse
and industrial wastes from the City of Albion and nearby Sheridan Township. According to the
owner, the landfill accepted 200 to 300 cubic yards of sludges from the Union Steel Products plant
prior to 1981. Tests conducted by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) in 1984
and 1986 indicated that the sludges contain various heavy metal contaminants. In 1986, the EPA
found approximately 40 drums on the surface, some filled with what appeared to be oil and grease
wastes. The landfill is covered with sand and gravel, and there are signs of burning. Some
vegetation has grown on the cover. Approximately 13,500 people obtain drinking water from public
and private wells within 3 miles of the site. The north branch of the Kalamazoo River is 300 feet
from the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/24/89
Final Date: 10/04/89
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater is contaminated with sodium, calcium, ammonia, and heavy metals
including iron, potassium, lead, and magnesium. Cyanide and heavy metals including
nickel, lead, cadmium, and chromium are contained in the soil. The sludge also is
contaminated with heavy metals as well as chloride and cyanide. Possible health threats
are posed by direct contact with or accidental ingestion of contaminated soils, sludges, or
groundwater.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a long-term remedial phase focusing on
cleanup of the entire site.
29
April 1991
-------
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: In 1990, under EPA monitoring, two potentially responsible parties
began sampling, overpacking, and disposing of leaking drums on the landfill surface.
About 30 drums have been removed. Additionally, the site was partially fenced to
restrict access.
Entire Site: The EPA will conduct an investigation to determine the nature and extent
of contamination at the site and to recommend alternative methods for site cleanup. The
investigation is expected to begin in 1991.
Site Facts: A Unilateral Administrative Order was issued to four potentially responsible parties in
1990 to perform site cleanup work.
Environmental Progress
The sampling, overpacking, and disposing of leaking drums and partial fencing of the site reduced
the potential of exposure to contaminants at the Albion Sheridan Township Landfill site while
studies are conducted and cleanup activities are being planned.
April 1991
30
ALBION-SHERIDAN TOWNSHIP LANDFILL
-------
ALLIED PAPER, IN
PORTAGE CREEK
KALAMAZOO Rl
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID006007306
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 03
Kalamazoo and Allegan Counties
Kalamazoo
Other Names:
Allied Paper
Portage Creek
The Allied Paper, Inc./Portage Creek/Kalamazoo River site involves polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)
contamination of an Allied Paper, Inc. property, a 3-mile stretch of Portage Creek where the creek
meets the Kalamazoo River, and a 35-mile stretch of the Kalamazoo River. Allied Paper, Inc. has
operated paper mills on this 80-acre site since 1925. The company recycled paper from 1957 to
1971. In 1986, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) detected PCBs in several
places along an 80-mile stretch of the Kalamazoo River between Kalamazoo and Lake Michigan.
Contamination is found primarily in the sediments, although the surface water and fish also are
contaminated. MDNR tests conducted in 1985 also found PCBs in monitoring wells around a
landfill on the Allied property, two seeps from a sludge disposal area, and a discharge to Portage
Creek. Approximately 142,000 people obtain drinking water from public wells within 3 miles of the
site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through a
combination of Federal, State, and
potentially responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 05/05/89
Final Date: 08/30/90
Threats and Contaminants
Sediments, surface water, and fish are contaminated with PCBs. Direct contact with or
accidental ingestion of contaminated surface water or sediments could pose a health
threat. In 1977, the Michigan Department of Public Health issued an advisory warning
people against eating fish from the Kalamazoo River because of PCB contamination.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: an initial action and a long-term remedial phase focusing
on the cleanup of the entire site.
31
April! 991
-------
Response Action Status
Initial Action: Highly contaminated areas of the Allied Paper property were fenced in
two stages; November 1990 and in March 1991. Additional fencing is being installed at
this time.
Entire Site: The potentially responsible parties, under State supervision, have begun an
investigation to determine the nature and extent of sediment, soil, groundwater, surface
water, and biota contamination. The work plan is under review, and sampling is
scheduled to begin in the summer of 1991. Although PCB contamination will receive most of the
attention, the studies will screen various environmental media throughout the system to determine
whether other chemicals need to be addressed. The results of this study will yield recommendations
from which the State of Michigan and the EPA will select the final cleanup remedy.
Environmental Progress
Fencing of the contaminated areas will limit access to the Allied Paper site and will reduce the
potential for exposure to hazardous materials while studies leading to a final selection of cleanup
alternatives are being conducted.
April 1991 32 ALLIED PAPER, INC./PORTAGE
CREEK/KALAMAZOO RIVER
-------
AMERICAN
ANODCO, INC.
MICHIGAN
EPAID#MID006029102
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 05
Ionia County
Ionia
Site Description
Since 1962, aluminium parts for the automotive industry have been cleaned on the 8-acre American
Anodco, Inc. site. In 1962, under an agreement with the State, process wastewaters and spent
chemicals from the site were discharged directly to the on-site seepage lagoon. The waste streams
contained heavy metals that leached from metal parts during the anodizing process. In order to
promote wastewater infiltration, lagoon sludge and sediments were dredged in 1972 and 1978 and
placed near the lagoon. In 1978, American Anodco received approval from the State to continue
discharging wastewater into the lagoon. The company also disposed of process and cooling water in
an unlined seepage lagoon. According to analyses conducted by the EPA, the water placed in the
lagoon contains nitric acid and chromium. In 1986, American Anodco began to phase out the use of
the seepage lagoon, and in 1987, began discharging process wastewaters to a new public sewer
system. Approximately 1,100 people reside within a mile of the area. The glacial drift aquifer
underlying American Anodco supplies public and private wells within a 3-mile radius that serve over
10,000 people. Grand River, which is within 3 miles of the site, is used for fishing and recreation.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/10/86
Final Date: 03/31/89
Threats and Contaminants
Water samples collected from the lagoon by the MDNR in 1978 identified several
contaminants including phosphorus and heavy metals such as aluminum, chromium,
copper, and lead. Because contaminants have been removed from the lagoons, direct
contact with hazardous materials is unlikely. Prairie Creek, which borders the site area
on the east, joins the Grand River 1 mile south of the site. Because the groundwater is
contaminated with phosphates, movement of contaminants to the creek is possible. The
contamination plume does not reach any private wells.
33
April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a single long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1987, American Anodco dewatered the lagoon, removed the
sludge, and disposed of it in an off-site landfill. The lagoon then was filled with clean soil.
Entire Site: In 1987, the parties potentially responsible for site contamination began an
investigation to determine the extent and nature of groundwater and soil contamination
beneath the former lagoon and to identify alternatives for site cleanup. A minimum of
four additional monitoring wells will be installed by the potentially responsible parties in 1991 to
further characterize the groundwater conditions at the site. The investigation is scheduled for
completion in 1992.
Site Facts: An Administrative Order on Consent was signed in 1987 for an investigation of site
contamination.
Environmental Progress
The dewatering and removal of sludge from the lagoon have reduced the potential for exposure to
contaminated materials at the American Anodco site while studies are taking place and final cleanup
activities are being planned.
Aprill991 34 AMERICAN ANODCO, INC.
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ANDERSON
DEVELOPMEINFT
COMPANY
MICHIGAN
EPAID#MID002931228
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 02
Lenawee County
Adrian
The Anderson Development Company (ADC) manufactures specialty organic chemicals on a
12 1/2-acre site in Adrian and sells the products to other manufacturers. ADC began production of
the chemical MBOCA in 1970 under the trade name of Curene 442. MBOCA is used as a curing
agent for polyurethanes and epoxy resins. It is considered to be a highly toxic compound and can be
absorbed through the skin. MBOCA was discharged to the environment through surface water and
airborne routes. MBOCA contamination was found in sediments and soil within a 2-mile radius of
the ADC facility in 1979. Contamination also was found in East Side Drain and Raisin River
sediments and in Adrian Wastewater Treatment Plant sludges and residues. Production of the
chemical was stopped after the contamination problems were discovered. All surface water runoff
flows to the East Side Drain which empties into the Raisin River, 2 miles north of the site. In 1980
and 1981, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), ADC, and the Michigan State
Toxic Substance Control Commission conducted an extensive cleanup and monitoring program that
involved sampling of nearby surface soil and home carpet vacuum dust testing. The ADC is
surrounded by a fence, although there is unlimited site access to employees, vehicles, and visitors.
Approximately 25,000 people live within 3 miles of the site. The City of Adrian draws its water
from the Raisin River upstream of the East Side Drain junction.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
The surface soil, lagoon sludge, and clay underlying the lagoon are contaminated with
MBOCA, a known carcinogen that can be absorbed through the skin. Inhaling
contaminated dust also is considered to be a potential health risk. MBOCA has been
detected in the urine samples from ADC workers and preschool children living near
ADC.
35
April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a single long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: In 1981, Lenawee County initiated a free cleanup effort to aid local
homeowners whose residences were contaminated with MBOCA. This included the
interior and exterior cleaning of homes in the Sunnyside area. Homes with private wells in
the vicinity of ADC were connected to a clean water supply system funded by the Farmers Home
Administration.
Entire Site: The parties potentially responsible for site contamination, under EPA
monitoring, performed an investigation that assessed the type of contaminants present,
identified the degree of contamination, and characterized potential risks to the community.
This investigation was completed in March 1990, and the cleanup remedy was selected in September
1990. Since no groundwater contamination was found during the study, the proposed remedy
concentrates on soil contamination and recommends the use of in-situ vitrification technologies to
decontaminate the site. A second technology, low-temperature thermal aeration, also will be tested
for its ability to clean up the soil. The design and construction of the cleanup option is scheduled to
begin in 1992.
Site Facts: On April 30, 1986, Anderson Development Company entered into an Administrative
Order on Consent with the EPA to study the nature and extent of site contamination.
Environmental Progress
The cleanup of residences and the provision of an alternate water supply have reduced the potential
of exposure to MBOCA-contaminated materials at the Anderson Development Company site while
final cleanup actions are being started.
ApriM991 36 ANDERSON DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
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AUTO ION
CHEMICALS,
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID980794382
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 03
Kalamazoo County
Kalamazoo
Between 1963 and 1973, chromium plating wastes were treated at the 1 1/2-acre Auto Ion
Chemicals, Inc. site. Liquid waste was stored in an open air lagoon and in five process storage tanks
in an on-site building's basement. Approximately 122,000 gallons of liquid plating wastes and
sludges were stored in various other locations on site. During the plant's operation, the Michigan
Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) documented numerous pollution discharges to the soil,
groundwater, and surface water of the adjacent Kalamazoo River. The MDNR stopped operations at
Auto Ion in 1973. Two city wells are located within 2 miles of the site. The wells are part of the
Kalamazoo municipal system that provides water to over 100,000 residents. The only residence in
the immediate vicinity of the site is located approximately 500 feet north of the site. The population
within 1/2 mile of the site is approximately 2,300.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including vinyl
chloride and the heavy metal arsenic. Chromium, nickel, chloride, and cyanide were
found in surface water and sediment samples taken from the Kalamazoo River between
1964 and 1973. Soil is contaminated with chromium, arsenic, and cyanide. Potential
health risks exist if contaminated groundwater is accidentally ingested or dusts from
contaminated soils are inhaled.
37
April! 991
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in three stages: immediate actions and two long-term remedial phases
focusing on soil cleanup and groundwater cleanup.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: Under EPA monitoring, the parties potentially responsible for the
contamination removed contaminants from the surface of the site in 1985. An abandoned
building was torn down in 1986, and the debris was removed. Additionally, the entire site
was fenced to prevent access to the contaminated soil and groundwater.
Soil: The EPA has outlined the following remedies to clean up the soil: excavation,
stabilization, and treatment of approximately 7,200 cubic yards of contaminated soil;
disposal of the treated soils at a federally approved facility; and replacement of the
excavated soil with clean fill. The parties potentially responsible for site contamination, under EPA
monitoring, are in the process of designing the technologies to be used in the cleanup. Design
activities are scheduled for completion in 1992, at which time the cleanup will begin.
Groundwater: In 1988, the potentially responsible parties began an investigation to
determine the extent and type of groundwater contamination and to identify alternative
cleanup technologies. The investigation is scheduled for completion in 1992.
Site Facts: In 1990, the EPA and 42 potentially responsible parties signed a Consent Decree to
perform the technical design for the soil cleanup remedy.
Environmental Progress
The removal of contaminants and debris and fencing of the site have reduced the potential for
exposure to contaminated materials at the Auto Ion Chemicals site while studies are taking place and
cleanup activities are being planned.
April 1991 38 AUTO ION CHEMICALS, INC.
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//I™//
AVENUE"E
GROUND WATER
CONTAMINATION
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID980791461
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 10
Grand Traverse County
Traverse City
Other Names:
East Bay Township
Residential Wells
The 435-acre Avenue "E" Ground Water Contamination site consists of two areas: the 115-acfe
U.S. Coast Guard Air Station and a 320-acre area bordered on the north by the East Arm of Grand
Traverse Bay. In 1980, residents along Avenue "E" in East Bay Township complained of odors and
foaming of water drawn from domestic wells. Investigations by the State showed that wells were
contaminated with organic substances. Additional investigations indicated that the origin of the
contamination was in the vicinity of the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station, on land formerly owned and
operated by the U.S. Navy. An old Navy waste dump, located to the east of the Coast Guard
property, was suspected to be a contributor to the problem. During the past 40 years, spills of fuels
and solvents used during aircraft maintenance at the facility may have leached through the soil and
contaminated the underlying groundwater. In 1969, a spill of aviation fuel from an underground
storage tank occurred. Surface disposal of liquid organic chemicals reportedly occurred in the
northeastern corner of the station. An area north of the current Hangar and Administration Building
may have served in part as a waste oil pit. Drums of solvents and other chemicals were stored in an
area near the northwestern corner of the building. Aircraft maintenance also was conducted in this
general area. This site is adjacent to Traverse City, which has a population of approximately 16,000.
Grand Traverse Bay is used as a water source for the Traverse City public water system. The Bay
also is used for recreational activities.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal activities.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/15/84
Final Date: 06/10/86
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and phthalates.
Soils are contaminated with the major components of jet fuel, mostly VOCs and
phthalates. The greatest potential health threat to people is through drinking or direct
contact with contaminated groundwater. Although most residences have been connected
to the public water system, a few homes still may be using private wells. Recreational
use of East Bay poses a potential health risk. Soil excavations in highly contaminated
areas are a potential health concern for on-site workers, who could be exposed to high
concentrations of soil and airborne contaminants.
39
April 1991
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: an immediate action and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Action: In 1982, the U.S. Coast Guard extended public water lines from
Traverse City to residences affected by the contaminated groundwater.
Entire Site: In 1983, the U.S. Coast Guard completed its investigation into the nature and
extent of contamination at the site. In 1985, the Coast Guard installed two well fields to
pump groundwater and to prevent further contamination from leaving the property.
Following treatment to remove contaminants, the groundwater is discharged to the Traverse City
sanitary sewer system. Also in 1985, the Coast Guard began bioremediation of soils using
microorganisms to break down soil contaminants. The soil bicremediation first was installed in
1987, and a third round of treatment began in 1990.
Site Facts: In 1985, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Coast Guard signed a Consent Order
requiring the Coast Guard to study contamination at the site and to recommend cleanup alternatives.
Environmental Progress
The extension of public water lines has eliminated the potential of exposure to contaminated drinking
water and will continue to protect residents near the Avenue "E" Ground Water Contamination site.
The Coast Guard has taken steps to limit the further spread of contamination and has commenced soil
cleanup actions. These actions will continue until site contamination has been reduced to safe levels.
April 1991 40 AVENUE "E" GROUND WATER
CONTAMINATION
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BARRELS, INC.
MICHIGAN
EPAID#MID017188673
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 06
Ingham County
Lansing
Site Description
From 1964 to 1981, Barrels, Inc. recycled drums on this 1 3/4-acre site. Waste residues
allegedly were dumped from drums directly onto the ground as an initial step in recycling drums.
The State detected lead and zinc in the shallow groundwater in 1983. Approximately 9,000
people live within a mile of the site. Three schools are located within 1/2 mile of the site. The
shallow and deeper aquifers provide drinking water to the 133,000 residents of the cities of
Lansing and Holt. The Grand River is 1,800 feet from the site and is used for fishing.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and State actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 01/22/87
Final Date: 10/04/89
Threats and Contaminants
Air is polluted with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Groundwater is
contaminated with VOCs and heavy metals including lead and zinc. Polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs) and heavy metals including chromium and lead are contaminating
the soil. The greatest health threats to people stem from direct contact with or
accidental ingestion of contaminated soils or groundwater. The areas along the Grand
River serve as a habitat for the endangered Indiana Bat.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
41
April 1991
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Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: All drums, 1,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil, and nine
underground tanks were removed and sent by the State to a federally approved disposal
facility in 1986. The contents of one underground tank and two tanks in the building have
been pumped out by the State.
Entire Site: The EPA is planning to conduct an investigation into the nature and extent of
contamination of the site and to identify alternative cleanup technologies.
Environmental Progress
The excavation of drums and contaminated soil and the removal or draining of tanks have
significantly reduced the potential for exposure to contaminants at the Barrel, Inc. site while
investigations are being planned.
April 1991
42
BARRELS, INC.
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BENDIX CORP
ALLIED AUTOMO
MICHIGAN
EPAID#MID005107222
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 04
Berrien County
St. Joseph
Site Description
Bendix Corporation/Allied Automotive manufactures automotive brake systems at this 36-acre site.
From 1966 to 1975, a seepage lagoon on site was used for the disposal of machine shop process
wastewater. Chlorinated organic solvents, wastewater from electroplating operations, plating bath
solutions, chromium, and lead may have been placed in the seepage lagoon. The lagoon was closed
and capped in 1978. A private well located 750 feet from the site was closed in 1982 because of
contamination. Approximately 4,300 people obtain drinking water from private wells within 3 miles
of the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/24/88
Final Date: 02/21/90
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater is contaminated with various volatile organic compounds (VOCs). People
may be at risk if they drink or have direct contact with contaminated water; however, no
one is currently drinking contaminated groundwater.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in a single long-term remedial phase focusing on groundwater cleanup.
43
April 1991
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Response Action Status
Groundwater: The potentially responsible party, Bendix Corporation/Allied
Automotive, is conducting an investigation into the nature and extent of groundwater
contamination at the site. The investigation is being conducted in two phases. Phase 1
consisted of groundwater, surface water, and sediment sampling and analysis. Phase 2 will consist
of soil sampling and analysis to locate the source of the contamination. Both phases are expected to
be completed in late 1991. The EPA plans to continue to evaluate various technologies throughout
1992 to address the contamination identified during the investigations. A decision on cleanup
alternatives is scheduled for late 1992.
Site Facts: In 1989, the EPA entered into an Administrative Order with Bendix Corporation/Allied
Automotive, requiring the company to conduct an investigation of site contamination.
Environmental Progress
After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary investigations and determined that
no immediate actions were required at the Bendix Corporation/Allied Automotive site while studies
are taking place and cleanup activities are being planned.
April 1991 44 BENDIX CORPORATION/
ALLIED AUTOMOTIVE
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BERLIN AND FAR
MICHIGAN
EPAID#MID000605717
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 07
Genesee County
3 1/2 miles south of Swartz Creek
Other Names:
Berlin and Farro Liquid Incinerator
The 40-acre Berlin and Farro site was licensed to operate as an industrial liquid waste incinerator
from 1971 to 1975. During operations, liquid wastes were incinerated, stored in open lagoons and
underground tanks, and poured into an agricultural drain. Crushed and empty drums were disposed
of on site in a landfill. In 1975, the State ordered the incinerator to shut down due to a lack of
emission controls and an open lagoon that posed a health threat. Subsequently, the State ordered the
parties potentially responsible for site contamination to clean up the site. In 1978, the owners
submitted a work plan for site cleanup to the State. Before filing for bankruptcy and abandoning the
site in 1980, the owners initiated some of the activities in the work plan. However, approximately
10,000 drums, five buried tanks, and four lagoons containing contaminated sludges were left on site.
The Berlin and Farro site is located in a rural area where residents depend on private wells for their
drinking water supply.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 07/16/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
Air is contaminated with pesticides. Groundwater and soil contain volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Surface water located in
Slocum Drain and Swartz Creek is contaminated with pesticides. PCBs and paint
solvents are present in sludge. Residents could be exposed to site-related contaminants
through direct contact with contaminated surface water in Slocum Drain and Swartz
Creek. In addition, on-site workers could be exposed to contaminants if they drink or
have direct contact with contaminated groundwater.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in three stages: immediate actions and two long-term remedial phases
focusing on source control and cleanup of the entire site.
45
April 1991
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Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: A series of immediate actions began in 1981, when the State
removed and disposed of 15,300 cubic yards of sludges. The EPA constructed a fence
around the site, excavated and disposed of contaminated soils and drums, and strengthened
an earthen underflow dam to prevent contaminated runoff from migrating off site. In 1982, the
contents of four buried liquid storage tanks containing pesticides were pumped out by the State and
were re-buried, and sampling and analysis were undertaken by the Michigan Department of Natural
Resources (MDNR). The EPA took the following actions in 1982: (1) installed a security fence and
upgraded a siphon dam; (2) removed 3,600 cubic yards of contaminated soil and landfilled 4,000
barrels of flammable sludge; (3) removed 1,919,195 pounds of PCB-contaminated wastes and 11
tons of soil and sludge waste to an EPA-approved hazardous waste storage facility; (4) dug trenches
throughout the site to locate buried drums and contaminated soil layers; (5) located a total of 33
drums, which were sampled and combined for disposal; and (6) excavated an additional 120 cubic
yards of contaminated soil and shipped it to a storage facility. In 1983, the EPA opened drums,
removed their contents, mixed them with soil, and transported the mixture off site for disposal.
Source Control: The cleanup actions selected for source control include: (1)
excavating the existing drum landfill, paint sludge trench, agricultural drains, and
miscellaneous contaminated areas; (2) separating PCB solid wastes from non-PCB solid
wastes and transporting these materials to an off-site disposal facility; (3) transporting PCB liquid
wastes to an off-site incinerator; (4) pumping non-PCB liquid wastes from the drum landfill and
transporting the wastes to an off-site incinerator; and (5) backfilling the areas with uncontaminated
soils and, if necessary, installing a temporary layer of soil over the excavated areas. In 1984, the
potentially responsible parties installed the equipment necessary to complete these cleanup activities.
The parties removed 75,000 tons of contaminated soil and sludges and 10,745 tons of other waste.
The landfill was excavated, and drums and contaminated soils were removed. Once excavated, the
deteriorated drums were crushed and mixed with contaminated soils. Liquids from the drums then
were drained into a sump, pumped to a tanker truck, and transported off site. The North-South
agricultural drain and the paint sludge trench also were excavated. The excavated areas were
backfilled with clean soil, and the equipment was demobilized.
Entire Site: The potentially responsible parties have been conducting an investigation
into the nature and extent of remaining contamination at the site. Based on preliminary
reports, the proposed remedy includes on-site disposal of contaminated soil and sediment
and treatment of contaminated groundwater using pump and treat technologies. The final remedy
for the site is expected in the fall of 1991.
Site Facts: A Consent Decree was signed among the parties potentially responsible for site
contamination, under which they agreed to conduct cleanup activities at the site.
Environmental Progress
The numerous cleanup actions, including the removal of contaminated soil, wastes, and drums, have
reduced the potential for exposure to contaminated materials at the Berlin and Farro site while
additional cleanup activities are being planned and started.
April1991 46 BERLIN AND FARRO
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BOFORS NOBEL
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID006030373
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 09
Muskegon County
Muskegon
Other Names:
Bofors Lakeway Chemical, Inc.
Bofors Nobel, Inc. manufactured various chemicals including benzidines, pesticides, herbicides at
this 85-acre site from 1960 to 1987. During this time, the plant's operators disposed of process
water into unlined lagoons. In 1975, the dikes around the lagoons failed, and 2 million gallons of
wastewater were released to Big Black Creek, which is used for recreation. Bofors Nobel operated a
groundwater treatment system from 1976 until 1987, when it filed for bankruptcy. The property
was sold to Lomac, Inc. in 1987, and they continue to operate the treatment system, while use of the
lagoons for wastewater was discontinued. Approximately 6,400 people obtain drinking water from
private wells within 3 miles of the site. Approximately 200 people live within 1 mile of the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and State actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/24/88
Final Date: 03/31/89
Threats and Contaminants
Air, groundwater, surface water, soil, and sediments contain various volatile organic
compounds (VOCs). People could be exposed to contaminants through ingestion of or
direct contact with contaminated groundwater, surface water, or soil. The site is entirely
fenced, and a pumping system keeps contaminants from flowing into the creek.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two phases: initial actions and a single long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
47
April 1991
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Response Action Status
Initial Actions: Since 1976, site owners have been treating contaminated groundwater.
The use of unlined lagoons for wastewater treatment has been stopped.
Soil Site: In 1988, the State began studying the extent of contamination in the
groundwater, surface water, soil, and air on and off site. The lagoon phase of the study is
expected to be finished in 1990, and the groundwater and plant phase in 1991. In fall
1990, the EPA selected three different techniques to address soil contamination at different areas of
the site. The technologies include landfilling, per Federal guidelines; low-temperature thermal
desorption; and incineration. To continue to address the groundwater contamination, a groundwater
treatment facility will be constructed. The State currently is developing the technology
specifications. Design activities are scheduled for completion in 1992.
Operating Facility Soils: In spring 1990, the State began studying the extent of soil
contamination around the operating facility area. The study is expected to be completed
in 1993.
Environmental Progress
Treatment of contaminated groundwater is reducing the potential for pollutants to reach wells or the
nearby creek. After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary investigations and
determined that no additional immediate actions were required at the Bofors Nobel, Inc. site while
studies are taking place and cleanup activities are being planned.
ApriM991 48 BOFORS NOBEL, INC.
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BURROWS
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID980410617
ITATIQN
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 04
Van Buren County
1 mile northeast of Hartford
From 1970 to 1977, the 15-acre Burrows Sanitation site was used for the disposal of plating sludges,
waste coolants, and oils. Wastes were dumped into six unlined lagoons, onto an area of the site
known as the "Cyanide Trail," and at two other spill areas on the site. The lagoons have overflowed
during heavy rains. Groundwater samples have shown contamination; however, private water wells
are not contaminated. In 1984, the Burrows Group, a group consisting of the owners and three firms
that disposed of wastes at the site, excavated contaminated soils and sludges from the four disposal
areas. Orchards are located within the site boundaries, and raspberries, mushrooms, and flowers
grow wild on the property. Two wetland areas are located on the edges of the site. These areas are
interconnected and are drained by the Doyle Drain, a canal that flows along the edge of the site. A
berm is located to the north of the disposal area to prevent site runoff from directly entering Doyle
Drain, which enters the Paw Paw River 3/4 mile from the site. The river is used for sport fishing.
Approximately 150 people live within a 3/4-mile radius of the site and obtain water from private
wells.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 09/08/83
Final Date: 09/21/84
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater, surface water, and sediments are contaminated with heavy metals such as
chromium, lead, and nickel. Soils also contained these contaminants before cleanup
occurred. The lagoons contain several volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Health
threats to people who trespass on the site stem from direct contact with or accidental
ingestion of contaminated groundwater, sediments, and surface water. Wetland areas
may also be threatened.
49
April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1984, the Burrows Group, under EPA monitoring, excavated
8,600 cubic yards of waste sludges and contaminated soils from four waste disposal areas
on site. The wastes were transported to a federally approved facility. In addition, a fence
was constructed, and warning signs were posted to prohibit access to the site.
Entire Site: In 1986, the EPA selected a remedy that included removal of the remaining
contaminated soils, lowering the surface water level in the northwest wetland, and
groundwater extraction, treatment, and discharge. By 1989, the removal of contaminated
soils and sediments and drainage of the northwest wetland were completed. Cleanup of
contaminated groundwater is set to begin in 1991.
Site Facts: In 1984, the EPA issued an Administrative Order, requiring the parties potentially
responsible for site contamination to clean up the site. In 1989, Du-Wel Products, Inc., a potentially
responsible party, entered into a Consent Decree with the EPA for the party to conduct a
groundwater investigation and, if necessary, cleanup of the contaminated groundwater.
Environmental Progress
The cleanup standards for soil at the Burrows Sanitation site have been fully achieved. Therefore,
no further soil cleanup actions are required. Cleanup of the groundwater is scheduled to begin in
1991.
April! 991 50 BURROWS SANITATION
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BUTTERWORT
LANDFILL
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID062222997
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 05
Kent County
Grand Rapids
Other Names:
Grand Rapids City Landfill
Grand Rapids Gypsum Company (SIA)
The Butterworth #2 Landfill site covers 120 acres in Grand Rapids. The City of Grand Rapids
owned and operated the landfill as an open dump from the 1950s until 1967. The site was operated
as a sanitary landfill from 1967 to 1973, when the State closed it for improper operations. The
landfill received municipal, solid, and industrial wastes including plating waste, paint waste, and
organic solvents. Much of the industrial waste was buried in 55-gallon drums or dumped in liquid
form on the site's surface. In 1982, the EPA sampled the groundwater and found it to be
contaminated with organic and inorganic chemicals. Approximately 1,300 people live within 1/2
mile of the landfill. The closest residence is about 200 yards away. The landfill is bordered by
1-196, a bottling plant, a bread factory, and the Grand River. All the residences in the area are
connected to the Grand Rapids municipal water system, which draws primarily from Lake Michigan,
and, on occasion, from an intake on the Grand River upstream from the landfill. The river is used
for recreational activities. Groundwater drains from the landfill into the river immediately
downstream from a State-owned public access site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
IMPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including
benzene and vinyl chloride and the heavy metals iron, manganese, silver, and lead. Soils
are contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, pyrene, chrysene,
and heavy metals including chromium and cadmium. Because all the residences in the
vicinity of the landfill are on a public water supply system, there is little chance that
people would drink or have direct contact with contaminated groundwater. People who
trespass on the site and have direct contact with or accidentally ingest the contaminated
soil may be at risk. Contaminants are leaching into the Grand River. If the pollutants
bioaccumulate in fish, the fish may pose a health hazard to those who eat them.
51
April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1989, the EPA found a hot spot of PCB contamination in the
landfill. The potentially responsible parties excavated approximately 1,100 cubic yards of
PCB-contaminated soil. A 6-foot-high chain-link fence was installed to prevent access to
the site. During sampling, other highly contaminated areas were found. The potentially responsible
parties excavated soil from these hot spots and transported the waste to a federally approved facility.
Entire Site: The potentially responsible parties are studying the type and extent of the
contamination at the landfill. Once the study is completed in 1991, measures will be
recommended for cleaning up the site.
Site Facts: In 1986, the EPA, the City of Grand Rapids, General Motors Corporation, Wickes
Manufacturing Company, Michigan Waste Systems, Inc., and Organic Chemicals, Inc. entered into
a Consent Decree to conduct contamination studies at the site.
Environmental Progress
The removal of the most highly contaminated soil from the Butterworth #2 Landfill site and
construction of a fence around the site have reduced the potential for exposure to hazardous
materials while studies leading to the selection of the final cleanup remedies are taking place.
April 1991 52 BUTTERWORTH #2 LANDFILL
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CANNELTON
INDUSTRIES, INC
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID980678627
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 11
Chippewa County
Sault Sainte Mane
Other Names:
Northwestern Leather
Site Description
The Cannelton Industries, Inc. site covers 75 acres along the St. Mary's River in Sault Sainte Marie.
From 1900 to 1958, the Northwestern Leather Company operated a tannery at the site and processed
animal hides. Waste materials from the tannery operations were discharged through three drains to a
low-lying shoreline area. Barrels and general wastes were burned and disposed of along the river.
Between 1955 and 1958, the Fiborn Limestone Company, a subsidiary of Algoma Steel Corp.,
bought the property with the intention of constructing a manufacturing plant. In the fall of 1958, a
fire damaged many of the tannery's buildings, nearly all of which have since been torn down by
Algoma. The site has been unused since the tannery closed in 1958 and presently is vacant. In
1964, the property was transferred to Cannelton Industries, another Algoma subsidiary. In 1978, the
Michigan Department of Natural Resources sampled St. Mary's River and found it, as well as soil
and groundwater, to be contaminated with heavy metals. In 1988, the City fire department became
concerned over recurring fires in a 1 to 2-acre area at the site. The EPA assisted with efforts to
reduce the fire potential. Approximately 1,200 people obtain drinking water from private wells
within 3 miles of the site, with the nearest well about a mile away. Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario,
draws drinking water from the St. Mary's River about 2 miles downstream of the old tannery
disposal site. The site itself is located within the 100-year flood plain of the St. Mary's River.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through a
combination of Federal, State and
potentially responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/24/88
Final Date: 08/30/90
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater, soils, and sediments in the St. Mary's River are contaminated with heavy
metals including chromium, lead, manganese, arsenic, and iron. Sediments and soils also
contain copper and mercury. The St. Mary's River is contaminated with chromium.
Trespassers coming in direct contact with the soil or wastes on the site may be at risk.
Those who use the St. Mary's River for recreational activities may be exposed to
contaminants. If pollutants have bioaccumulated in fish, they may pose a health hazard if
eaten. The bald eagles that feed and nest near the site may come into direct contact with
hazardous substances.
53
April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
directed at cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1988, the EPA excavated five trenches to disperse heat build-
up and to reduce gas accumulation to decrease the potential for additional fires. Algoma
constructed a chain-link fence to limit access to a 1- to 2-acre portion of the site. In 1989,
Algoma installed a sprinkler system to prevent dry conditions from contributing to fires. Under an
order from EPA, Algoma constructed a stone wall along part of the shoreline of the site to prevent
wave and ice action from eroding the site. The EPA expects to complete further stabilization and
security actions during the summer of 1991, including fencing a greater area of the site, repairing
existing fences, and further stabilizing the shoreline area.
Entire Site: In 1988, the EPA began a study to determine the type and extent of the
contamination at the site. Field work has been completed, and the draft investigative
report was submitted to the EPA in April 1991. Various treatment methods are being
evaluated, and a remedy will be selected for site cleanup, when the study is completed, expected in
1992.
Environmental Progress
By constructing a wall to prevent erosion of a portion of the shoreline, reducing the potential for
additional fires, and constructing a security fence to restrict access to part of the site, the possibility
of people coming in direct contact with hazardous materials on the Cannelton Industries, Inc. site has
been reduced while plans for site cleanup are being formulated.
April 1991 54 CANNELTON INDUSTRIES, INC.
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CARTER INDUS!
INC.
MICHIGAN
EPAID#MID980274179
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 01
Wayne County
Detroit
Other Names:
Carter Salvage Corporation
Site Description
The Carter Industrials, Inc. site is a former industrial scrap metal yard covering approximately 3 1/2
acres in Detroit. From 1971 to 1986, the metal salvaging operation handled a wide variety of
materials that included electrical transformers and capacitors containing polychlorinated biphenyl
(PCB)-contaminated oil. Oil was drained from the transformers, and the copper component was
removed for on-site processing. The facilities included furnaces for melting aluminum and copper, a
brick warehouse, and an office building. Numerous piles of scrap metal and equipment were lying
uncovered throughout the yard. In 1984, a fire broke out in an area of wooden pallets and scrap iron
mounds. During an investigation by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the City
fire marshall, oil was found near the fire area and near the base of three large transformers. The soil
was sampled and found to contain PCBs. During another investigation in 1986, the State found
barrels of used PCB-contaminated oil in and around scrap metal piles. Oil leaking from the barrels
contained as much as 50% PCBs. Additional sampling found the contamination had spread into the
backyards of neighboring residences, the sewer leaving the site, and the sewer outfall in the Detroit
River. The area surrounding the scrap yard is urban, with 34,000 people living within a mile of the
site. Three schools, seven churches, a playground, and a post office are located within 1/2 mile of
the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through a
combination of Federal, State, and
potentially responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/24/88
Final Date: 03/31/89
Threats and Contaminants
Sediments in the sewer lines and on-site soils are contaminated with PCBs and heavy
metals including arsenic, cadmium, and lead. The streets surrounding the scrap yard are
contaminated with PCBs. People who trespass on the site may be exposed to PCBs
through direct contact with or ingestion of contaminated soil or sediments. Cleanup
activities, such as repaving streets and vacuuming yards and alleys, have reduced the
human health threat in the residential areas. There is a possibility that PCBs may
bioaccumulate in fish in the Detroit River and pose adverse health effects if the fish are
eaten.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
55
April 1991
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Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: Beginning in 1986, the EPA excavated the off-site contaminated
soil and cleaned the streets and alleys with a pressure sprayer and steel-wire brushes.
Alleys and streets that could not be cleaned by the pressure sprayer were repaved with 2
feet of asphalt. Approximately 10,000 cubic yards of soil were removed from backyards, parkways,
and vacant lots surrounding the facility. The excavated soil was stored on site. During excavation,
some residents temporarily were relocated. A system was installed to control drainage and to treat
the collected runoff. In addition, the site was fenced to prevent access. In 1988, the EPA
overpacked, or placed in sturdy containers, several hundred leaking PCB capacitors and 30 to 40
drums containing PCB-contaminated oil. About 600 cubic yards of PCB-contaminated debris, the
capacitors, and transformers were disposed of at federally approved facilities. Approximately 45
tons of scrap metal were decontaminated and removed by a local salvage company. The EP \ also
repaired and upgraded the fence, which had been damaged by vandals. In 1989, the parties
potentially responsible for the site contamination were ordered by the EPA to undertake interim
safety measures at the site. The parties have completed covering the site with a geotextile material
to prevent rainwater from coming into contact with contaminants, and the site has been seeded.
Entire Site: In 1989, the EPA began studying the extent of soil contamination at the site.
The study was completed early in 1991, and alternative cleanup measures for the site are
being evaluated and selected. The EPA's proposed plan for cleanup, which is currently
undergoing public comment, involves concentrating the PCBs through heating the soil, with
incineration of the concentrated material and off-site disposal of remaining material. The EPA plans
to break up the cleaning of the site into various phases, including the previously mentioned soil
decontamination, controlling the sources of the contamination, assessing the effectiveness of the
cleanup, and studying the alleys and sewer lines to ensure there is no threat of residual
contamination discharge into the Detroit River.
Site Facts: In 1989, the EPA issued an Administrative Order to several parties potentially
responsible for site contamination, requiring them to undertake interim measures to clean up the site.
This involved posting 24-hour security guards at the site; laying a geotextile cover over the waste
piles to prevent rainwater from coming into contact with buried wastes; hydroseeding the site; and
maintaining the runoff collection and treatment system, as well as all utilities and services at the site.
The State conducted a neighborhood blood testing program to determine if people had been exposed
to PCBs. Results from the 21 residents living in nine homes next to Carter Industrials indicated that
the residents had not absorbed any more PCBs than the amount normally found in the population of
the State of Michigan.
Environmental Progress
The numerous immediate actions taken to remove the contaminants from the area, fencing the area,
and repaving streets and alleyways in the area of the site have reduced the potential for exposure to
hazardous substances at the Carter Industrials, Inc. site while the final selection of cleanup
alternatives is being made and cleanup activities are taking place.
Aprill991 56 CARTER INDUSTRIALS, INC.
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CEMETERY DUMP
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID980794663
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 06
Oakland County
Rose Township
Rose Center
Other Names:
Rose Township Cemetery Dump
Site Description
The 4-acre Cemetery Dump site, once used as a sand and gravel pit, has been backfilled and cleared.
Approximately 300 to 600 barrels containing unknown industrial wastes were believed to be
illegally dumped and buried on site in the late 1960s or early 1970s. In 1981, the Michigan
Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) excavated a test pit and removed 20 to 30 drum
fragments from the site. The fragments were taken to a federally approved facility. Analysis of the
barrel contents indicated the presence of paint sludges, solvents, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs),
and oils. Approximately 4,400 people live within 3 miles of the site. The closest residence is 300
feet away. All of the residences in the area use domes ;c wells for drinking water.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and State actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
The drum fragments and soil on the site contained volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
PCBs, and heavy metals including arsenic, cadmium, and lead. Groundwater was
contaminated with low levels of zinc and lead. People who had direct contact with or
accidentally ingested contaminated groundwater, soil, or drum contents may have been at
risk.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two long-term remedial phases focusing on source control and
cleanup of the entire site.
57
April 1991
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Response Action Status
Source Control: In 1985, the State selected a remedy to control the source of the
contamination by excavating approximately 250 drums and contaminated soils. These
drums were disposed of at a federally approved facility. A fence was installed in 1987, and
the State completed the cleanup activities in 1989.
Entire Site: In 1989, the State, after extensive sampling and analysis, determined that the
removal of the source of contamination had corrected the situation, therefore, no further
actions are planned. The State will monitor the groundwater for five years to ensure there
are no health threats to the public or the environment. No contaminants were detected in the last
groundwater sampling.
Environmental Progress
The removal of drums and contaminated soils and the fencing of the site have eliminated the
potential for exposure to contaminated materials at the Cemetery- Dump site. The State will continue
to monitor the groundwater to ensure the protection of nearby residents and the environment. In
mid-1991, the EPA is expected to initiate the process for deleting this site from the NPL.
April 1991
58
CEMETERY DUMP
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CHARLEVOIX
MUNICIPAL WELL
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID980794390
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 11
Charlevoix County
Charlevoix
The Charlevoix Municipal Well site is located on the shore of Lake Michigan and consists of a
municipal well system made up of a shallow well connected to a horizontal flume buried beneath the
beach of Lake Michigan. This well is no longer in use. The flume collected groundwater and
channeled it into the well, where it was pumped to the distribution system. Approximately half of
the water entering the system came from Lake Michigan and half from shallow groundwater sources.
The city's water system was interconnected with the South Charlevoix Township water supply,
which is served by two uncontaminated wells. In 1981, the City of Charlevoix was notified by the
Michigan Department of Public Health that its water system was contaminated. The City
subsequently installed four monitoring wells near its municipal well with the assistance of the
Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR). The EPA became involved with the site in
1982, when it installed nine groundwater monitoring wells throughout the city. In 1982 and 1983,
the MDNR conducted several soil boring studies to locate the source of contamination and
concluded that part of the contamination may have originated on a local school property. The City
installed a system to introduce oxygen into the municipal supply in 1982; however, this aeration
system has been only partially effective in removing contaminants from the water. To date, the
sources of contamination of the city's municipal water system have not been fully identified despite
investigations conducted by the EPA and the MDNR. It is likely that there is no current source of
contamination but that groundwater was contaminated by one or more spills or by a source that was
later removed. The off-season population of 3,500 in Charlevoix increases to approximately 10,000
people during the summer months.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater and soil are contaminated with various volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Area residents using contaminated private wells could be exposed to site-related
contaminants when drinking or using water.
59
April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a long-term remedial phase focusing on
cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: The EPA constructed a new water intake system and filtration plant
using water from Lake Michigan as its source. A buried intake pipe was constructed that
connects to the existing City pumphouse. A chlorine diffuser, anchored inside and running
the entire length of the intake pipe, disinfects the water. The EPA built a water filtration treatment
plant in 1985. The plant became operational in 1987. The intake system and water treatment plant
successfully provide potable water.
Entire Site: In 1985, after completing an extensive study attempting to identify the
source of site contamination, the EPA selected the following cleanup methods to address
site contamination: (1) allow the contaminant plumes to discharge under natural flow
conditions to Lake Michigan; (2) continue long-term monitoring of the plumes during the natural
purging period; and (3) impose restrictions on the installation of private wells to be enforced by local
health officials. The implementation of the selected remedies was completed in 1989. To solve a
problem caused by blockage of water intake by drifting lake sand, in summer 1991, the EPA and the
State are adding additional intake piping to improve the water capacity.
Environmental Progress
By providing an alternate water supply, the potential of exposure to contaminated drinking water
was eliminated. The restrictions on the installation of private wells and long-term monitoring will
continue to protect residents living near the Charlevoix Municipal Well site.
April 1991 60 CHARLEVOIX MUNICIPAL WELL
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CHEM CENTRAL
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID980477079
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 05
Kent County
Wyoming Township
Wyoming
Other Names:
Wolverine Chemical
Since 1957, Chem Central has distributed industrial chemicals from a 2-acre site in Wyoming.
Between 1957 and 1962, hazardous wastes entered the ground at the facility through a construction
flaw in a pipe used to transfer liquids between rail cars and bulk storage tanks. The flaw was
repaired after losses were noted in chemical inventories. The Michigan Department of Natural
Resources (MDNR) found toxic contaminants in sediments in a ditch 1,000 feet from the site in
1977. The State dammed the ditch and restricted access by fencing and posting signs. The EPA
excavated sludge from the ditch in 1978, and with the State, continued to sample soil and
groundwater that seeped into a pit. The State ordered Chem Central to clean up the site, including
the removal of contaminated soils from the ditch. Approximately 15,000 people live within 1 mile
of the site. All businesses and residences are on the Grand Rapids municipal water supply, which
draws from Lake Michigan and the Grand River. Surface water runoff from the site drains into Cole
Drain, which also drains other industrial sites nearby. Cole Drain flows into Plaster Creek, 1/2 mile
north of the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater contains various volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Soil is contaminated
with phthalates, VOCs, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Plaster Creek receives
runoff from the site through Cole Drain. Because all businesses and residences in the
area use the municipal water system, the only threat of exposure is by accidentally
ingesting or otherwise contacting contaminated soils or water in Cole Drain or Plaster
Creek.
61
April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1984, Chem Central designed and constructed a purge well and
underdrain system to capture contaminants originating on site. The company also
constructed an air stripping operation to treat the extracted water for discharge into the
municipal waste treatment system. VOCs removed from the extracted water were passed through a
carbon filtering process prior to being released. In addition, Chem Central excavated, removed, and
disposed of contaminated soil and water from the pit in a federally approved facility. While the soil
and water were being removed, a guard was posted in the area. The empty pit was filled with clean
soil. These cleanup activities were completed in 1985.
Entire Site: In 1987, Chem Central, under EPA monitoring, began a study to determine
the extent of groundwater and surface water contamination and to determine if any soil
contamination remains. Once the study is completed in late 1991, cleanup methods will be
recommended.
Site Facts: In 1987, the EPA and Chem Central signed an Administrative Order on Consent under
which the company agreed to study and further clean up the site.
Environmental Progress
The immediate actions have contained most of the contaminated groundwater underlying the site and
removed the immediate sources of contamination. These actions have greatly reduced the potential
for exposure to hazardous materials at the Chem Central site while studies are taking place and
cleanup activities are being planned.
April1991 62 CHEM CENTRAL
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CLARE WATER
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID980002273
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 10
Clare County
Clare
Other Names:
Clare Municipal Well Field
The Clare Water Supply site consists of four production wells (Wells #2, #5, #6, and #7) and their
related water treatment and storage facilities. Two of the four wells are contaminated with
bromoform and various volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Pumping from Well #5 was limited in
1982, and the city water supply since has been provided mainly by the blending of water from Wells
#2 and #5 with the uncontaminated water from Well #6. The City uses an aeration system to remove
iron from the water suppy, which also results in volatilization of the contaminants in the other two
wells. Several industrial areas bordering the site are believed to be the sources of contamination.
Fourteen manufacturing and retail businesses operate in the area around the municipal well field.
Historical operations at some of these businesses involved the use of solvents or degreasers.
Approximately 4,300 people live within 3 miles of the site. The nearest residence is located less than
1/4 mile from the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through a
combination of Federal, State, and
potentially responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Dale: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/21/84
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater and soil are contaminated with bromoform and VOCs including vinyl
chloride, trichloroethane, and dichloroethane. Surface water and sediment samples from
a nearby drainage ditch contain VOCs. Potential health threats to people stem from
accidentally ingesting or coming into direct contact with contaminated groundwater,
surface water, or sediments.
63
April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in three stages: immediate actions and two long-term remedial phases
focusing on cleanup of the entire site and the source areas and aquifer.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1985, four companies located west of the well field were
identified by the EPA and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) as
being potentially responsible for the groundwater contamination. At the request of the
MDNR, these companies reduced the source of contamination by removing contaminated soils from
their property and by excavating underground storage tanks containing fuel and other contaminants.
Entire Site: In 1990, the EPA selected a remedy, which included air stripping of Wells
#2 and #5. Construction of the air stripper was completed in early 1991 and was put into
operation later in 1991. The MDNR and the EPA will continue to test the municipal water
supply on a regular basis to ensure that it remains safe to use.
Source Areas and Aquifer: In 1991, thi potentially responsible parties, under EPA
supervision, will undertake further study of the source areas and the contaminated aquifer.
Site Facts: In 1985, the EPA and several potentially responsible parties entered into an
Administrative Order on Consent that requires the parties, under EPA and State monitoring, to
investigate site contamination.
Environmental Progress
The municipal water supply is now protected by an air stripping water treatment system. Studies of
the source area and the contaminated aquifer are continuing at the Clare Water Supply site.
April 1991 64 CLARE WATER SUPPLY
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CLIFF/DOW DU
MICHIGAN
EPAID*MID980608970
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 11
Marquette County
1 mile north of Marquette
The 2-acre Cliff/Dow Dump site is an abandoned waste disposal area. Between 1954 and the early
1960s, the site was used for the disposal of waste materials generated by a nearby charcoal
manufacturing facility. Wood tars generated during the production process were burned at the plant,
although some of the tar solids were disposed of at the site. The City of Marquette has a population
of 23,000. Four residences are located within 1/2 mile of the site. The Dead River, located 2,000
feet southeast of the site, is considered a good sport fishing area. The City of Marquette obtains its
drinking water from Lake Superior.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
Off-site groundwater is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), phenols,
and naphthalene. The surface soil in the landfill area contains elevated levels of VOCs
and naphthalene. The health risks to people stem from direct contact with or accidental
ingestion of contaminated soil.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: an immediate action and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
65
April! 991
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Response Action Status
Immediate Action: In 1984, the parties potentially responsible for site contamination
installed a fence around the site.
Entire Site: Based on a comprehensive investigation into site contamination, the
selected cleanup activities include: (1) excavation and incineration of 200 cubic yards of
uncovered tar; (2) excavation and biological treatment of 9,200 cubic yards of
contaminated fill material; (3) topsoil cover and revegetation of the fill material; (4) deed
restrictions preventing the installation of drinking water wells within the vicinity of the
contaminated groundwater boundaries and disturbance of fill materials; and (5) groundwater and air
monitoring. In June 1990, the potentially responsible parties excavated and incinerated 200 cubic
yards of tar. The parties also are preparing the technical plans for implementing the remainder of
the selected remedy. Construction is scheduled to begin in 1993, once the design is approved.
Site Facts: In 1984, the potentially responsible parties signed a Consent Order agreeing to conduct
a study into the nature and extent of contamination at the site.
Environmental Progress
The installation of a fence and the excavation and incineration of tar have reduced the potential for
exposure to contaminated materials at the Cliff/Dow Dump site while additional cleanup plans are
being developed.
April! 991
66
CLIFF/DOW DUMP
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DUELL & GARDN
LANDFILL
MICHIGAN
EPAID*MID980504716
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 09
Muskegon County
Dalton Township
Site Description
The 40-acre Duell & Gardner Landfill site was an operating municipal landfill from the 1940s to
1975. Indications are that local chemical companies disposed of chemical waste at the landfill until
the late 1960s. Before 1969, industrial waste and general refuse were accepted at the site. Materials
found on site included approximately 500 drums in various stages of deterioration, hundreds of lab
bottles, areas of refuse and debris, and piles of lime. Wastes apparently were deposited on the soil
surface and in ground depressions. From 1969 to 1973, the landfill was operated as a licensed solid
waste disposal facility. Specific areas were excavated and waste was placed in unlined trenches. In
1971, the Michigan Department of Public Health (MDPH) stipulated that no liquid waste was to be
disposed of in the landfill; however, in 1973, the Muskegon County Health Department noticed that
liquid waste disposal was still occurring. The landfill ceased operations in 1975. Approximately
1,200 people live within a 2-mile radius of the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and State actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been detected in an on-site groundwater
monitoring well. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), arsenic, cobalt, chromium, and
cyanide were detected in 1986 in on-site soils. Potential health risks may exist for
individuals who accidentally have direct contact with or ingest contaminated groundwater
or soil.
67
April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1986, the EPA constructed an access road to the first drum site.
Drums were staged and empty drums were crushed. Contaminated soil under the drums
was removed, and the drums and soil were covered. Thirty cubic yards of contaminated
soil and drums were transported for disposal. The site also was fenced.
Entire Site: The State initiated an investigation in 1987 to determine the type and extent
of contamination remaining at the site and to identify alternative technologies for the
cleanup. The investigation is scheduled to be completed in late 1991.
Environmental Progress
Excavating, covering, and removing drums and contaminated soil and fencing the site have greatly
reduced the potential for exposure to contaminated soil and drums at the Duell & Gardner site while
studies are taking place and cleanup activities are being planned.
April 1991 68 DUELL & GARDNER LANDFILL
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ELECTROVOI
MICHIGAN
EPAID#MID005068143
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 04
Berrien County
Buchanan
Site Description
Several manufacturing companies have occupied the Electrovoice site since the 1920s. Campbell
Transportation Company operated at the site in the early 1930s. Dry Zero Corporation produced
insulating materials at the site from the mid-1930s to 1940. From 1940 to 1946, Clark Equipment
leased the property to manufacture transmissions for large equipment. In 1946, Electrovoice, Inc.
purchased the property and has since used the location to manufacture electronic sound reproduction
equipment. Refuse from demolitions was deposited into a natural land depression located on site
from the 1920s to the early 1950s. The depression was filled in until it was approximately the level
of the remaining Electrovoice property. Portions of the Electrovoice property are built upon this fill
material. In 1952, Electrovoice built two lagoons to dispose of liquid electroplating waste produced
at its plant on the site. The north lagoon was continuously filled with water, but the south lagoon,
which was built to hold overflow from the first lagoon, never received waste. Electrovoice took the
lagoons out of service and, in 1962, installed a wastewater treatment facility on site. In 1979, the
Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) inspected the spill containment system that
Electrovoice installed after a drain pipe spilled liquid wastes into the north lagoon. Both lagoons
were closed by Electrovoice in 1980 and subsequently backfilled. Other potential sources of
contamination at the site include a dry well that was used for the disposal of liquid wastes from the
plant's paint and glue shop and an underground tank that was used to store oil for fuel.
Approximately 7,900 people live within a 3-mile radius of the site, and 10,000 people are supplied
with water from nearby municipal wells. McCoy Creek, located 1/2 mile downstream of the site, is
used for recreation.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/21/84
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Soils are
contaminated with VOCs and inorganics. Samples of lagoon sludge and standing water
showed elevated levels of heavy metals and cyanide in the water. Possible health threats
stem from contacting or accidentally ingesting contaminated groundwater, surface water,
sludge, or soil.
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April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in a single long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
Response Action Status
Entire Site: In 1987, the MDNR began an investigation into the nature and extent of
contamination at the site. Electrovoice took over the study in 1988. Once the
investigation is completed, scheduled for late 1991, final cleanup remedies will be
selected.
Site Facts: In 1987, the EPA and Electrovoice entered into a Consent Order that required the
company to carry out a study of site contamination.
Environmental Progress
After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary investigations and determined that
no immediate actions were required at the Electrovoice site while studies are taking place and
cleanup activities are being planned.
April 1991
70
ELECTROVOICE
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FOLKERTSMA RE
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID980609366
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 05
Kent County
Walker
The 8-acre Folkertsma Refuse site was operated as a licensed, yet improperly zoned, landfill
accepting mostly foundry sand and some construction debris. The property was sold in 1969 and
operated as an industrial disposal site until the former owner repurchased it in 1972. Between 1969
and 1972, additional foundry sand and other unidentified wastes were deposited at the site. A pallet
repair and manufacturing company erected a pole building and started a pallet manufacturing
business that is currently in operation. The EPA was notified of past waste disposal activities at the
site in 1981. In 1983, the EPA examined information that described the disposal activities on the
property and determined that an on-site investigation of possible contamination should be conducted.
The investigation was conducted in 1984. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR)
also investigated the property in 1985 and found 40,000 cubic yards of landfilled waste consisting of
foundry sand, chemical products, construction debris, and other industrial wastes from heavy
manufacturing operations. Approximately 8,000 people live within a mile of the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/10/86
Final Date: 03/31/89
Threats and Contaminants
"•XV
Groundwater is contaminated with arsenic. Sediment from a drainage ditch on the
property and sludges contain polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PNAs) and heavy
metals including arsenic, cadmium, chromium, nickel, and lead. Possible health threats
stem from contacting or accidentally ingesting contaminated groundwater, sediments, or
sludges, as well as inhalation of contaminated dusts. Contaminated sediments pose an
environmental risk because of the possibility of bioaccumulation of chemicals.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in a single long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the
entire site.
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April 1991
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Response Action Status
Entire Site: The EPA initiated an investigation in 1988 to determine the type and extent
of contamination at the site and to identify alternative technologies for the cleanup. The
study was completed in 1990, and selection of final cleanup remedies is expected in 1991.
The EPA's proposed plan for cleanup involves excavating contaminated sediments and placing these
sediments on the landfill. A clay cap will be constructed over the contaminated sediments and
landfill materials. In addition, underground drains will provide for continued drainage of the site,
and gas vents placed on each side of the landfill will prevent the buildup of gases. Fencing and deed
restrictions will control access to and use of the site, while groundwater and drainage water
monitoring will ensure the effectiveness of the cleanup. The design of the remedy is expected to
begin in late 1991, after approval of the plan.
Environmental Progress
After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary investigations and determined that
no immediate actions were required at the Folkertsma Refuse site while investigations are taking
place and cleanup activities are being planned.
April! 991 72 FOLKERTSMA REFUSE
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FOREST WASTE
PRODUCTS
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID980410740
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 07
Genesee County
2 miles northwest of Otisville
Other Names:
Forest Waste Disposal Landfill
The 112-acre Forest Waste Disposal site is a 15-acre landfill with nine lagoons. It was licensed from
1972 to 1978 to receive general refuse and wastes. Drummed wastes from various sources were
disposed of, and waste oils, sludges, paint and resin wastes, and sulfuric acid were placed in the
lagoons. In 1974, the site accepted sludge and waste from an Agrico Chemical Warehouse fire,
while in 1975, the site accepted polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)-contaminated roofing material
and contaminated cattle feed. Trenches were dug randomly, industrial wastes were buried with
general refuse, and liquid wastes were discharged into the landfill and onto the ground. Wetlands
near the site drain into Butternut Creek, which eventually discharges into the Flint River. The site is
underlain by two drinking water aquifers. There are 50 residences near the site, and the area around
the site is used for hunting.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The lagoon
subsurface soils showed significant concentrations of lead, PCBs, and VOCs. The
landfill soil is contaminated with lead, chromium, phthalates, and polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs). Heavy metals, including arsenic and lead, have been found in
surface water east of the lagoons. Potential risks may exist for individuals who have
direct contact with or accidentally ingest contaminated groundwater, surface water, or
soil. However, the site is fenced, thereby reducing potential entry by unauthorized
individuals. Wetlands also may be threatened.
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April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in three stages: immediate actions and two long-term remedial phases
focusing on cleanup of the lagoons and cleanup of the landfill and groundwater.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: Under EPA monitoring, the parties potentially responsible for the
contamination installed a fence around the site in 1984.
Lagoons: The EPA selected the following cleanup actions for the lagoons: (-1)
excavation, treatment, and disposal of 4,000 cubic yards of contaminated sludges,
sediments, and soils in an off-site landfill; and (2) extraction, treatment, and disposal of
110,000 gallons of liquid wastes at a licensed treatment facility. The EPA completed the technical
specifications to clean up the lagoon in 1988. Under EPA monitoring, the potentially responsible
parties initiated the cleanup activities in 1988. The work was completed in 1990.
Landfill and Groundwater: The EPA has selected the following actions for cleanup of
the landfill: (1) excavation and off-site incineration of approximately 4,000 drums and
1,000 cubic yards of associated contaminated soils; (2) installation of a containment
system including a cover, a slurry wall, a dewatering system, and a leachate collection system; and
(3) treatment and disposal of collected leachate. The EPA currently is in the process of designing
the technologies to be used in the landfill cleanup work. The groundwater remedy includes: (1)
deed restrictions to prevent the use of the groundwater as a drinking water source; (2) access
restrictions; and (3) groundwater monitoring to ensure that the system is containing the pollutants.
The EPA began monitoring the groundwater in 1989; the State is scheduled to take over the 30-year
monitoring program in 1991. Aspects of soil and continuing groundwater cleanup are in the design
stage. Technologies involved include capping, installing a slurry wall, and groundwater extraction.
Site Facts: The EPA issued an Administrative Order on Consent, requiring the potentially
responsible parties to clean up the lagoons.
Environmental Progress
The installation of a fence, posting of a guard, and the treatment and disposal of sludges, soils, and
liquids in the lagoons have greatly reduced the potential for exposure to contaminated materials at
the Forest Waste Products site while the design and cleanup activities are continuing.
April! 991 74 FOREST WASTE PRODUCTS
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G & H LANDFILL
MICHIGAN
EPAID#MID980410823
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 12
Macomb County
Between Utica and Rochester
The 80-acre G & H Landfill site operated as a waste oil recovery facility from 1955 to 1967 and
as a municipal refuse disposal site until 1974. During operations, large amounts of waste oil
were dumped into two unlined storage ponds. In addition, solvents, paint thinners, and other
compounds were disposed of in "paint pits" located throughout the landfill. The Rochester-Utica
State Recreational Area borders the site, and a series of interconnected shallow ponds formed by
past gravel mining exist in this area. Some of the ponds are contaminated with waste oil and
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Approximately 54,000 people live within 3 miles of the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 07/16/82
Final Date: 09/03/83
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater, surface water, soil, and sediments are contaminated with volatile organic
compounds (VOCs), phthalates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), PCBs, and
heavy metals. People who accidentally touch or ingest contaminated groundwater,
surface water, soil, or sediments may suffer adverse health effects. Residents who use
the off-site ponds for fishing may be harmed through direct contact with or ingestion of
contaminated surface water or fish. In addition, the pollutants may be harmful to wildlife
living in or near the wetlands.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
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April 1991
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Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1982, the EPA installed 18 monitoring wells for groundwater
sampling. A fence was constructed to prevent the recreation area users from coming into
contact with the hazardous waste seeps. Three overflow dams also were installed. When
the oily seeps extended beyond the fenced area, the EPA installed a skimmer to prevent the floating
oils from migrating. In 1983, the EPA installed clay barriers in the path of the seepages to restrict
the movement of PCB-contaminated oil. The existing fence was extended to surround the new
seepages. By 1986, the clay barrier and fence had deteriorated in the swampy areas. The EPA
blocked all recreational vehicle trails with earthen mounds to prevent access to the site. In addition,
a main entrance gate was established, warning signs were posted, and security guards were hired to
discourage trespassers. The EPA also began preparing for the site cleanup by constructing a road
and a barn to contain three storage tanks of recovered wastes. Drains and culverts were constructed
to restrict the flow of PCB-contaminated oil. In 1987, an access road collapsed, blocking the drains
carrying runoff from the site. The drain was cleared, and the roadway was stabilized. In 1988, the
EPA installed a fence around the entire site. A water treatment and leachate collection system also is
being maintained in the oil seep area.
Entire Site: In 1990, the EPA decided to contain the contamination at the landfill by
capping and installing a slurry wall; pumping and treating groundwater outside of the
slurry wall; excavating, consolidating, and capping PCB-contaminated soil outside of the
slurry wall; and providing municipal water connections as needed. Wetlands affected by the site will
be restored. The EPA will design the cleanup approach beginning in the fall 1991.
Environmental Progress
The numerous immediate actions described above have greatly reduced the potential for exposure to
contaminated materials at the G & H Landfill site while final cleanup activities are being planned.
April!991 76 G & H LANDFILL
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GRAND TRAVE
OVERALL SUPPL
COMPANY
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID017418559
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 09
Leelanau County
Greilickville
The Grand Traverse Overall Supply Company (GTOS) site is a commercial laundering facility
covering 1 acre in Greilickville. The facility was built in 1953, and dry-cleaning machines were
installed in 1968 and 1973. The facility no longer is used for dry cleaning, and the machines were
removed in the early 1980s. A dry well was used to collect waste until 1955, but seepage lagoons
were constructed in 1955, 1961, and 1968 and collected wastes until 1977, when the facility began
discharging waste to the sanitary sewer system. In 1978, the Michigan Department of Natural
Resources discovered that groundwater in the area was contaminated with volatile organic
compounds (VOCs). At least 10 wells were found to be contaminated, including a well used by an
elementary school adjacent to the facility. The school and other residences used bottled water until
new wells in a deeper confined aquifer were installed. The contaminated wells were capped when
the new wells were drilled. In the late 1970s, the lagoons on the site were drained and filled with
gravel, and contaminated soils around the dry well and barrels of waste sludge were removed.
Approximately 1,200 people live within 3 miles of the site. The nearest residence is 250 feet south
of the facility. Cedar Lake, Cedar Lake Outlet, and Grand Traverse Bay are all less than 1/4 mile
away from the site. Cedar Lake and Grand Traverse Bay are used for swimming and other
recreational activities.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
IA
VOCs have been found in the groundwater. Lagoon sediments, dry cleaning waste
sludges, soil from the dry well, and wastewater and cooling water potentially are
contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene. Cedar Lake, Cedar
Lake Outlet, and Grand Traverse Bay potentially are contaminated with TCE. People
who have direct contact with or accidentally ingest contaminated groundwater, soil, or
surface water may be at risk. If the contaminated groundwater plume migrates towards
Grand Traverse Bay, the wildlife living in or around the Bay may be exposed to
pollutants. Cooling water and wastewater from the facility were discharged directly into
Cedar Lake Outlet; in 1978, biological organisms in the Outlet were found to be seriously
depleted.
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April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a single long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: Contaminated wells have been replaced by new, deeper wells. In
addition, the lagoons were drained in the late 1970s, and some sludge and contaminated
soils were removed.
Entire Site: In 1988, the EPA began a study to determine the type and extent of the
groundwater, soil, and surface water contamination at the site. Once this study is
completed, scheduled for 1991, the appropriate actions for site cleanup will be selected.
Environmental Progress
Replacement of contaminated wells and removal of contaminated soils have reduced the potential
for exposure to site-related contaminants. After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA performed
preliminary investigations and determined that no other immediate actions were required at the
Grand Traverse Overall Supply site while investigations are taking place and cleanup activities are
being planned.
April! 991 78 GRAND TRAVERSE
OVERALL SUPPLY COMPANY
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GRATIOT COU
GOLF COURSE-
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID980794531
o
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 10
Gratiot County
St. Louis
Other Names:
Edgewood Farms Golf Course Site
Site Description
The Gratiot County Golf Course site covered 3 acres in St. Louis. From 1956 until 1970, the
Michigan Chemical Corporation, later purchased by the Velsicol Chemical Corporation, burned
and disposed of industrial waste, including the pesticide DDT, on the site. Approximately 2,000
to 3,000 gallons of hazardous waste were disposed of on the site. Waste seeped from the site
into the Pine River, which is used for recreational activities. In 1982, Velsicol, under State
supervision, cleaned up the site and agreed to clean up two other sites for which it is potentially
responsible: the Gratiot County Landfill and the Velsicol Plant in St. Louis. Approximately
2,500 people live within 1 mile of the site. About 5,500 people use groundwater for drinking
water within 3 miles of the golf course. Two municipal water wells are located within 3 miles of
the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site was addressed through a
combination of Federal, State, and
potentially responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/01/82
Final Date: 12/01/82
Deleted Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater was contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and
heavy metals. Surface water was contaminated with benzene. All cleanup actions
have been completed, and the site no longer poses a threat to human health or the
environment.
Cleanup Approach
The site was addressed through immediate actions.
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April 1991
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Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: Contaminated sediments were removed to the Velsicol Plant
and disposed of in accordance with the cleanup plan for that site. Additionally,
contaminated groundwater underlying the golf course area is continuous with
contamination at neighboring sites and was addressed as part of their cleanup strategy.
Site Facts: In November 1982, Velsicol agreed to a combined settlement for cleanup of this
site and two others in Michigan, the Gratiot County Landfill and the Velsicol Plant in St. Louis.
Environmental Progress
The immediate actions performed have removed the sources of contamination and eliminated
any potential threats at the site. Site evaluations determined that no additional cleanup work was
required, and the Gratiot County Golf Course site was deleted from the NPL in 1983. The site
continues to be used as a recreational golf course while cleanup actions continue at the related
NPL sites in the area.
April 1991
80
GRATIOT COUNTY GOLF COURSE
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GRATIOT COUNTY
LANDFILL
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID980506281
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 10
Gratiot County
1/2 mile southeast of St Louis
Site Description
The Gratiot County Landfill site covers 40 acres southeast of St. Louis. Prior to 1977, the Michigan
Chemical Corporation (later purchased by Velsicol Chemical Corporation) disposed of various plant
wastes, including 269,000 pounds of polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), at the landfill. The landfill
also accepted general refuse. In 1977, the State discovered elevated levels of contaminants in
shallow aquifers and in several nearby ponds. In addition, the State learned that in at least one,
possibly two, places the wastes were in direct contact with the immediately underlying aquifer. The
potential existed for contamination of the deeper aquifers supplying drinking water for the region.
Approximately 5,300 people live within 3 miles of the landfill; about 1,500 people are located within
a mile. Municipal water wells serving 4,100 people are located within 3 miles of the site. The Pine
River is located approximately 1 1/2 miles west of the site.
Site Responsibility:
The site is being addressed through a
combination of Federal, State, and
potentially responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/22/81
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater and surface water contain PBBs. Potential health risks include accidental
ingestion or direct contact with contaminated groundwater and surface water.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in a single long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
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April 1991
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Response Action Status
Entire Site: Between 1977 and 1980, various hydrogeological studies were performed at
the site. Based on these studies, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR)
prepared an Environmental Impact Assessment and developed alternatives for cleanup of
the site. A remedy for the site was selected in 1981, and in 1984, the State, with Velsicol Chemical
Corporation, took action to minimize the migration of contaminants from the landfill. This included
regrading the surface to direct runoff from the landfill area, covering the waste with clay to prevent
rainwater from coming into contact with the buried wastes, and constructing a slurry wall along the
property boundary to contain contaminated groundwater. A groundwater purge system was
constructed and a 5-acre evapo-transpiration bed was installed to dispose of water from the purge
wells. However, the groundwater purge system was never used. In 1989, the State began an
investigation to determine the effectiveness of the slurry wall in stopping the migration of
groundwater and contaminants from the landfill. The results of the investigation, expected in 1992,
will determine if additional cleanup activities are necessary.
Site Facts: In November 1982, Velsicol agreed to a combined settlement for cleanup of this site
and two others in Michigan, the Gratiot County Golf Course and the Velsicol Plant in St. Louis.
Environmental Progress
The surface regrading, covering of the waste, and construction of a slurry wall have reduced the
potential for exposure to hazardous materials at the Gratiot County Landfill while studies are taking
place to determine whether further cleanup activities will be required.
April 1991 82 GRATIOT COUNTY LANDFILL
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H. BROWN CO., I
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID017075136
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 09
Kent County
Grand Rapids
Walker
Site Description
The 3 1/2-acre H. Brown Co., Inc. site is an active automobile and forklift battery recycling facility.
The site and surrounding area may have been used as a municipal waste disposal landfill before the
H. Brown Company began operations on the property in 1961. Initially, the company's operations
involved buying, dismantling, processing, and selling scrap metal and junk. Later, the company
focused on reclaiming lead from used batteries. Until 1978, the lead reclamation process involved
dismantling batteries and draining battery acid onto an area of the site. Between 1961 and 1978,
170,000 to 460,000 gallons of battery acid may have been drained. The company discontinued its
lead reclamation activities in 1982, but continues to collect used batteries and sell them to other
businesses. Responding to a request by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR),
the company installed liquid collection pans and stainless steel storage tanks on the site in 1978 to
collect and contain drummed battery acids instead of draining them on the ground. Acid that was
stored in the tanks later was taken to an off-site facility for disposal. Surface water from the site
drains through a ditch to a wetland, which then empties into the Grand River 1/4 mile east of the
site. Approximately 3,000 people live within a 3-mile radius of the site. The source of municipal
water is Lake Michigan, with supplementary water drawn from the Grand River each summer. The
site and surrounding properties are in the flood plain of the Grand River.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
IMPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 04/10/85
Final Date: 06/10/86
Threats and Contaminants
Lead and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are contaminating the air, groundwater, and
soil. Wastewaters on the property contain heavy metals including copper, nickel, lead,
and chromium. Potential health threats include accidentally ingesting or coming in direct
contact with contaminated groundwater, soil, or wastewater or breathing contaminated air.
The Grand River and nearby wetlands are threatened by contaminants from the site.
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April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two phases: interim actions and a single long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Interim Actions: In spring 1991, the EPA took measures to limit the scattering of dust
from surface soils and fenced the property to the south of the facility to limit access to the
area where soils are contaminated with lead.
Entire Site: The EPA initiated an investigation in 1988 to determine the extent of
contamination at the site and to identify alternative cleanup remedies. The investigation is
scheduled to be completed in late 1991.
Environmental Progress
Interim actions to control dust disturbance and area access have reduced the potential for exposure to
contaminated materials while the EPA continues its investigation and identifies cleanup alternatives
for the H. Brown Company, Inc. site.
April 1991 84 H. BROWN CO., INC.
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HEDBLUM INDUS
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID980794408
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 11
losco County
Near Oscoda
Site Description
The Hedblum Industries site is situated on 10 acres in a mixed-use, industrial, and residential area
near Oscoda. From 1958 through 1985, the site was leased to a series of industrial firms that
manufactured automobile parts. The Hedblum Industries site first came to the attention of the
Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) Water Quality Division during a routine
inspection of the facility in 1972. At that time, Thompson Industries was engaged in the assembly of
anti-rattling devices for the automotive industry. Cooling and rinse waters were discharged from the
plant directly onto the ground. The MDNR received a complaint from a resident near the plant
regarding a contaminated well in 1973. During another inspection, the MDNR was informed that
every 2 weeks from 1968 to 1972, Thompson had dumped approximately 40 gallons of
trichloroethylene (TCE) from a degreaser onto the ground. The State estimates that 4,000 gallons of
TCE were dumped over this 4-year period. Samples from several residential wells indicated that two
of them were contaminated with TCE. As a result, the State recommended that local residents not
use their wells. The affected residents replaced their contaminated wells with deeper ones in an
attempt to tap an uncontaminated water supply. Two more wells that were found to be contaminated
in the Au Sable Heights area in 1975 were replaced with deeper ones. In 1977, the local health
department received a complaint about a strong odor from one of the replacement wells, and
sampling indicated that the well also had become contaminated with TCE. By 1978, Oscoda had
extended water lines into the Au Sable Heights subdivision and began providing an alternate water
supply to the subdivision. Some property owners in the subdivision elected not to be connected to
the Oscoda water system. The Oscoda County Health Department continued to assess conditions at
the site and sampled liquids contained in an underground storage tank near the northeastern side of
the site in 1980. In 1981, the State installed seven monitoring wells, determined that the
groundwater flow beneath the site was to the northeast, and confirmed solvent contamination. In
1985, the Hedblum Industries property was purchased by Aircraft Tool Supply, which currently
produces aircraft parts at the site. The population of the area is approximately 13,700. The closest
residence is about 350 feet from the site. An industrial park is located less than a mile north of the
site. Most of the population of the towns of Oscoda and Au Sable live within a 3-mile radius of the
site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
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April 1991
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Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater and soil are contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
including TCE. Surface waters of the bayou northeast of the Au Sable Heights
subdivision are contaminated with VOCs including TCE and vinyl chloride. Residents of
Au Sable Heights who use private wells may be exposed to contaminants when drinking
or using groundwater. Sampling of residential wells in 1990 found no VOC contaminants
above detection limits. Since groundwater flow from the site is to the northeast in the
direction of the bayou, area residents who fish there may be exposed to site-related
contaminants when coming into direct contact with surface water and sediments.
Contaminants could migrate into the Au Sable River through sediments and surface
waters of the bayou and a creek that feeds into the river.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in a single long-term remedial phase directed at cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Entire Site: After a careful evaluation of several alternatives, the EPA chose the
following methods to address site contamination in 1989: (1) extraction and treatment of
contaminated groundwater; (2) monitoring of groundwater in the Au Sable Heights
subdivision during groundwater treatment; (3) abandonment of six groundwater monitoring wells;
and (4) collection and analysis of on-site soil samples. A potentially responsible party began
designing the groundwater treatment system in 1990. The design of the cleanup technologies is
scheduled for completion in 1991, at which time site cleanup will begin.
Environmental Progress
The EPA has selected the technologies for the cleanup of the Hedblum Industries site, and the
potentially responsible parties are designing the treatment methods. While these activities are taking
place, the EPA has determined that the site poses no immediate danger to the surrounding
communities or the environment.
April 1991 86 HEDBLUM INDUSTRIES
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HI-MILL
MANUFACTU
COMPANY
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID005341714
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 19
Oakland County
Highland Township
The Hi-Mill Manufacturing site is located on 2 1/2 acres in a sparsely populated area approximately
1 1/2 miles from the town of Highland. The Hi-Mill Manufacturing Company began making tubular
aluminum, brass, and copper parts in 1946. Operations at Hi-Mill consisted of two main processes:
anodizing, a process used to brighten metals, and degreasing, a process to clean them. Metals were
bathed in tanks containing acids that were periodically emptied into a clay-lined lagoon. The
Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) received complaints from Hi-Mill employees
of the potential contamination of the plant's drinking water supply in 1972, and subsequent sampling
of on-site wells and an adjacent marsh detected contamination from heavy metals. In 1976, Hi-Mill
built a second, smaller lagoon south of the original lagoon to contain overflow. On two separate
occasions in 1976 and 1977, the big lagoon overflowed into the marsh bordering the site. Hi-Mill
applied for a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit (NPDES) to cover such
overflows. The EPA did not concur with a permit being issued to Hi-Mill by the State. As a result,
the MDNR ordered the company to stop discharging untreated wastewaters into the lagoon and
requested that Hi-Mill design a wastewater recycling program. Although the firm implemented the
recycling system in 1981, the already contaminated lagoons remained a problem, and Hi-Mill filled
in the small lagoon in 1983. In an attempt to clean up the big lagoon, liquid was evaporated in the
lagoon using a spray evaporation technique. Particles were carried by the wind and deposited
downwind of the plant onto State land around Waterbury Lake. The MDNR ordered Hi-Mill to stop
this practice in 1983. The immediate area surrounding the site is sparsely populated and rural. The
nearest homes are located approximately 2,000 feet southeast of the site, along Waterbury Road.
Approximately 13,600 people obtain drinking water from private wells within 3 miles of the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through a
combination of Federal, State, and
potentially responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/24/88
Final Date: 02/21/90
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April 1991
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Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater downgradient of the site contains heavy metals and volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) including trichloroethylene (TCE), dichloroethane (DCE), and vinyl
chloride. Lagoon water, sludge, and pickling waste resulting from anodizing activities
are contaminated with heavy metals. Sediments and surface water in Waterbury Lake
and nearby wetlands are suspected to be contaminated with heavy metals. Area residents
or workers at the Hi-Mill plant may be exposed to contaminants when drinking or using
contaminated groundwater. Individuals who frequent the Highland State Recreation
Area, Waterbury Lake, or the marshy area adjacent to the site could be exposed to site-
related pollutants when coming into direct contact with contaminated sediments and
surface water or by consuming fish in which contaminants have bioaccumulated.
Contaminants that have migrated into the wetlands and Waterbury Lake could adversely
affect the vegetation and wildlife of these environmentally sensitive areas.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: Hi-Mill, under MDNR supervision, removed 142 cubic yards of
contaminated soil, 34,400 gallons of contaminated sludge, and 63,300 gallons of
contaminated water from the big lagoon. Hi-Mill filled in the lagoon with sand and clay.
A new well was installed on site in 1989 to provide Hi-Mill employees with safe drinking water.
Before the new well was hooked up, Hi-Mill provided its employees with bottled water.
Entire Site: The Hi-Mill Manufacturing Company, under monitoring by the EPA and the
MDNR, began conducting a long-term study to determine the nature and extent of
contamination at the site in 1989. The study is expected to be completed in 1992. Based
on the results of this study, the most effective cleanup methods will be selected by the EPA.
Site Facts: A Consent Order was signed in 1988 between Hi-Mill and the EPA, requiring the
company to conduct a long-term study of site contamination.
Environmental Progress
The initial cleanup performed by the Hi-Mill Manufacturing Company helped to reduce the spread
of contamination and the possibility of direct contact with hazardous materials at the site while
studies are being conducted to determine the most appropriate final cleanup methods for the site.
April 1991 88 HI-MILL MANUFACTURING COMPANY
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IONIA CITY LANDFI
MICHIGAN
EPAID#MID980794416
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 05
Ionia County
Ionia
The Ionia City Landfill site is a former landfill covering 20 acres in Ionia. From the 1930s until it
closed in 1969, the City owned and operated the site for the disposal of municipal wastes. Although
closed, wastes continued to be periodically disposed at the site through the early 1970s. A portion of
the site later became a recreational area. In 1981, citizen concerns led to an investigation that
discovered drums, both buried and on the surface of the landfill. Some drums were in the flood plain
of the Grand River. An unknown number of drums are buried in an area approximately 1/3 acre in
size, located in the north central portion of the site. In 1981, the State excavated about 100 drums,
many containing industrial liquids and some leaking. The city placed snow fences around the
excavated drums. Approximately 6,000 people live within 1 mile of the site, and the nearest
residence is about 50 feet away. The municipal well field is about 1 mile northwest of the site. A
recreational park is located across the street from the landfill, and a tributary to the Grand River
forms the eastern boundary of the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
Heavy metals, including chromium, barium, and lead, were found in soil. Groundwater is
contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including vinyl chloride and the
heavy metal chromium. People who come in direct contact with or accidentally ingest
contaminated groundwater or soil may be at risk. The contamination at the site may harm
wildlife living in or around the area.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the sources of contamination at the site.
89
April 1991
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Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1985, the parties potentially responsible for site contamination
constructed a security fence around the site, removed exposed surface drums, and posted
warning signs. A partial clay covering was installed to prevent rainwater from coming
into contact with buried wastes and to prevent contaminants from migrating off the site.
Source Control: In 1989, the EPA selected a remedy to clean up the site using in-situ
vitrification (ISV). ISV melts the waste material and contaminated soils with an electric
current to destroy, remove, or permanently immobilize hazardous substances. The
potentially responsible parties currently are designing the technical specifications for the ISV to
meet performance criteria established by the EPA. Testing of the design technology is scheduled for
completion in 1992.
Site Facts: The EPA expects to initiate an additional cleanup phase at the Ionia City Landfill to
address cleanup of contaminated groundwater.
Environmental Progress
By constructing a security fence to restrict access to the Ionia City Landfill site and removing the
exposed contaminated drums, the potential for exposure to hazardous materials has been reduced.
The selected source control remedy for the site currently is in the design phase, with the cleanup
activities scheduled to begin in 1992.
April! 991 90 IONIA CITY LANDFILL
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J & L LANDFILL
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID980609440
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 12
Oakland County
Rochester Hills
Other Names:
Avon Township Landfill
Site Description
The J & L Landfill covers approximately 17 acres in Rochester Hills. From 1951 to 1980,
approximately 1 1/2 million cubic feet of wastes were buried at the site at depths of up to 25 feet.
Wastes included dusts from emission control devices in electric furnaces and alkaline slag from
electric furnaces involved in stainless steel production. The landfill has no liner and is located in an
area consisting of layers of sand and gravel extending between 18 and 35 feet below the surface.
These materials facilitate the movement of contaminants into the groundwater. The area
surrounding the landfill is residential and light industrial. Ten operating or closed disposal facilities
are located in the vicinity. Approximately 1,500 people live within a mile of the site, with the
nearest residence about 200 feet away. Some of these residents depend on shallow wells, and the
nearest drinking water well is less than 2,000 feet from the landfill. Ladd Drain borders the site and
flows into the Clinton River. The river flows through the Rochester-Utica Recreation Area less than
1 mile from the landfill.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/10/86
Final Date: 03/31/89
Threats and Contaminants
7
The emission control waste dusts at the landfill are contaminated with heavy metals
including manganese, chromium, and nickel. People could be exposed to contaminants
in the dusts. Groundwater contamination is a significant threat, because it is very
shallow and potentially can come into direct contact with the wastes.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in a single long-term remedial phase focusing on the cleanup of the entire
site.
91
April 1991
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Response Action Status
Entire Site: Many of the residents using the shallow wells as a drinking water source
have received hook-ups to the city water supply. The EPA is conducting an investigation
to determine the type and extent of contamination at the landfill. During this process, the
EPA is thoroughly sampling and testing the groundwater, soil, surface water, and sediments in Ladd
Drain. Once the investigation is completed, scheduled for 1992, the EPA will select final measures
to clean up the site.
Environmental Progress
After listing the J & L Landfill site on the NPL, the EPA determined from preliminary evaluations
that the site does not pose an immediate threat to the surrounding community or the environment
while the investigations leading to the selection of a final site remedy are taking place.
April 1991
92
J & L LANDFILL
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K & L AVENUE
LANDFILL
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID980506463
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 03
Kalamazoo County
Oshtemo Township
7 miles west of downtown Kalamazoo
Other Names:
West KL Avenue Landfill
Kalamazoo KL Landfill
Kalamazoo County Landfill
Oshtemo Township Landfill
The K & L Avenue Landfill is a former sanitary landfill covering 87 acres in Oshtemo Township.
The site served as a local garbage dump for the township from the 1960s until 1968, when it became
the county sanitary landfill. Approximately 5 million cubic yards of solid waste were disposed of at
the site. The landfill was closed in 1979, after contaminants were found in residential wells. The
County provided bottled water to the affected residences and covered about 5 acres of the landfill to
prevent the migration of contaminants. In 1980, 36 homes were connected to a new water main, and
in 1981, ten deeper wells were installed to replace eight existing contaminated wells. Approximately
11,000 people live within 3 miles of the landfill. The area surrounding the site is rural residential.
The nearest residence is adjacent to the site. The landfill is about 200 feet southwest of Bonnie
Castle Lake and one mile east of Dustin Lake. Both bodies of water are used for recreation,
including fishing.
Site Responsibility:
The site is being addressed through
Federal and County actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), phenols, and
heavy metals. Soil in isolated areas shows low levels of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)
contamination. All affected water wells have been replaced with deeper wells that draw
from the lower, uncontaminated aquifer or with city water lines. Therefore, the
groundwater presently poses little or no threat to human health.
93
April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a single long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: The County of Kalamazoo installed new wells or provided connections
to a public water supply in 1980 and 1981 to residences affected by contaminants from the
landfill.
Entire site: The EPA completed an investigation to determine the type and extent of
contamination at the site. In 1990, the EPA selected cleanup activities consisting of
continued monitoring of groundwater, surface water, and air; deed restrictions on the use
of the shallow aquifer as a drinking water source; groundwater extraction and treatment by enhanced
bioremediation; discharge of the treated groundwater back into the aquifer or an infiltration pond;
fencing of the site; deed restrictions on the construction of buildings on the site or adjacent to the
site; capping of the landfill; and the installation and monitoring of gas vents throughout the landfill.
The engineering design of this remedy is expected to begin in 1992.
Environmental Progress
The replacement of contaminated water supplies is protecting nearby residents from site-related
contaminants at the K & L Avenue Landfill while the selected cleanup activities are being planned.
ApriM991 94 K & L AVENUE LANDFILL
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KAYDON
CORPORATIO
MICHIGAN
EPAID#MID006016703
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 09
Muskegon County
Muskegon
The Kaydon Corporation has manufactured various bearings and bearing assemblies at this 40-acre
site since 1941. Wastewater and sludges from plant processes were disposed of on site in seven
unlined pits and in the south branch of Ruddiman Creek. In 1968, Kaydon began separating wastes;
now only cooling water is discharged into the creek. The process wastes are removed by waste
haulers and are placed in lined settling ponds to settle out the sludge prior to discharge to a sanitary
sewer. The pond sludge periodically is removed to a federally approved facility for disposal.
Approximately 5,000 people live within a mile of the site. The closest residence is 250 feet away.
Although 700 people obtain drinking water from private wells within 3 miles, the majority of the
homes in the area are connected to the municipal water supply, which uses Lake Michigan as its
source. Several residences within 1 mile of the site have private wells, but only one residence used a
well as a potable water supply. Ruddiman Creek flows into Muskegon Lake, and eventually, into
Lake Michigan. All of these bodies of water are used for recreational activities.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/24/88
Final Date: 02/21/90
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), cyanide, and
heavy metals such as chromium and lead. Soil and sludge contained heavy metals
including chromium, copper, nickel, lead, and zinc. People who came in direct contact
with or accidentally ingested the contaminated soil, sludges, or groundwater may have
been at risk.
95
April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1986, Kaydon conducted a hydrological study to determine the
extent of groundwater contamination, removed 1,500 cubic yards of contaminated soil and
sludge, and disposed of them in a federally approved facility. The excavated area was
backfilled with clean sand, graded to conform to existing land contours, and seeded.
Entire Site: In 1988, Kaydon installed two purge wells that discharge directly to the
publicly owned treatment works. The wells will continue to operate until groundwater
standards are reached. A performance evaluation is being conducted.
Site Facts: Site activities and cleanup actions have been performed voluntarily by the Kaydon
Corporation.
Environmental Progress
The removal of contaminated soil and sludge and the installation of purge wells have reduced the
potential for exposure to contaminated materials at the Kaydon Corporation site. The operation of
the purge wells will continue to ensure the safety of nearby residents and the environment.
April 1991 96 KAYDON CORPORATION
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Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: The EPA investigated the site in 1989 and did not find
contamination. Monitoring by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR)
has found no contamination in monitoring wells, municipal wells, or private wells in the
area. The EPA is evaluating the site for deletion from the NPL.
Environmental Progress
After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA performed further inspections of the Kent City Mobile
Home Park site and found no contamination in any of the wells in the surrounding area. The site no
longer poses a threat to human health or the environment.
April 1991
98
KENTCITY MOBILE HOME PARK
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KENTWOOD LAND
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID000260281
o
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 05
Kent County
Kentwood
Other Names:
Kent County Landfill
Site Description
The 55-acre Kentwood Landfill site originated as the Paris Township dump in the early 1950s and
lies within a 72-acre parcel of land in Kentwood. Refuse was dumped into ravines at the landfill and
was burned. In 1966, the dump was licensed as a solid waste disposal facility; however, the license
stipulated that the refuse be covered daily and that burning cease. The site was inspected in late
1966, and surface seeps of leachate, open burning, and disposal of liquid factory wastes were found.
The license was transferred to the City of Kentwood in 1968, and this license stipulated the site be
operated as a sanitary landfill or closed. In 1969, the landfill was being operated as an open dump in
violation of State law. In 1971, the Kent County Department of Public Works (KCDPW) obtained a
license, took over operation of the site, and designed it as an engineered landfill. On many
occasions, leachate was observed seeping from the landfill into nearby Plaster Creek. In 1975, the
KCDPW obtained a license to operate an additional landfill, southeast of the original landfill. The
County covered both the original and the new landfill with clay and sand in 1975 and 1976 to
prevent rainwater from coming into contact with the buried wastes. The entire landfill was closed in
1976. Approximately 22 residences are in the immediate area near the landfill. These residences
obtain their drinking water supply from the groundwater in the area surrounding the site. The City
of Kentwood obtains drinking water from a municipal water supply system tapping Lake Michigan.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, County, and municipal actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater, soil, and leachate are contaminated with volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) and heavy metals such as arsenic and nickel. People who come in direct contact
with or accidentally ingest the contaminated groundwater, soil, or leachate may suffer
adverse health effects. If the leachate continues to seep from the landfill, soil, surface
water, and sediments in Plaster Creek may become contaminated and pose a threat to
human health and the environment.
99
April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in a single long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
Response Action Status
Entire Site: The City of Kentwood and Kent County, under EPA monitoring, conducted
an investigation to determine the type and extent of contamination at the landfill. The
groundwater, soil, surface water, and sediments of Plaster Creek were sampled and tested.
In early 1991, the EPA selected a remedy, which includes capping the landfill, incorporating a gas
venting and leachate collection system into the cap, groundwater extraction and treatment at a local
wastewater treatment facility, groundwater use restrictions, and the construction of a leachate
extraction system.
Site Facts: In 1985, the City of Kentwood and Kent County signed an Administrative Order on
Consent to conduct a study of the site.
Environmental Progress
After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary investigations and determined that
no immediate actions were required at the Kentwood Landfill site while cleanup activities are taking
place.
April 1991 100 KENTWOOD LANDFILL
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KYSOR INDUS!
CORPORATION-
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID043681840
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 10
Wexford County
Cadillac
Other Names:
Kysor Cadillac
Q
The Kysor Industrial Corp. site covers approximately 1/10 acre in the Cadillac Industrial Park. The
park consists of about 40 industrial facilities, two of which are NPL sites, Kysor and the
Northernaire Plating Company. Kysor Industrial manufactures temperature control systems for the
automotive industry, using a process involving stamping and machining metal pans. Prior to 1979,
665 cubic yards of liquid/sludge wastes containing solvents were disposed of in unlined earthen pits
on the site. Sampling in 1980 found the groundwater to be contaminated with volatile organic
compounds (VOCs). In 1981, Kysor excavated and removed 700 cubic yards of contaminated soil.
The excavated areas were backfilled with clean material. All residences with affected and
potentially affected water supplies were connected to the municipal water supply. Additional
sampling in 1983 showed that the soils still were contaminated. The second NPL site, Northernaire,
also has contaminated soil and groundwater. The groundwater plumes have intermingled, so that the
groundwater under both sites is contaminated with elements from Northernaire and Kysor.
Approximately 10,800 people live within 3 miles of the site; about 5,000 live within a mile. The
Cadillac area municipal well field is 2,500 feet northeast of the facility. Lake Cadillac is 3,500 feet
away and the Clam River is within 5,000 feet. Both of these bodies of water are used for
recreational activities, including fishing. For additional information, please see the separate listing
for Northernaire Plating Company.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 09/18/85
Final Date: 10/04/89
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater contains VOCs including trichloroethylene (TCE), chloroform, toluene, and
ethyl benzene, as well as hexavalent chromium. Soil is contaminated with VOCs, heavy
metals, and phenol. People may be exposed to pollutants by accidentally ingesting or
coming into direct contact with contaminated groundwater or soil.
101
April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in a single long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
Response Action Status
Entire Site: Because the groundwater has intermingled, the cleanup addresses both the
Kysor and Northernaire sites. In 1989, the EPA selected a remedy to clean the sites by
constructing a groundwater extraction and treatment system. This system will consist of a
number of extraction wells strategically located to intercept the contaminated groundwater. An
underground piping system will connect the extraction wells and transport the extracted groundwater
to the treatment facility, where it will be treated by air stripping. The contaminants will be removed
from the water by forcing air through it, causing the compounds to evaporate. The groundwater also
will be treated with a carbon adsorption treatment system to remove hexavalent chromium. The
treated groundwater will be discharged into the Clam River. In addition, a vapor extraction system
will be installed. The contaminants will be extracted by blowing clean air on the soil, which forces
the contaminants out into a gas. The gases are further treated before release into the atmosphere. A
fence will be constructed around the Kysor site to prevent trespassing. Appropriate action also will
be taken to ensure that current or future landowners do not use the contaminated groundwater
aquifers as a source of drinking water. The parties potentially responsible for the site contamination
have completed a pilot test of the selected remedies and are designing the technical specifications for
the cleanup at the site under EPA monitoring. After the completion of the design phase, scheduled
for 1992, the planned cleanup activities will begin.
Environmental Progress
After adding the site to the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary investigations and determined that
no immediate actions were required at the Kysor Industrial site while it awaits final cleanup.
April1991 102 KYSOR INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION
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LIQUID DISPOS
MICHIGAN
EPAID#MID067340711
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 12
Macomb County
Shelby Township
The Liquid Disposal, Inc. (LDI) site covers approximately 7 acres in Shelby Township between
Utica and Rochester. Prior to 1964, the LDI site area was used as a sand and gravel pit. Landfilling
began in 1964. LDI began commercial incinerator operations at the site in 1968. The incinerators
were designed for handling volatiles and semi-volatiles, including paint thinners, sludges,
contaminated oils and greases, and any other liquid industrial wastes that did not contain chromium
or cyanide. However, LDI did accept wastes containing these contaminants. Wastes were stored in
a lagoon, underground and aboveground tanks, and numerous types of drums before incineration. A
scrubber lagoon was used for incineration ash and stormwater runoff. LDI operated for 14 years and
was cited for numerous violations, including fires and improper storage. LDI ceased operations and
was permanently closed in 1982 after two people were killed in an industrial accident. Currently,
old incinerator parts, emptied tanks, wooden pallets, miscellaneous containers, and other debris
remain on site. The lagoons' contents have been removed or stabilized, and virtually all storage
tanks and containers have been removed. A crude leachate collection system along the eastern side
of the site is operational, with a sump pump circulating accumulated liquids back into the incinerator
pit. The incinerator pit also continues to collect water from surface drainage and subsurface
seepage. The Rochester-Utica State Recreational Area and the G & H Landfill NPL site are about a
mile away from the Liquid Disposal site. The site is surrounded by wetlands, the Clinton River, and
the Shadbush Tract Native Study Area. Approximately 54,000 people reside in the rural area within
3 miles of the site. The local drinking water for 3,500 people comes from ground water sources.
About 3,200 people live within a mile of the site, with the nearest residence situated about 1,300 feet
away.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 07/16/82
Final Dale: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and heavy
metals. The soil contains VOCs, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pesticides,
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and heavy metals. Stored contaminants are a fire or
explosion hazard. Direct contact with or accidental ingestion of contaminated
groundwater, soil, or leachate could pose a health threat as well.
103
April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: The EPA responded to an accidental spill of hazardous waste
chemicals in 1982 by shutting off equipment and performing initial cleanup actions. In
1982, heavy rains caused the lagoon level to rise above the liner, causing liquid to seep
through the wall and threatening the stability of the dike that had been built around it. The EPA
removed the PCB-contaminated soils outside the facility and secured them in another facility,
lowered the lagoon level 2 feet from the top of the liner, and removed the oily layer. The waste was
stored on site. Liquid was pumped from the incinerator pit, and the clay barrier preventing dike
seepage from reaching the Clinton River was repaired. The dikes were regraded and repaired, and
the tanks of flammable chemicals were secured. In 1983, the EPA drained the lagoons, removed
sludge, capped the lagoons, and overpacked the drums. The waste oil lagoon caught fire during the
solidification process, and as a result, 500 nearby residents were evacuated. Approximately
1,800,000 gallons of liquid and 2,800 cubic yards of sludges were removed from the waste oil
lagoons. The EPA removed all the ash piles and backfilled and capped the waste oil lagoon. Eleven
15-gallon packs of acids and isocyanate also were disposed of. In 1985, the EPA removed 100,000
gallons of flammable liquids. All the underground tanks were uncovered, opened, and cleaned.
Approximately 200 drums were incinerated or landfilled in early 1986. Several hundred sample jars
of hazardous material were removed in 1990.
Entire Site: Based on the results of the site investigation by the Michigan Department of
Natural Resources, the EPA selected the following methods for long-term cleanup at the
site: (1) on-site disposal of existing debris and equipment; (2) on-site solidification and
fixation of soil and waste; (3) pump and treatment of groundwater using air stripping and ion
exchange, with discharge of the treated groundwater into the Clinton River; and (4) construction of a
slurry wall and impermeable cap containment system. The design of the technical specifications is
underway, and cleanup of the site is expected to begin in early 1992. All cleanup actions are
expected to be completed by 1994.
Site Facts: In February 1982, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), rejected
LDI's application for a toxic waste handling permit. In April 1982, LDI was forced into involuntary
bankruptcy. The company closed permanently in May 1982.
Environmental Progress
Removal of contaminated materials and repair of dikes on the LDI site, along with the fencing
around the site, have reduced the potential for contact with hazardous materials while the design of
cleanup actions is taking place and final site cleanup strategies ar^ being planned.
April 1991 104 LIQUID DISPOSAL, INC.
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MASON
LANDFILL
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID980794465
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 09
Mason County
Pere Marquette Township
3 miles south of Ludington
The Mason County Landfill site comprises 10 acres of an 18-acre parcel of land and is located 3
miles south of the town of Ludington in Pere Marquette Township. The landfill was operated by
Acme Disposal for Mason County from 1972 through 1978 and accepted general refuse, garbage,
industrial refuse, liquids, sludges, and industrial wastes. Acme Disposal was ordered to install
additional groundwater wells on the site in 1978. Mason County covered the landfill with 2 feet of
clay in 1979. Afterward, the site and adjacent land eroded and may have polluted groundwater and
nearby Iris Creek. Two years after the landfill ceased to operate, nearby residents voiced concerns
over water quality in Iris Creek. As a result, a plan was drafted by the Michigan Department of
Natural Resources (MDNR) and the Mason County Department of Public Works (DPW) to control
drainage, vent landfill gas, and monitor groundwater quality. The landfill is a mile east of Lake
Michigan. A wetlands located less than 500 feet from the landfill drains into Babbin Pond, the
headwaters of Iris Creek. The area surrounding the site is primarily rural, with a population of
approximately 1,100 people within a 1/2-mile radius of the site who obtain drinking water from
private wells. Twelve residential wells are located within 3 miles of the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through a
combination of Federal, State, and
County actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
Air located in the landfill gas vents is contaminated with volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) including vinyl chloride and benzene. Off-site groundwater in the monitoring
wells contains VOCs and heavy metals including sodium and lead. Sediments are
contaminated with arsenic. Soils, including those in the clay cap, are contaminated with
lead and arsenic. Heavy metals are found in Iris Creek. Trespassers on site could be
exposed to health risks through direct contact with contaminated soils and inhalation of
airborne materials. Private wells could be contaminated by pollutants moving in the
groundwater, exposing residents who use the water to possible adverse health effects.
People or wildlife may come in contact with contaminants that enter surface water and
wetlands.
105
April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in three stages: immediate actions and two long-term remedial phases
directed at cleanup of the landfill portion of the site and cleanup of the groundwater.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1983 and 1984, Mason County covered the landfill with clay,
graded the land so that it was terraced, constructed storm drains, installed two surface units
in Babbin Pond to allow air into it, and placed 15 gas vents on the top of the landfill.
Landfill: The long-term cleanup action chosen by the EPA in 1989 to address the landfill
portion of the site includes: (1) covering the landfill with soil and clay according to
Federal hazardous waste management regulations; (2) constructing a fence around the
perimeter of the site; (3) placing deed restrictions on and near the site to prohibit the use of shallow
groundwater; and (4) continued monitoring of groundwater to aid in the long-term cleanup action for
the groundwater and to monitor the effectiveness of the clay and soil cover. Construction of the
clay/soil cap has begun and is expected to be completed in mid-1991. All cleanup activities are
expected to be completed by 1993.
Groundwater: The EPA is conducting an investigation into the nature and extent of
groundwater contamination and the most effective methods of treatment. This study is
expected to be completed in 1994, at which time cleanup alternatives will be
recommended.
Site Facts: In 1978, Acme was ordered by the State to install additional monitoring wells, analyze
water samples, and survey the site. A Consent Order subsequently was issued to cover the items that
remained to be completed when Acme ceased to operate at the site in 1978. In 1981 and 1982,
residents filed two suits against the County and Acme. The suits were settled when Mason County
agreed to purchase both properties.
Environmental Progress
Covering the landfill, grading the land, constructing storm drains, and venting Babbin Pond and the
landfill have significantly reduced the potential for exposure to contaminants at the Mason County
Landfill while final cleanup activities are being planned and enacted.
April 1991 106 MASON COUNTY LANDFILL
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MCGRAW EDIS
CORP.
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID005339676
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 03
Calhoun County
Albion
Other Names:
McGraw-Edison Air Comfort Division
The McGraw Edison Corp. site covers 24 acres in Albion. The company manufactured air
conditioners, humidifiers, and similar equipment from 1958 to 1980. From 1970 to 1980,15,000
gallons of stillbottoms (an oil waste) contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE) were spread on the
site's roads to control dust. As a result, TCE has been found in two on-site wells and in 45 nearby
residential wells. The Albion municipal wells also show TCE contamination. Extensive soil
contamination also was detected. The plant closed in 1980, and the site is completely restricted.
McGraw Edison was sold to Cooper Industries in 1985. Approximately 11,000 people reside within
3 miles of the site. Residents in the area depend on both municipal wells and private wells for
drinking water. The Kalamazoo River is located one half mile from the site, receives discharge from
groundwater purge wells, and is used for recreational activities such as swimming and fishing.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater, stream sediments, surface water, and soils are contaminated with TCE.
People may be exposed to site-related contaminants if they breathe airborne materials or
ingest or come in direct contact with polluted groundwater, surface water, soils, or stream
sediments. Air quality controls have been established to eliminate the potential for air
contamination.
107
April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in three stages: immediate actions and two long-term remedial phases
focusing on cleanup of the entire site and cleanup of the soil.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: Affected residences were supplied with bottled water and later
were connected to the municipal water supply by McGraw Edison. The potentially
responsible party removed and disposed of approximately 6,100 cubic yards of
contaminated soils in an approved hazardous waste facility.
Entire Site: A deep aquifer groundwater recovery well has been operating on site since
1984. Contaminated groundwater is being treated with an air stripper. The groundwater
treatment system for the shallow aquifer consists of 28 purge wells and a carbon
adsorption tank. The wells have been constructed and the system is operational. Treated
groundwater is being discharged, under a Federal permit, into the Kalamazoo River. Groundwater
monitoring began in 1990 and will last for 40 years.
Soil: Areas of soil containing greater than 10 parts per billion (ppb) of TCE still remain
on site and will be cleaned up during this long-term soil phase. The selected remedy for
soil cleanup is to flush contaminants from the soil into the shallow aquifer so contaminants
can be recovered in the groundwater purge system. The system, including the temporary receiving
ponds, has been constructed and is awaiting a State discharge permit.
Site Facts: The cleanup of this site falls under the 1984 Consent Decree signed with McGraw
Edison. Since the facility's purchase by Cooper Industries, Cooper has re-evaluated and completed
the site studies and has assumed responsibility for the site cleanup.
Environmental Progress
By supplying affected residences with a safe drinking water supply and removing much of the
contaminated soil, the potential for direct exposure to hazardous materials at the McGraw Edison
site has been significantly reduced. The final cleanup of the soil contamination is scheduled to begin
as soon as State discharge permit is received. Groundwater contamination currently is being treated
and monitored.
April 1991 108 MCGRAW EDISON CORP
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METAL W
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID980992952
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 09
Benzie County
Lake Ann
The Metal Working Shop site covers approximately 2 1/2 acres on a hill between Lake View and
Lake Ann. From 1974 to 1977, the owner of the property finished metals in the shop using iron
phosphate. Two types of rinse waters were generated in an oxidizing phase of the operation: an
acidic rinse (dilute hydrochloric acid), containing iron phosphate, and a caustic rinse (sodium
hydroxide). From 1975 to 1977, effluents from these rinses were mixed to neutralize them and then
dumped onto the ground. According to the owner, 400 gallons per day were disposed of for 8 to 10
days a month. In 1983, Lake Ann Manufacturing took over the site. Sampling by the State detected
heavy metal salts in the rinses. Groundwater in the area occurs at shallow depths, and wells draw
from the very permeable sand and gravel drift aquifer. The area residents depend on private wells
for drinking water. Approximately 1,000 people reside within 3 miles of the site, and the nearest
residence is 600 feet away. Many other lakes are within 3 miles of the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 01/22/87
Final Date: 02/21/90
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater and soils are contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
including toluene and with the heavy metal chromium. Direct contact with or accidental
ingesn'on of contaminated groundwater, soils, or other waste materials may pose a health
threat. Contamination of nearby lakes is possible due to site runoff.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in a single long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
109
April 1991
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Response Action Status
Entire Site: In 1988, the EPA began an investigation to determine the nature and extent
of contamination and to identify alternatives for long-term site remediation. To date, the
monitoring wells, residential wells, surface and subsurface soils, and lakes have been
sampled. The investigation is expected to be completed in late 1991.
Environmental Progress
After adding the Metal Working Shop site to the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary evaluations
and determined that the site does not pose an immediate threat to the surrounding communities or the
environment while investigations leading to the selection of final cleanup remedies are taking place.
ApnM991
110
METAL WORKING SHOP
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METAMORA LAN
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID980506562
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 08
Lapeer County
1/2 mile northeast of Metamora
The Metamora Landfill site consists of 50 acres on an 80-acre parcel of land located 1/2 mile
northeast of Metamora and 20 miles southeast of Flint. The landfill operated from 1955 to 1980,
first as a gravel mine and then as a privately owned, unregulated dump. The operators, amounts, and
types of wastes disposed of at the site are not known. However, it is likely that the previous owner
disposed of waste and drums in unlined pits, which formerly were used for gravel mining or borrow
areas. Fires occurred at the site in 1972 and 1979. About eight drums were unearthed in Area 1 of
the site in 1981. A study conducted by the State in 1982 concluded that as many as 35,000 drums,
some containing liquid waste, could be buried on site in five disposal areas. Two areas on site have
been confirmed to contain approximately 28,000 drums. It is estimated that 18,150 cubic yards of
waste are buried at this site. The area surrounding the site is rural. The estimated population of
Metamora is 595. Two residences are located 500 to 1,000 feet to the north of the site and are served
by private wells.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and State actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 09/08/83
Final Date: 09/21/84
Threats and Contaminants
Buried waste materials and soils contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). On-site groundwater is contaminated with VOCs and
heavy metals including arsenic. Although there is no evidence to suggest that on-site
groundwater contamination has migrated off-site into private drinking water wells, these
wells are located within 1,000 feet downgradient of the site. Because VOCs found in on-
site groundwater move readily and because of the potential for additional leakage from
buried waste materials, private wells could be affected. If this should occur, area
residents could be exposed to site-related contaminants when ingesting or using
groundwater.
111
April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in three long-term remedial phases focusing on source control,
groundwater cleanup, and cleanup of the subsurface soils on the site.
Response Action Status
Source Control: The cleanup method selected by the State and the EPA in 1986
involves excavating and incinerating approximately 28,000 drums in Areas 1 and 4. These
actions are expected to be completed by late 1992.
Groundwater: The State, with EPA assistance, conducted an investigation into the
extent and nature of contamination in the groundwater and the landfill area. This study
was completed, and a remedy was selected in 1990. The selected remedy entails
groundwater pumping and treatment via chemical precipitation and air stripping and capping of the
landfill. A passive gas collection and flaring system also will be installed. Design of the remedy is
scheduled to begin in late 1991.
Soil: The State is conducting a study into the nature and extent of subsurface soil
contamination. During this study, the State is investigating two additional drum burial
areas on the site and is taking soil borings.
Site Facts: The EPA sent Special Notice letters to potentially responsible panics in November
1990.
Environmental Progress
The ongoing removal and incineration of drums have reduced the potential for exposure to
hazardous material at the Metamora Landfill while further investigations to determine the most
appropriate remedies for soil contamination are underway, and the design of the remedy is being
conducted.
Apnl1991 ' 112 METAMORA LANDFILL
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MICHIGAN DISP
SERVICE (CCfftK
LANDFILL)
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID000775957
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 03
Kalamazoo County
Kalamazoo
Other Names:
Dispose-O-Waste and Transfer Station
Cork Street Landfill
The Michigan Disposal Service (Cork Street Landfill) site is a 68-acre landfill located in a
predominantly industrial and commercial area of Kalamazoo. From 1925 to 1961, the site was
operated as a waste disposal facility. In 1961, the City of Kalamazoo purchased the property and
used it for municipal waste disposal until 1968. Prior to 1968, waste was burned in an on-site
incinerator, and the ash was buried in the landfill. Since most waste disposal occurred prior to the
development of local and State regulations, little is known about the exact types and amounts of
wastes buried in the landfill. The city continued to use the site until 1981, when Dispose-O-Waste,
now Michigan Disposal Service, Inc., purchased the facility. Michigan Disposal Service, Inc.
received a permit from the State of Michigan to operate the site as a Type III landfill and began
operations in 1983. Type in facilities can dispose of wastes such as construction debris, demolition
materials, and paper-mill waste and fly ash. The population within a 3-mile radius of the site is
approximately 50,000 people. The closest residence is 1/2 mile from the site. There are
approximately 30 private water wells and two City of Kalamazoo water wells within 2 miles of the
landfill. The wells provide water for fire protection and are on stand-by status as drinking water
sources. Davis Creek flows along a portion of tb<" eastern site boundary and also flows into the
Kalamazoo River, which is used for recreational purposes.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
IMPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/15/84
Final Date: 02/21/90
Threats and Contaminants
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including toluene, xylene, and benzene, and the
heavy metals arsenic and lead were detected in on-site monitoring wells. A creek
adjacent to the site showed elevated levels of lead and iron. Davis Creek and the
Kalamazoo River may be threatened by site contaminants. Potential health risks exist for
individuals who accidentally ingest the contaminated groundwater or surface water.
113
April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: interim actions and a long-term remedial phase directed at
cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Interim Actions: The company placed a 2-foot thick clay cap on 10 acres of the site and
installed monitoring wells and a leachate collection system.
Entire Site: Under the EPA's monitoring, the potentially responsible parties initiated an
investigation in 1987 to determine the type and extent of contamination at the site and to
recommend final cleanup activities. The investigation has included extensive sampling, an
ecological survey, installation of five additional monitoring wells, and a pump test on the municipal
well stations near the site to determine if local water supplies were affected by the contamination on
site. The study is expected to be completed in 1991.
Site Facts: A Consent Decree was signed by the EPA, the City of Kalamazoo, and Michigan
Disposal Service, Inc. in October 1987. The order requires the city and the company to conduct an
investigation of site contamination and additional studies as required by the EPA.
Environmental Progress
By covering a portion of the landfill and installing a leachate collection system, the potential for
exposure to contaminants on the Michigan Disposal Service site has been greatly reduced while
studies are underway and site cleanup activities are planned.
April 1991 114 MICHIGAN DISPOSAL SERVICE
(CORK STREET LANDFILL)
-------
MOTOR WHEEL,
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID980702989
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 06
Ingham County
Lansing
The Motor Wheel, Inc. site is located on the northeastern side of Lansing. This 25-acre site was
used from approximately 1938 until 1979 for the disposal of paints, solvents, and other wastes
generated in the manufacture of wheels for the automotive industry. Wastes were placed directly on
the ground, disposed of in containers, and buried. A clay cap was placed over a portion of the site in
the 1970s. The property was sold to MSV Associates in the late 1970s for the purpose of mining
sand and gravel. During mining activities, the clay cap was broken at least once, exposing buried
tanks and drums. The exposed material was analyzed, determined to be non-hazardous, and sent to a
local licensed landfill. Paint sludges were removed from a pit, placed in two 10,000-gallon steel
tanks, and reburied on the site. The nearest residences to the site are located approximately 1/4 mile
to the west. The population within 1/2 mile of the site is 4,725. Located to the northwest of the site
are the Granger and Paulson Street disposal areas, and W.R. Grace borders the site to the south.
More than a dozen schools and as many churches, numerous recreational facilities, a hospital, nine
parks, many small businesses, and an armory are located within a mile of the site. Approximately
128 municipal wells serve 147,000 people in Lansing.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through a
combination of Federal, State, and
potentially responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/15/84
Final Date: 06/10/86
Threats and Contaminants
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including toluene and pentachlorophenol (PCP),
were detected in a shallow aquifer. The site is easily accessible to the public, and the
deep pits created by sand and gravel mining activities present a significant physical
hazard. Ponds also exist in the bottom of the pits. Potential health risks exist for
individuals who drink the contaminated groundwater.
115
April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a single long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1982, before the site was listed on the NPL, two 10,000-gallon
tanks, an additional tank, and some accompanying soil were removed from the site.
Entire Site: Under monitoring by the EPA and the Michigan Department of Natural
Resources (MDNR), the potentially responsible parties initiated an investigation of the site
in 1987. The investigation will determine the type and extent of contamination and will
identify alternative technologies for the cleanup. The investigation is scheduled for completion in
1991.
Site Facts: In October 1987, under the terms of an Administrative Order on Consent, Motor
Wheel, Goodyear, and W.R. Grace agreed to conduct an investigation of the site and to recommend
alternative cleanup remedies.
Environmental Progress
The removal of tanks and contaminated soil reduced the potential for exposure to hazardous waste at
the Motor Wheel site and the EPA has determined that no other immediate actions are required while
studies are taking place and cleanup activities are being planned.
April1991 116 MOTOR WHEELING.
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MUSKEGON
CHEMICAL CO.
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID072569510
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 09
Muskegon County
Whitehall
Other Names:
Koch Chemical
The Muskegon Chemical Company (MCC) site is used to produce a variety of specialty chemicals
for pharmaceutical and other industries on 12 acres in Whitehall. The company operated from 1975
to 1986, when it sold the business to the Koch Chemical Company. In 1981, chemicals were
identified in on-site wells. A sump pump and an outside holding tank, both badly corroded, were the
potential sources. The groundwater seeped into Mill Pond Creek downgradient of the site. Over a
period of 3 years, MCC installed 40 monitoring wells along the plume of contamination. Monitoring
indicated that groundwater was contaminated. An 8,000-gallon pressurized tank of heptane and
other chemical holding tanks are located on the northern side of the site. The surrounding area is
zoned commercial, but at present is primarily residential. Approximately 6,400 people obtain
drinking water from public and private wells within 3 miles of the site. A private well is 1,250 feet
north of the chemical company. Surface water within 3 miles downstream of the site is used for
recreational activities. Mill Pond and Mill Pond Creek are 2,500 feet from the site, and White Lake
is 7,000 feet away.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/24/88
Final Date: 02/21/90
Threats and Contaminants
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including xylenes entered the groundwater through
on-site soils. A faulty sump pump circulated contaminants onto the grounds around the
facility, and leaching occurred. Groundwater contaminants seep onto the banks of Mill
Creek and flow directly into Mill Pond or the creek. Potential health risks exist for
individuals who drink the contaminated groundwater. The municipal water systems draw
from the aquifer affected by the groundwater contaminants; however, they draw from
outside the present zone of contamination.
117
April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial action
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1985, MCC installed a system to pump contaminated
groundwater to the surface, treat it by carbon filtration, and discharge the treated water to
the Whitehall Water Treatment Plant.
Entire Site: The potentially responsible parties are conducting an investigation to
reevaluate the groundwater treatment and to develop an effective purge system. The study
also is evaluating soils, particularly underneath the plant, and is identifying sources of
contamination stemming from the plant. The surface water is being evaluated to ensure that
bioaccumulation of contaminants is not occurring. The investigation is expected to be completed in
early 1992.
Environmental Progress
The pumping and treatment of contaminated groundwater is reducing the potential for exposure to
contaminated water at the Muskegon Chemical Co. site while investigations to determine final
cleanup alternatives for the groundwater, surface water, and the soils are taking place.
April! 991
118
MUSKEGON CHEMICAL CO.
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NORTH BRONSON
INDUSTRIAL AREA
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID005480900
o
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 04
Branch County
North Bronson
Other Names:
Bronson Plating Mfg Co.
Bronson WWTP
Bronson Residents Well
The North Bronson Industrial Area (NBIA) in Bronson covers approximately 250 acres. The actual
areas of concern are the old and new lagoons and their surrounding surface soils and sediments.
Several industries in the North Bronson area discharged plating and other industrial wastes to
seepage lagoons between 1939 and 1949. An industrial sewer system was used to transport plating
wastes to both sets of lagoons, which were owned and maintained by the City of Bronson. In 1949,
the lagoons became overloaded, and leaks of plating wastes were reported. New lagoons were
constructed in 1949. In 1970, Bronson Plating purchased the new lagoons from the City of Bronson
and discharged wastes into these lagoons until 1981. The seepage lagoons are no longer used for
waste disposal; however, they still contain an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 cubic yards of dewatered
metal hydroxide sludges. The majority of the City of Bronson is within a 1-mile radius of the old
lagoons at the NBIA site. The area surrounding the site is mixed industrial and residential, and the
area north of the site is primarily rural. The population of the City of Bronson is approximately
2,270, and the majority of the residents in the area of the site are connected to the municipal water
supply system. An estimated 3,000 people use wells within 3 miles of the site as a source of
drinking water. The primary supply wells are located approximately 5,000 feet east of the site and
are screened in the upper aquifer.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and State actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/15/84
Final Date: 06/10/86
Threats and Contaminants
On-site groundwater monitoring wells have shown detectable levels of
trichloroethylene (TCE), dichloroethylene, and vinyl chloride as well as elevated
levels of heavy metals and cyanide. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and metals
such as cadmium have been found in sediment samples at two locations
downstream of the old lagoons. Lagoon sludge contains heavy metals including
cadmium, chromium, and lead. Because municipal wells are located upgradient
of the site, there is only a remote chance of site contaminants reaching these
wells. Accidental ingestion of or direct contact with contaminated groundwater,
sediment, and sludge could pose a health threat to people in the area.
119
April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two phases: initial actions and a single long-term remedial phase
directed at cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: Private wells found to be contaminated have been taken out of service
and alternate water supplies have been provided to the affected residences.
Entire Site: The EPA initiated an investigation in mid-1987 to determine the type and
extent of contamination at the site and to identify alternative remedies for the cleanup.
This investigation is expected to be completed in 1992. Two rounds of sampling have
been conducted, with more field work scheduled for mid-1991.
Environmental Progress
Taking contaminated private wells out of service and providing alternate water supplies have
reduced the potential for exposure to site contamination while studies leading to the selection of final
cleanup remedies are conducted at the North Bronson Industrial Area site.
April 1991 120 NORTH BRONSON INDUSTRIAL AREA
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NORTHERNAIRE
PLATING
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID020883609
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 1C
Wexford County
Cadillac
Northernaire Plating began operations on this 13-acre site in 1971, manufacturing chrome, nickel,
black oxide, and zinc. Problems first surfaced in 1978, when citizens became concerned over poor
drinking water quality from two private wells near the site. The State Health Department found
elevated levels of chromium in the water. The wells were taken out of service, and the City of
Cadillac extended water service to the affected residents. The State requested that Northernaire
investigate the well contamination and resolve issues concerning possible sewer line leaks and waste
containment. In 1978, the city revoked the company's wastewater discharge permit and plugged the
connection to the city's sewer system. Subsequently, Northernaire stored its wastewater in tanks,
which were removed by truck for off-site disposal. The company ceased operations in 1981, leaving
waste materials and drummed chemicals outside the building. In 1982, the unsecured waste
materials burned two children playing at the unfenced site. The State immediately moved the drums
into the building for safety. The area surrounding the site is primarily industrial, with a few private
residences in the immediate area, and the Kysor Industrial Corp. NPL site also is located nearby. A
mobile home park is approximately 500 feet from the site. Many private wells surround the facility.
A municipal well field is 1/4 mile from the site. For additional information, please see the separate
listing for Kysor Industrial Corp.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 07/16/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater is contaminated with heavy metals such as cadmium and chromium. Soil
contained heavy metals. Sediments were contaminated with cadmium, chromium, and
volatile organic compounds (VOCs). People who trespassed on the site and accidentally
ingested or came into direct contact with contaminated soil or sediment may have been
exposed to pollutants. Drinking or coming in direct contact with contaminated
groundwater also may pose a health threat.
121
April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in three stages: emergency actions and two long-term remedial phases
focusing on source control and groundwater cleanup.
Response Action Status
Emergency Actions: In 1983, 3,450 gallons of acid, 5,402 gallons of cyanide-bearing
wastes, 160 drums of cyanide wastes, and 5,000 gallons of waste hypochlorite used to treat
cyanide contamination were removed from the site. Approximately 120 feet of the plating
facility's sewer line were also removed. Equipment was removed from the building, and the building
was steam cleaned.
Source Control: In 1985, the EPA selected a remedy to clean up the source of the
contamination by: (1) excavating soils and sewer line sediments and disposing of them at a
federally approved facility; (2) cleaning the dust and residue off the floor of the facility; (3)
breaking up an area of concrete floor and the drywall in the building, sampling the soil underneath,
and excavating and disposing of it off site, if necessary; and (4) backfilling all excavated areas with
clean soil. The State finished all the cleanup actions in 1989, except disposal of the concrete floor
and pad, which was completed in 1991.
Groundwater: Because the groundwater has intermingled with another Superfund site,
the Kysor Industrial Company, the groundwater cleanup will address both the Kysor and
Northemaire sites. In 1989, the EPA selected a remedy to clean the sites by constructing a
groundwater extraction and treatment system. This system will consist of a number of extraction
wells strategically located to intercept contaminated groundwater. An underground piping system
will interconnect the extraction wells and transport the extracted groundwater to the treatment facility,
where it will be treated by air stripping. The groundwater also will be treated by a£a£bonadsorrjtipn
treatment system toj£mav£_hexavalent chrpmiumoThe treated groundwater will be discharged into
the Clam River. Appropriate action also will be taken to ensure that current or future landowners do
not use the contaminated groundwater aquifers as a source of drinking water. Kysor is designing the
technical specifications for the groundwater cleanup. Once the design phase is completed, scheduled
in 1992, the cleanup activities will begin.
Environmental Progress
The removal of hazardous wastes from the site have greatly reduced the potential for exposure to
contaminated wastes and drums at the Northemaire Plating Company site while further cleanup
actions are taking place.
April 1991 122 NORTHERNAIRE PLATING
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EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 16
Monroe County
Temperance
NOVACO
INDUSTRIES
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID084566900
Site Description
The 2 1/2-acre Novaco Industries site was an active tool and die manufacturing and repair facility
that used chromic acid to plate auto part molds. In 1979, a tank at the site leaked an unknown
quantity of acid into the ground. Soon thereafter, chromium was discovered in the site's well and in
the well used by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 9656. A year later, chromium was
detected in a residential well. Novaco began cleanup actions a month after the spill was detected.
The site consists of Novaco Industries, the VFW post, and the Moyer residential property.
Approximately 85 residences or businesses lie within 1/2 mile of the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater samples from the shallow aquifer contain chromium. Chromium
contamination has not been found in monitoring wells or residential wells located in the
deep aquifer. Ingestion of contaminated groundwater is the only health risk at the site,
although this is considered unlikely. The two domestic wells that are located in the
shallow aquifer have been abandoned.
123
April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in a single long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
Response Action Status
Entire Site: Following an investigation of groundwater contamination at the site
between 1983 and 1986, the EPA selected the following remedy: (1) extract and treat
approximately 36 million gallons of groundwater; (2) discharge of treated water into
Indian Creek; (3) monitor groundwater for 30 years; and (4) cap and abandon 15 groundwater
monitoring wells. The EPA began design of the remedy in 1987. In 1988, the Army Corps of
Engineers conducted a pump test and collected groundwater samples as part of the design phase.
Analysis of these samples indicated that the chromium concentrations had fallen below the Federal
drinking water standard. The EPA cancelled the start of work on the original remedy but continues
to monitor the groundwater. In 1989, the chromium levels were still below drinking water
standards, and additional soil testing indicated levels below human health standards.
Environmental Progress
The groundwater and soil samples taken at the Novaco Industries site indicate that no contamination
threats currently exist, and the site poses no threats to nearby residents and the environment. The
EPA will continue to monitor the groundwater while considering the removal of the site from the
NPL.
April 1991 124 NOVACO INDUSTRIES
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ORGANIC
CHEMICALS, INC.
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID990858003
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 05
Kent County
Grandville
Site Description
Beginning in the early 1930s, the 20-acre Organic Chemicals, Inc. (OCI) site was used to refine,
transport, and store petroleum. A succession of petroleum-related industries operated on the
property until its purchase in 1968 by the Spartan Chemical Company. Spartan bought the property
to be used by its subsidiary, Organic Chemical Company (now Organic Chemicals, Inc.), and in
1979, OCI became the owner of the property. Current operations at the site include recycling
approximately 100,000 gallons of used solvents each month and manufacturing small amounts of
chemicals used in Pharmaceuticals and industry. Process waste and cooling water from OCI's
operations were discharged to a seepage pond from approximately 1968 to 1980. In 1979, OCI
reported to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) that there had been chemical
spills on the property. OCI closed the seepage pond in 1980 and installed a wastewater treatment
facility, which discharges treated water into the city sewer system. The site is in a wetlands area,
and there are lakes and ponds downgradient from the site. Approximately 2,850 people live within a
mile of the site, and 9,000 people live within 3 miles of the site. All residences are connected to the
Grandville city water system and use city water for drinking and cooking.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
On-site groundwater contains volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Soil under a cooling
pond showed slight contamination. People could be exposed to hazardous substances
from the site by accidentally ingesting or coming in direct contact with contaminated
groundwater or soil.
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April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in three stages: immediate actions and two long-term remedial phases
focusing on cleanup of the shallow groundwater and of other areas.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1981, OCI removed sludges that had accumulated at a former
cooling water pond and filled the pond with clean material. In 1987, OCI excavated and
removed approximately 150 drums from the site. OCI classified all wastes from the drums
as paint sludges and disposed of them as hazardous waste.
Shallow Groundwater: The EPA is conducting an extensive study using the
information that OCI collected during its initial site investigation. The EPA drilled and
installed 23 monitoring wells on and off site as part of the study. The study, scheduled for
completion in 1991, will address groundwater contamination in the shallow aquifer.
Other Areas: The EPA is conducting an additional investigation of soil, contamination
in the lower groundwater system, and oil-related contamination. Test pits dug on site
revealed extensive oil contamination, probably due to the refinery operation and bulk
storage terminal. As a result, this phase of the investigation, scheduled for completion in 1992, will
assess the extent of oil contamination.
Site Facts: In 1986, the MDNR investigated a complaint that OCI personnel were illegally
disposing hazardous wastes at the facility. As a result of this investigation, the EPA cited the
company for violations regarding the handling and disposal of hazardous wastes. In 1987, OCI
voluntarily conducted an investigation of the site in cooperation with the MDNR.
Environmental Progress
The removal of sludges and drums has reduced the potential for exposure to hazardous materials at
the Organic Chemical, Inc. site while studies are taking place and cleanup activities are being
planned.
Apri!1991 126 ORGAMIC CHEMICALS, INC
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OSSINEKE GROUND
WATER CONTAMINA
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID980794440
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 11
Alpena County
Ossmeke
The 11-acre Ossineke Ground Water Contamination site resulted from a series of unrelated spills and
incidents that contaminated the groundwater of local residents within the LaBell subdivision. These
incidents included leaking underground storage tanks, accidental spills of fuel on the ground, and
suspected releases of fuel and other organic compounds into the ground. A second potential source
was a laundry/dry cleaning facility and its washwater pond. Contamination was first detected in
1977 when the Alpena District Health Department (ADHD) began receiving complaints of odors in
the drinking water of residents near the site. The ADHD and the Michigan Department of Public
Health (MDPH) discovered that five residential wells in the area were contaminated with petroleum
and chlorinated hydrocarbons. These contaminated wells all drew water from the shallow aquifer
below the site. Between 1979 and 1984, the MDPH and local residents replaced 14 wells that were
contaminated and replaced them with ones that drew groundwater from a deeper aquifer under the
site. In 1982, additional contamination problems surfaced when gasoline odors in the basements of
two local businesses were reported. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR)
studied the site in 1984 to determine the potential source of contamination. Groundwater monitoring
wells and soil gas surveys detected various petroleum products and chlorinated hydrocarbons in the
shallow aquifer under the site. The study pinpointed three areas where the sources of groundwater
contamination appear to be located: the Barn (a gas and convenience store), the Marathon Service
Station, and an area southwest of the intersection of Alphonse and LaRose streets. A 5-acre wetland
is located 1/2 mile from the site, while Devils River is 3/4 mile from the site. Approximately 1,140
people live within a 3-mile radius of the Marathon Gas Station.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and State actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater under the site contains volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and phenol.
Currently, no residents are drinking contaminated water. However, people could be
exposed to hazardous chemicals through accidental ingestion or direct contact with
groundwater. Soils behind the dry cleaning facility contain perchloroethylene. Wetlands
also may be threatened.
127
April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a single long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: Fourteen wells that showed traces of contamination were replaced by the
State and local residents from 1979 to 1984.
Entire Site: The EPA began field activities for a study of contamination at the site in
1989. The EPA has taken samples of the groundwater, surface water, sediments, air, and
soil gases to clearly define the sources of contamination and the extent of the problem.
The investigation, completed in early 1991, determined the source of contamination to be from
leaking underground storage tanks. Based on these findings, it has been proposed that the cleanup of
this site be turned over to the EPA's Underground Storage Tank (UST) program.
Environmental Progress
Replacement of contaminated wells significantly reduced the potential for exposure of nearby
residents to site-related contaminants from the Ossineke Ground Water Contamination site while
cleanup activities are being planned, possibly under the EPA's UST program.
April 1991 128 OSSINEKE GROUND WATER CONTAMINATION
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OTT/STORY/C
CHEMICAL CO
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID060174240
Site Description
o
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 09
Muskegon County
Dalton Township
Other Names:
Ott Story & Corn Products Chemical Company
Cordova Chemical Company of Michigan
The 20-acre Ott/Story/Cordova Chemical Co. site is a former chemical plant surrounded by wooded
land. Since the 1950s, the Ott, Story, and Cordova chemical companies owned and operated three
separate chemical plants on the same property. The chemical plants used various synthetic and
organic chemicals to manufacture drugs, veterinary medicines, agricultural chemicals, and other
similar materials. Wastes from the chemical manufacturing processes were placed in unlined
lagoons and stored in drums on the property. Ott Chemical began producing chemicals at the site in
1957. The company's improper storage and handling of wastes resulted in contaminated on-site
soils. Ott Chemical, under a license from the Michigan Water Resources Commission, also
discharged purged water to Little Bear Creek, but discontinued the practice in 1967 when area
residents noticed odors and adverse effects on aquatic life. Story Chemical took over the site in
1972, and by the time it went bankrupt in 1976, thousands of drums filled with chemical wastes were
stockpiled on site. A plume of contaminants traveled 1 mile off site to an unnamed tributary of Little
Bear Creek. The plume contaminated the tributary, the creek, and several private wells in the area.
Story Chemical replaced the water supplies of all local residences and businesses with wells affected
by the contamination plume. Cordova Chemical bought the property in 1977 and continued to
produce a limited number of petroleum-based products, but ceased all chemical manufacturing
operations in 1985. Approximately 3,500 people live within a 3-mile radius of the site and use
groundwater as their source of potable water. A tributary of adjacent Little Bear Creek drains into
Bear Creek, which flows into Muskegon Lake.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and State actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 07/16/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater and soil on and near the site contain various volatile organic compounds
(VOCs). Surface water is contaminated with VOCs and heavy metals including copper
and mercury. People could be exposed to site-related contaminants through ingestion or
direct contact with contaminated groundwater, soil, or surface water.
129
April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in four stages: immediate actions and three long-term remedial phases
focusing on cleanup of the groundwater, aquifer restoration, and soil cleanup.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) cleaned
up the surface of the site in 1978, removing 2,000 containers, 8,000 cubic yards of sludge,
and contaminated soils from waste ponds on the property. Further investigations in 1978
found tanks of highly toxic phosgene gas, which the State eventually neutralized and disposed of.
VOCs also were found in residential wells near the site. A permanent water supply was installed.
All aboveground drums were removed from the site and a municipal water line was extended to
residences with wells that were contaminated. Unused buildings, including the pilot plant, an
incinerator, and four production buildings, on the site were dismantled and properly disposed of at
an off-site location.
Groundwater: The EPA completed a study of the site and concluded that contamination
of surface water and sediments near Little Bear Creek and its tributary resulted from
groundwater seeping into these surface water bodies. The EPA selected the following
alternatives for cleanup of the site: (1) installing groundwater extraction wells near Little Bear
Creek and the unnamed tributary; (2) constructing a groundwater treatment plant on site to treat the
groundwater pumped from the well; (3) treating the groundwater; and (4) discharging the treated
groundwater to Little Bear Creek. The EPA is designing the technical specifications for the
groundwater remedy and expects to complete the design in 1992.
Aquifer Restoration: Based on the results of an investigation completed in 1990, the
EPA selected a remedy for aquifer restoration that includes installation and operation of
extraction wells, a purge and treatment system at points throughout the aquifer, and a
groundwater monitoring system. Groundwater will be treated to meet State discharge standards.
Data on the extent of groundwater contamination from extraction and monitoring wells will be used
to ensure that the entire contaminated groundwater plume is treated. The design of these remedies is
in progress.
Soil: The EPA is conducting an investigation to review soil hot spot areas, to do limited
excavation, and to do spot checks for dioxins due to past malfunctions of the dismantled
incinerator. The investigation is expected to be completed in 1991.
Site Facts: In 1968, the State ordered Ott Chemical to stop all direct discharges of process
wastewaters into the groundwater and to treat its wastewater before discharge into the Muskegon
River. In 1977, the MDNR ordered Story Chemical to clean up the site, control pollution to the
groundwater, and replace water supplies for 50 households. Cordova Chemical entered into a
Consent Order with the State after it purchased the property in 1977.
April 1991 130 OTT/STORY/CORDOVA CHEMICAL CO.
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Environmental Progress
By removing drums and providing an alternate water supply, exposure to contamination at the Ott/
Story/Cordova Chemical Co. site has been greatly reduced while final cleanup activities are being
planned.
OTT/STORY/CORDOVA CHEMICAL CO.
131
April 1991
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PACKAGING
CORPORATIO
OF AMERICA
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID980794747
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DiST. 09
Manistee County
Filer City
The 50-acre Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) site was a waste disposal area that contained
eight lagoons. PCA and its prior owner, American Box Board Company (ABBCo), operated a
pulping mill for producing materials for corrugated boxes. ABBCo first began this pulping process
in 1949 and directly discharged spent cooking liquor into the Manistee Lake. This dumping severely
reduced the level of oxygen in the lake and killed fish before the discharge was stopped in 1951.
ABBCo then began discharging the spent cooking liquor into a series of unlined seepage lagoons
located on the side of Manistee Lake. ABBCo operated the lagoons through 1974. Wastes from the
lagoons percolated into the underlying shallow aquifer, discoloring and contaminating the
groundwater. In 1972, PCA took over the property and, by 1976, completely phased out discharging
waste products into the lagoons. Between 1951 and 1976, approximately 7 billion gallons of
wastewaters were discharged to the seepage lagoons. In 1972, PCA began operating a secondary
wastewater treatment plant to treat wastes before discharging them into Lake Michigan. Of the eight
lagoons that remain at the site, PCA is using one as a landfill for solid waste. Approximately 10,200
people live within a 3-mile radius of the lagoons. A Martin-Marietta plant is located to the west of
the site, over the plume of contaminated water, and formerly used groundwater for drinking and
industrial purposes. The contaminant plume discharges into Manistee Lake. The Manistee River
connects the lake with Lake Michigan, 3 miles from the plume.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater contains phenols and heavy metals including chromium and lead. People in
the area of the site could be exposed to hazardous contaminants through the groundwater.
Manistee Lake is receiving and will continue to receive most of the contaminant plume
from the PCA site if no further action is taken to protect the lake. The lake supports a
fishery. There is evidence that the dewatered lagoons and their surrounding areas are
used for hunting and by recreational vehicles.
133
April! 991
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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in a single long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
Response Action Status
Entire Site: In 1984, the EPA began an investigation of the site. PCA took over the
investigation in 1985 and is characterizing the materials in the lagoons, defining the
geology around the site to determine the extent of the contamination, and outlining
contaminant plumes migrating from the lagoons using groundwater monitoring wells. As part of the
investigation, toxicity studies have determined that groundwater near the site is toxic to aquatic
organisms, while surface water in Lake Manistee is not. PCA is expected to complete the
investigation in 1993.
Environmental Progress
After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary investigations and determined that
no immediate actions were required at the Packaging Corporation of America site while studies are
taking place and cleanup activities are being planned.
April 1991
134
PACKAGING CORPORATION OF AMERICA
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PARSONS CHEM
WORKS, INC.
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID980476907
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 10
Eaton County
Grand Ledge
Other Names:
Parsons/ETM Enterprise
The Parsons Chemical Works, Inc. site covers 6 1/2 acres of land in Oneida Township, near Grand
Ledge. Parsons Chemical Works engaged in mixing, manufacturing, and packaging agricultural
chemicals from 1945 until 1979, when the plant was closed. In the mid-1950s, Parsons installed a
septic tank and tile field system to handle its sewage and wastewaters. A floor drain discharged
wastewater from the building to the soils outside. The tank/tile system was connected to a storm
drain on site, which discharged to an unnamed stream that merges with the Grand River. Materials
handled during Parsons' operation included pesticides, herbicides, solvents, and mercury-based
compounds. Concerns arose in 1979 and 1980, when the Michigan Department of Natural
Resources (MDNR) collected sediment samples from a creek on site and the Grand Ledge ditch,
located on the northern boundary of the site. The MDNR analyzed the water from these samples and
found lead, mercury, arsenic, and pesticides including chlordane and DDT. ETM Enterprises, a
manufacturer of fiberglass, purchased the property in 1979 and carried out a study to determine the
source of contamination at the site. The septic tank and leach field, which lead from the site to a
catch basin in the county drain system, were identified as the source of contamination. In 1983,
ETM excavated the area and disposed of the septic tank and the soil in the leach field. As part of the
National Dioxin Study, the EPA targeted the Parsons site for dioxin screening in 1984. Samples
collected in this study revealed the presence of various dioxins in sediments of the Grand Ledge
ditch and in the sediments that were discharged to the drainage tile on the site. In 1985, the MDNR
and the Michigan Department of Health fenced off the areas that were contaminated. ETM
continues to operate the facility, but the fenced and unused areas of the site have extensively eroded.
Contaminants in this area have continued to migrate from the site to the unnamed creek and Grand
River. About 11,000 people obtain drinking water from three Grand Ledge municipal wells or
private wells within 3 miles of the site. Groundwater near the site is shallow, and geologic
conditions there make it easy for contaminants to move into the groundwater. People in the area use
the river for recreational activities.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and State actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/24/88
Final Date: 03/31/89
135
April 1991
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Threats and Contaminants
Sediments and soils contain dioxin; heavy metals including lead, mercury, and arsenic;
and pesticides including DDT and chlordane. The continued migration of contaminants
presents a threat to public health and the environment. In 1983, studies conducted by the
MDNR and the EPA attributed low levels of dioxin and chlordane in fish collected from
the creek and Grand River to the site. Also, the possibility exists that the food chain in
the Grand River is contaminated, because of contaminants found in the fish.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a single long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: In response to the discovery of dioxin contamination in 1985, the
MDNR and the Michigan Department of Health fenced the contaminated areas. In 1990,
contaminated soils were removed. Treatment and removal of these soils is expected to be
completed in 1991.
Entire Site: In 1989, the EPA began a detailed study of the nature and extent of
contamination at the site. This study is examining alternative methods for addressing
contamination at the site. Currently, the EPA is considering six methods for removing the
contamination at the site: (1) incinerate contaminated soils/sediments with a rotary kiln; (2) remove
contaminated soils/sediments to an off-site incinerator; (3) vitrify contaminated soils/sediments in
place; (4) build a landfill on site to dispose of contaminated media; (5) send the contaminated
materials to an off-site landfill; and (6) biologically treat the contaminants. The EPA currently
recommends in-place vitrification, whereby the contaminants in the soils and sediments are
immobilized by mixing them with binding compounds or heat-fusing them. The EPA has worked
closely with the MDNR to develop this solution and is conducting pilot studies and tests to
determine if the alternative is feasible. The EPA will select a final remedy after the initial study is
completed in 1992.
Environmental Progress
Fencing contaminated areas of the site and removing contaminated soils have reduced the potential
for exposure to site-related contaminants from the Parson Chemical Works site while investigations
are taking place and cleanup activities are being planned.
April 1991 136 PARSONS CHEMICAL WORKS, INC.
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PEERLESS
PLATING CO
MICHIGAN
EPAID#MID006031348
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 09
Muskegon County
Muskegon
The Peerless Plating Co. site covers 1 acre of an abandoned electroplating facility located in
Muskegon. Electroplating operations were carried out at the plant from 1937 to 1983. Toxic,
corrosive, reactive, and flammable chemicals were used in the electroplating process. The plant
discharged its wastewaters into three unlined seepage lagoons at the back of the facility. The
wastewaters dumped into the lagoons contained heavy metals and were highly acidic or basic. When
the plant closed in 1983, it was abandoned, and plating solutions, raw materials, and drummed waste
remained throughout the facility. In 1983, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR)
discovered that drains inside one of the buildings did not connect with the site's sanitary sewer or
wastewater treatment system; instead, the wastes drained directly on the ground. The State also
discovered drums on site. In 1983, the Michigan Department of Public Health detected hydrocyanic
acid gas in the facility's atmosphere. The owner's failure to take immediate action to remove the gas
prompted the State to contact die EPA to assist in reducing the threat to human health caused by the
gas. The surrounding area is mixed residential, commercial, and light industrial development.
Approximately 3,350 people live within a 3-mile radius of the site. Seven schools, a hospital, and a
correctional facility are located within 1 mile. The nearest residence is within 600 feet of the site,
and a mobile home park is located 1/2 mile to the southwest. Approximately 1,500 people obtain
drinking water from private wells within a 3-mile radius. The city uses the shallow aquifer as the
only groundwater alternative to the municipal water supply that draws from Lake Michigan. By
1988, all private wells within a 1/2-mile radius were abandoned and replaced by the municipal water
main. Little Black Creek is to the southeast and empties into Mona Lake, which is 2 miles
downstream from the site. The EPA found site-related contaminants in these surface waters.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/24/88
Final Date: 08/30/90
Threats and Contaminants
The shallow groundwater on site contains heavy metals including cadmium and
chromium; volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including trichloroethylene (TCE),
benzene, and xylene; and cyanide. Sediments in streams and surface waters on and off
site are contaminated with cadmium. People could be exposed to hazardous chemicals
from the site through direct contact or accidental ingestion of contaminated groundwater
or sediments.
137
April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
directed at cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: Between September and October 1983, the EPA removed 37,000
gallons of sulfuric, nitric, and chromic acids; cyanide plating solution; chromium plating
solution; hydrochloric acid; and trichloroethene. The EPA also took the following actions
at the site: (1) the lagoons were drained; (2) soil was removed from the lagoon areas; (3) the interior
of the building was cleaned; (4) vats, lines, and tanks were decontaminated; (5) sewer lines were
sealed; (6) cyanide and nitric acid were neutralized on site; and (7) hazardous materials were
removed to a federally regulated facility. In 1991, the EPA removed approximately 2,500 gallons of
liquids containing heavy metals and cyanide from an on-site tank. Approximately 4,500 gallons of
cyanide/metal sludges and liquids remain stored in enclosed tanks on site. Additional actions to
eliminate immediate sources of contamination, encapsulating asbestos insulation from an oven, and
fencing the site will be performed by the potentially responsible parties.
Entire Site: In 1989, the EPA began a study of the nature and extent of contamination at
the site, focusing on the groundwater and the effect of site-related contaminants on surface
waters. The results of the field investigations will be used to evaluate the methods that
best address site contamination. The EPA expects to complete its studies by 1992.
Site Facts: In June 1983, State and local authorities took regulatory action against the owner of the
facility, which resulted in its closing.
Environmental Progress
The draining of the lagoon and the removal of hazardous liquids and soils have reduced the potential
for direct exposure to contaminants on the Peerless Plating site while investigations leading to the
selection of cleanup alternatives are taking place.
April 1991 138 PEERLESS PLATING CO
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PETOSKEY MU
WELL FIELD
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID006013049
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 11
Emmet County
Petoskey
Other Names:
Petoskey Manufacturing Co., Inc.
The Petoskey Municipal Well Field was the only source of drinking water for the residents of
Petoskey. The well field is located about 200 yards northwest of the Petoskey Manufacturing
Company, the suspected source of contamination of the well field. The company has operated a die
casting plant at this location since 1946 and a painting operation since the mid- to late 1960s. The
Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) suspected the company of dumping solvents
and paint sludges onto the ground adjacent to the western side of its building. The MDNR collected
soil samples at the plant in 1982 and found high levels of organic chemicals. In 1982 and 1983, the
MDNR conducted a monitoring program for groundwater in the well field and found low levels of
volatile organic compounds (VOCs). A plume of contaminated groundwater had migrated 600 feet
northwest of the plant to one of the municipal wells in the field. The plume also is within 100 feet of
Little Traverse Bay. There are approximately 7,000 people within a 3-mile radius of the site. The
population during the summer months increases to about 11,000. A high school, college, and
hospital receive water from the municipal supply system. Three to four private wells are about 1/2
mile west of the contaminated municipal well. The nearest residence is less than 250 feet from the
site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through a
combination of Federal, State and
potentially responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater and soils at the site contain VOCs including trichloroethylene
(TCE). People may have been exposed to hazardous chemicals from the site by
drinking and coming in direct contact with contaminated water from the
municipal well. People also could be exposed to hazardous chemicals at the
Petoskey Municipal Well Field site by touching contaminated soil.
139
April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: Petoskey Manufacturing Company commissioned an extensive
study of the groundwater geology in and around the site to address its responsibility for
contaminating the well field. The company also removed the most highly contaminated
soils on its property in 1982. Petoskey Manufacturing carried out additional studies of the
groundwater in 1984. As a result of these findings, Petoskey Manufacturing excavated the
contaminated area and filled it with clean soil and sand. The company also covered the area with a
synthetic liner and 6 inches of gravel.
Entire Site: Petoskey Manufacturing Company began a study of the nature and extent of
contamination at the well field in 1987. When the State completes the study, due to
Petoskey's bankruptcy, the State will use the results to identify various methods to address
contamination of the well field. Completion of the study is expected in 1992.
Site Facts: Petoskey Manufacturing Company removed the most highly contaminated soils after
negotiating with the MDNR. The EPA issued Petoskey Manufacturing Company an Administrative
Order in 1984, which required the company to carry out additional hydrogeologic studies near its
property. The company signed a Consent Order in 1987 to carry out a complete study of the site;
however, Petoskey Manufacturing has filed for bankruptcy, and the State has taken over the
investigation.
Environmental Progress
The removal of contaminated soil from the Petoskey Manufacturing property has reduced the
potential for continued contamination of the Petoskey Municipal Well Field, while investigations
are underway leading to the selection of the final remedy for site cleanup.
April 1991 140 PETOSKEY MUNICIPAL WELL FIELD
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RASMUSSEN'S
MICHIGAN
EPAID#MID095402210
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 06
Livingston County
Green Oak Township
Site Description
The Rasmussen's Dump site, which was previously a sand and gravel pit area used as a dump, is
located on 35 acres in Green Oak Township. The dump was unlicensed and was known to have
accepted both domestic and industrial solid and liquid wastes. The dump operated from the 1960s
until 1972, when the Livingston County Health Department closed the site. During the 1970s, the
northwestern section of the site was used as a gravel mine. In 1979, mining operations uncovered
drums buried in an old dump area. In 1983, two piles of 1,500 to 2,000 drums were observed on
site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through a
combination of Federal, State, and
potentially responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
A plume of contaminated groundwater extends to the northwest from the dump. Soil
sampling by the State revealed polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and organics
contamination near a drum pile on the eastern side of the site. In 1985, the State installed
a fence around the site to eliminate the health risks from accidental ingestion'and direct
contact with contaminated soils.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase directed
at cleanup of the entire site.
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April 1991
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Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1984, the EPA constructed an access road to aid in site cleanup
actions. Drums were excavated and transferred to a staging area on the site, where they
were opened and sampled. Soil that was mixed in with the excavated drums was
stockpiled in a lined area. Wastes were separated, and all liquid wastes were bulked and transported
off site for disposal at federally approved disposal facilities. Solid and semi-solid drummed waste
was shredded. All solids and shredded solids were stockpiled, and the former drum pile and staging
areas were resampled. All contaminated soils were removed, and clean fill was spread over a large
portion of the landfill to eliminate the drifting and blowing debris problem created by excavation of
the landfill's surface cap. Approximately 344 tons of PCB solids, 400 gallons of base-neutral
liquids, 800 gallons of flammable liquids, 1,720 cubic yards of contaminated soils and solids, and
3,000 empty drums were disposed of off site at EPA-approved facilities. In 1985, a security fence
was installed around the site. In 1989, under EPA monitoring, 11 of the potentially responsible
parties excavated, analyzed, and disposed of surface and buried drums, associated wastes, and
contaminated soils. These actions were completed in 1990.
Entire Site: The State, with EPA assistance, has conducted an investigation into the
nature and extent of the contamination at the site. Based on the results of this
investigation, completed in early 1991, the EPA has chosen a cleanup remedy that includes
groundwater extraction, treatment, and reinjection of the treated water into the groundwater;
groundwater monitoring; capping the site; disposal of any drums unearthed during capping; and
additional fencing and deed restrictions, as necessary. Groundwater will be treated using chemical
precipitation of heavy metals, bioremediation, air stripping, and granular activated carbon. The
design of the remedies is to begin in 1992.
Site Facts: Under the terms of an EPA Administrative Order, the potentially responsible parties
performed immediate actions at the site.
Environmental Progress
By fencing the site and removing most of the contaminated soils, solids, and drums of hazardous
materials, the potential for exposure to contaminants at the Rasmussen's Dump site has been greatly
reduced while the design of final cleanup remedies is taking place.
April 1991 142 RASMUSSEN'S DUMP
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ROCKWELL
CORP. (ALLEG
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID006028062
EPA REGION 5
NGRESSIONALDIST. 09
Allegan County
Allegan
Site Description -
The 30-acre Rockwell International Corporation (Allegan Plant) site has been used to manufacture
universal joints for heavy trucks and construction equipment since the early 1900s. From 1910 to
1920, the Allegan Mirror and Plate Glass Company manufactured glass products at what is now
known as the Rockwell International Plant site. In 1920, the site was purchased by the Blood
Brothers Machine Company and the production of universal joints began. From 1910 to 1960,
wastewater containing sludge, heavy metals, process wastes, and oils was discharged into the
Kalamazoo River. Later these waste streams were discharged into an unlined settling pond that
drained to the Kalamazoo River. In the late 1960s, when this pond reached a saturation point in
terms of sludge depth, the pond was abandoned and buried, and three new unlined ponds were
constructed. In 1971, a water treatment system was installed and included two concrete underground
storage tanks. Three new treatment ponds were also constructed to contain treated water, untreated
non-contact cooling water, and sludge. The original collection pond, with the sludge still in it, was
filled in and built over. In 1974, oil seeps were detected along the river bank adjacent to the new
wastewater ponds. A 3-foot-deep clay dike constructed between the ponds and the Kalamazoo River
in 1975 was effective for about a year. In 1976, it was determined that the seepage to the river from
groundwater originated from two leaking underground storage tanks; the leakage has since been
eliminated. There are an estimated 8,150 people living within 3 miles of the site. The area is served
by a public water supply system. About 6,900 people within 3 miles of the site depend on the
shallow groundwater as a source of drinking water. The closest residential well is 1/2 mile from the
site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
panics' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 07/16/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
On-site groundwater potentially is contaminated with heavy metals including lead,
arsenic, and cyanide. River sediment contains heavy metals. It is believed that the
abandoned pond contains cyanide from used quenching fluids. Heavy metals and
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been detected in the Kalamazoo River.
People may be exposed to health risks through direct contact with contaminated water
while using the river for recreational purposes. The threat of local residents' exposure to
site contaminants has been minimized by site security. However, the estimated 80
workers at the plant may be exposed to chemicals through direct contact with
contaminated surface soil and air particles.
143
April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: Three oil recovery wells were installed in the late 1970s to control
the movement of the oil. These wells still are operating and return contaminated
groundwater to the wastewater treatment system for reprocessing. Cutting fluid waste is
treated before being discharged to the settling ponds. In 1978, approximately 3,700 cubic yards of
sludge from Pond Number Two were removed and disposed of off site in a State-approved landfill.
Entire Site: Rockwell, the party potentially responsible for the site contamination,
currently is conducting an investigation into the nature and extent of contamination at the
site with guidance from the EPA. Six potential contamination sources are being
investigated: (1) the oil/water wastewater treatment facility; (2) the three active treatment ponds; (3)
the former collection pond that was filled in 1972; (4) the former Allegan city dump, upon which a
parking lot was built; (5) the Allegan city wastewater treatment plant; and (6) sediments in the
Kalamazoo River. The investigation will define the contaminants of concern and will recommend
alternatives for the final cleanup. The investigation is planned to be completed in 1992.
Site Facts: In 1988, Rockwell and the EPA signed a Consent Order, requiring that the company
conduct a study of the nature and extent of site contamination.
Environmental Progress
The oil recovery wells installed to direct contaminated water to the treatment system and the
removal of a substantial amount of sludge have reduced the potential of direct exposure to
hazardous materials at the Rockwell International site. Investigations are currently being
conducted to select the final cleanup remedies for the various areas of the site.
April 1991 144 ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL CORP
(ALLEGAN PLANT)
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ROSE TOWNSHIP DUMP
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID980499842
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 06
Oakland County
Rose Township
Other Names:
Dorsey Dump
Approximately 12 acres of the 110-acre Rose Township Dump site once were used for the disposal
of paint sludges and other wastes on surface soils, in buried drums, and in lagoons. Unregulated
dumping of industrial wastes, including solvents, paint sludges, and polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs), occurred at the site between 1966 and 1968. The wastes were buried in a 12-acre portion of
the site. Bulk wastes also were discharged to the surface or into shallow lagoons or pits in the area.
Liquid wastes from an unknown number of tank trucks were dumped onto the ground, and
approximately 5,000 drums were disposed of on the site. In 1980, the State removed the 55-gallon
drums and scraped PCBs-contaminated soil into three large piles. The area is fenced, and warning
signs have been posted. The total population of Rose Township is about 4,600 people. Less than a
dozen residences are adjacent to the site. A road borders the site on the north, and there is a
concentration of buildings northeast of the site, near Buckhorn Lake. Approximately 4,600 residents
depend on local groundwater for domestic uses. Residents use local aquifers for potable water; the
nearest residential well is located 1,600 feet from the site. Two apparently distinct plumes of
groundwater contamination are emanating from the site, but there are no residential wells within the
contaminant plumes. The site is surrounded primarily by wetlands and woods. There is an
abundance of wildlife on site. Surface water runoff drains into marshes and wetlands that border the
site. Some nearby lakes are used for recreation, and the marshes are unfenced.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through a
combination of Federal, State, and
potentially responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 04/10/85
Final Date: 07/21/87
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater, surface water, and soils are contaminated with heavy metals and volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) including toluene, trichloroethylene (TCE), and benzene.
PCBs were detected in off-site sediment samples. Soil also is contaminated with
phthalates and DDT. The potential health risks to people at this site include direct
contact with or accidental ingestion of contaminated groundwater, surface water, soil, and
sediment. Hunting and fishing are known activities in the area; therefore, eating fish and
wildlife could present a health threat. Wetlands also may be threatened. A natural gas
pipeline underlies the site and could affect cleanup excavation operations.
145
April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
directed at cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1980, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR)
removed approximately 5,000 drums of liquid wastes from the site. In 1985, the EPA
identified, segregated, staged, and sampled drums for disposal purposes. Two areas of the
site were fenced to restrict contact with PCBs- and lead-contaminated surface soils. A heavy-duty
vehicle gate was installed at the access road entrance. Warning signs were posted along all newly
fenced areas. In 1986, 31 drums were overpacked, labeled, and shipped off site for disposal. One
load of bulk wastes totaling 20 cubic yards also was shipped away for disposal.
Entire Site: The selected cleanup technologies addressing site contamination include:
(1) excavation of as much as 25,000 cubic yards of contaminated surface soil, incinerating
the excavated-soils, and returning them to the site or disposing of them in an off-site
landfill; (2) installation of a groundwater extraction and treatment system to clean contaminated
groundwater prior to discharging it to the wetlands adjacent to the site; (3) installation of
groundwater monitoring wells on and near the site and monitoring groundwater underneath the site
for the next 30 years; (4) installation of a fence around the site; (5) collection and analysis of
samples from the wetlands adjacent to the site; and (6) testing the potential effectiveness of soil-
flushing technology to clean up contaminated subsurface soil. The potentially responsible parties
began preparing the technical specifications and design for the selected cleanup remedies in late
1989. Pre-design activities include soil and water sampling for each respective cleanup technology.
Cleanup activities are scheduled to begin once the design phase is completed in 1992.
Site Facts: As of 1986,28 potentially responsible parties had been identified and notified of
liability. In 1987, the EPA and the State began negotiating cleanup responsibilities with these
parties. In 1988, the EPA and 12 parties signed a Consent Decree, requiring the parties to implement
and pay for cleanup activities.
Environmental Progress
Removal of the contaminated drums and surrounding soils and fencing the area resulted in the Rose
Township Dump site no longer posing an immediate threat to the surrounding communities or the
environment while the final cleanup remedies are being planned.
April! 991 146 ROSE TOWNSHIP DUMP
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ROTO-FINISH C
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID005340088
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 03
Kalamazoo County
Portage
The 7 1/2-acrc Roto-Finish Company, Inc. site is an abandoned specialty plastics manufacturing
facility that operated from approximately 1950 until 1988. The company designed and
manufactured specialized equipment for burring and polishing castings, mechanical parts, and
similar objects requiring smooth finishes. The site contains two buildings where plant operations
were conducted, a large building along the west side of the site and a smaller building to the east.
Three seepage lagoons were located on the eastern side of the site. Manufacturing and processing
wastes were pumped into two unlined, settling lagoons. The lagoons often overflowed. An
estimated 83,000 gallons of waste were pumped into these lagoons. Two stormwater retention
basins on site were used to collect surface water runoff, which subsequently evaporated into the air
or infiltrated and percolated through the soils. The site also contains several paved parking areas. In
1980, the lagoons were abandoned and the company began discharging all wastes to the municipal
sewer system. In 1981, drums containing formaldehyde, sodium chromate, and MOCA (an organic
chemical compound used as a curing agent in the fabrication of plastic molds) were observed on site.
In 1982, lagoon sludges and surrounding soils were removed and filled with clean soil.
Approximately 45,000 to 50,000 people live within 3 miles of the site. Groundwater from an
unconfined aquifer in the area is used as a municipal, industrial, and domestic water source.
Municipal wells within a mile of the site provide water for an estimated 100,000 residents. Davis
Creek, also located within 1 mile of the site, leads into the Kalamazoo River, more than 3 miles
downstream of the site. The Kalamazoo River is used for recreational activities including fishing
and swimming.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
IMPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/15/84
Final Date: 06/10/86
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater is contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE) and chromium. Soil may be
contaminated with MOCA and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Potential health
risks to people include accidental ingestion of and direct contact with contaminated
groundwater and soils. The site is bordered by a chain-link security fence with locking
access gates.
147
April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in a single long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
Response Action Status
Entire Site: The party potentially responsible for the site contamination currently is
conducting an investigation into the nature and extent of contamination at the site. The
investigation will define the contaminants of concern and will result in recommendations
for the final cleanup. Soil borings, well installation, and study of groundwater flow direction have
been undertaken. A second study phase is planned to be completed in 1991, and a decision on
cleanup actions is planned for 1993.
Environmental Progress
After listing the Roto-Finish site on the NPL, the EPA conducted preliminary evaluations of the site
conditions and determined that the site does not present an imminent threat to the surrounding
population or the environment while investigations leading to selection of the final cleanup remedies
are taking place.
April 1991 148 ROTO-FINISH CO., INC.
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SCA
INDEPENDENT
LANDFILL
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID000724930
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 09
Muskegon County
Muskegon Heights
Other Names:
Independent Landfill
Site Description
The 100-acre SCA Independent Landfill site operated as a domestic and industrial waste landfill
from 1965 until the late 1970s. The landfill, which occupies about 1/3 of the site, closed in 1987.
Two unlined refuse cells are spread over 10 1/2 acres of the site. Two inadequately lined cells
occupy an additional 20 acres, and a 4-acre cell, which closed in 1987 and was covered with 3 feet
of clay, is situated directly on top of the southern half of the two unlined cells. In addition, a 6-acre
parcel in the northeastern section of the site received refuse. All areas have been closed and capped.
The lined waste cells have been vented to prevent the buildup of gases. There are approximately
10,000 people living within 3 miles of the site. There also are 6 schools and 7 churches within 3
miles of the site. The landfill is located in a swampy area about 1/8 mile south of Black Creek, a
coldwater stream. The groundwater flow apparently empties into wetlands that border Black Creek,
a stream that has been re-stocked successfully with trout since 1987. A mobile home park with more
than 300 families is located 1/2 mile north of the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through a
combination of Federal, State, and
potentially responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater is contaminated with heavy metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
including xylene, benzene, and toluene. Surface water potentially is contaminated with
VOCs. Potential health threats to people include direct contact or ingestion of
contaminated groundwater and surface water. Because the landfill is in a flood plain,
flood waters could expose the landfill contents and spread the pollutants to the stream and
low-lying areas. The landfill portion of the site is not completely fenced. The northern
boundary of the landfill also is unfenced, permitting unimpeded entry into the landfill
through the marsh. Wetland areas also may be threatened.
149
April! 991
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Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two long-term remedial phases focusing on landfill closure and
cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Landfill Closure: The closure plan implemented in 1983 by SCA Services, a
potentially responsible party, included a leachate management plan, groundwater
monitoring, gas vents, a final cover, and seeding of the site. In 1985, SCA Services
completed a hydrogeologic study. In 1986, the State concluded that site contamination was
minor and that no immediate groundwater cleanup activities were required.
Entire Site: A full investigation of site contamination is being planned by the State
to determine the nature and extent of contamination at the landfill and in the
groundwater.
Site Facts: In 1983, SCA Services and the State signed a Consent Agreement to provide for
the closure of the 2 unlined cells.
Environmental Progress
After an initial site assessment by the State, it was decided that no immediate actions were necessary
to reduce exposure to contamination at the SCA Independent Landfill site while studies are being
planned.
April 1991 150 SCA INDEPENDENT LANDFILL
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SHIAWASSEE Rl
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID980794473
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 06
Livingston County
Howell
Site Description
The Shiawassee River flows through the communities of Byron, Vernon, and Corunna. All three
of these communities are located downstream of the Cast Forge Company, which has
manufactured aluminum cast products since 1969. Until 1973, wastewater contaminated by
hydraulic fluids containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was discharged to the South
Branch of the Shiawassee River. From 1973 to 1977, wastewater was discharged into an on-site
lagoon. Both the site property and the river contain PCBs at elevated levels. Approximately
1,380 people within 3 miles of the Cast Forge Company are served by the deeper aquifer beneath
the site. Discharges from the on-site lagoon, as well as periodic overflows, have contaminated
wetlands located near the site. Subsequently, the Shiawassee River has been contaminated. The
river is used for many forms of recreation. PCBs have been found in fish as far as 52 miles
downstream.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
PCBs have been detected in fish, sediments, and soil. Wetland contamination has
been identified. The health threat of greatest concern is eating PCB-contaminated
fish. Other health threats include direct contact with contaminated river
sediments and soils.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a single long-term remedial
phase focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
151
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Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: Cast Forge Company removed the lagoon and cleaned up the
PCB-contaminated soil and sediment from the property. In 1982, dredging of the
South Branch of the Shiawassee River began. The first mile of the river, downstream
from the plant, was vacuumed, removing 2,600 pounds of PCBs.
Entire Site: The State, with EPA assistance, is conducting an investigation into soil
and sediment contamination at the site. The investigation will define the contaminants
and recommend alternatives for final cleanup. Field work includes groundwater,
surface water, sediment, and soil sampling. The flood plains and industrial area are being
sampled. The investigation is planned to be completed in 1992.
Environmental Progress
The removal of the lagoon and PCB-contaminated soil and sediments reduced the potential for
exposure to contaminants from the Shiawassee River site while studies are taking place and
cleanup activities are being planned.
April!991 152 SHIAWASSEE RIVER
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SOUTH MACOMB
DISPOSAL AUTHO
(LANDFILLS #9 Al\
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID069826170
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 12
Macomb County
Macomb Township
The 159-acre South Macomb Disposal Authority site is made up of two adjacent municipal landfills,
Landfills #9 and #9a, that have been inactive since 1975. In the early 1960s, municipal officials
formed the South Macomb Disposal Authority to help in the management and disposal of municipal
refuse. Between 1968 and 1975, the landfills received approximately 1,880,000 cubic yards of
municipal refuse. Reportedly, no hazardous wastes were disposed of in the landfills; however,
hazardous chemicals have been detected on and around the site. Prior to 1968, the site was used as a
sand and gravel excavation pit and for agricultural purposes. Landfill #9 reached capacity in 1971
and was subsequently covered with a soil cap and vegetation. Investigations in 1971 concluded that
leachate was discharging from Landfill #9 to the McBride Drain. Landfill #9a stopped receiving
municipal refuse in 1975 and also was covered with a soil cap and vegetation. In 1975, the State
inspected the site and concluded that leachate was migrating from Landfill #9a. From 1977 through
1981, the South Macomb Disposal Authority implemented various activities to stop leachate seepage
from the landfills which included improving erosion controls, tilling, regrading, covering the surface
of the site, and installing leachate collection systems. Two leachate collection systems are in
operation on site. Surface erosion of the landfills is evident around the perimeter of the site. Water
sampling of residential wells near the site in 1983 and 1984 indicated contamination. The site is
partially fenced. Approximately 75 homes are located within a 1-mile radius of the site. Two
contaminated aquifers are present beneath the site; a third, deeper aquifer is not contaminated. The
residents of 12 homes near the site have been advised not to use water from their wells and have
been connected to the City of Detroit Municipal Water Supply System. McBride Drain, an open
channel, receives runoff from the site and flows to the North Branch of the Clinton River, 1 1/2
miles from the site. Both McBride Drain and the Clinton River are used for recreational and
agricultural purposes.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/15/84
Final Date: 06/10/86
153
April 1991
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Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater monitoring wells have detected the presence of volatile organic
compounds (VOCs), heavy metals, and nitrate. Surface soils are contaminated with
heavy metals and VOCs. The primary potential health risk to people includes drinking
or coming in direct contact with contaminated water. Other potential health threats
include accidental ingestion of or direct contact with contaminated soil.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two phases: initial actions and a long-term remedial phase focusing
on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: Leachate controls have been put into place that include erosion control
measures, covering of the landfill, and installing a collection system and holding tank.
Residences with contaminated wells were connected to the municipal water supply.
Entire Site: The EPA completed its investigation into the nature and extent of site
contamination and potential effects on human health and the environment in 1990. The
investigation included soil gas testing, air sampling, surface soil sampling and testing,
leachate sampling, groundwater sampling, and subsurface soil sampling. Currently, methods of
groundwater extraction/collection and on-site treatment are being investigated. Design of selected
technologies is expected to begin in 1992. A separate remedial phase is planned related to the
contents of the landfill.
Environmental Progress
Early actions including capping the landfills, installing leachate collection systems, and providing an
alternate water supply to affected residents have substantially reduced the potential of exposure to
contaminants from the South Macomb Disposal Authority site while plans for final cleanup are
being formulated.
April 1991 154 SOUTH MACOMB DISPOSAL AUTHORITY
(LANDFILLS #9 AND#9A)
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SOUTHWEST O
COUNTY LAN
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID980608780
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 09
Ottawa County
Park Township
Other Names:
South Ottawa Disposal Corporation
The 43-acre Southwest Ottawa County Landfill site operated as a landfill, under license by the State,
until its closure in 1981. The landfill was constructed by Ottawa County in 1968 and received
solvents, heavy metals, sludge, oils, municipal refuse, and drums containing unspecified wastes.
When the State closed the site in 1981, it required the County to cover the landfill and to provide
hookups to the municipal water system for the residences with potentially affected wells,
Approximately 100 people live within 1/2 mile of the site. Lake Michigan also is approximately 1/2
mile from the site, while Lake Macatawa is approximately 2 miles from the site. Most private
residences with wells potentially affected by the landfill leachate have been connected to the City of
Holland water supply.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), heavy metals, phenol, and chloroform. The
contamination of the subsurface soil below the landfill is contributing to the groundwater
contamination. The primary health threat of concern is drinking contaminated
groundwater or eating plants irrigated with contaminated groundwater. Except for a gate
across the main entrance to the site, there is no fencing to prevent access.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in a single long-term remedial phase focusing on groundwater cleanup.
155
April 1991
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Response Action Status
Groundwater: Most of the private residences with wells potentially affected by the
landfill leachate have been connected to the City of Holland water supply. The County
installed a series of extraction wells and an activated carbon adsorption system. The
groundwater restoration system became operational in 1987. Two purge wells were installed by
the County near the landfill, and an additional five wells were installed 1/2 mile from the site to
capture residual groundwater contamination. All pumped and treated water is discharged under a
State permit.
Site Facts: Under a Consent Order, the landfill was closed in 1981. In 1984, a Groundwater
Restoration Agreement between the County and the State resulted in the subsequent installation
of extraction wells and a carbon adsorption water treatment system.
Environmental Progress
The provision of an alternate water supply by Ottawa County has eliminated the potential for
exposure to contaminated groundwater near the Southwest Ottawa County Landfill site. The
operation of the groundwater restoration system will continue to reduce groundwater
contamination levels until site goals are achieved.
April 1991
156
SOUTHWEST OTTAWA COUNTY LANDFILL
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SPARTA LANDFILL
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID000268136
Site Description
o
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 05
Kent County
Sparta Township
The 27-acre Sparta Landfill site operated as a landfill, accepting municipal refuse, foundry sand, and
industrial waste until 1977. Prior to 1965, Sparta Township and a private company operated the
landfill. The landfill was purchased by Kent County, the current owner, in 1970. Kent County
installed deep wells to replace four contaminated residential wells and provided bottled water for
other affected homes. Nine monitoring wells have been installed at the site. There is a large sludge
disposal area containing approximately 8,000 cubic yards of waste that is suspected of contaminating
the groundwater with heavy metals. Approximately 8,600 people live within 3 miles of the site, and
200 residences are within a 1/2-mile radius. Approximately 80 of these 200 residences are using the
shallow aquifer for their water supply. The Rogue River is 1/5 mile from the site. The City of
Rockford municipal water supply intake is 5 miles downstream from the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and County actions.
IMPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Potential health
threats to people include drinking or coming in direct contact with contaminated water
and breathing contaminated water vapors related to household uses.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: emergency actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
157
April 1991
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Response Action Status
Emergency Actions: At the request of the State, Kent County installed deep wells for
two nearby affected residences and provided bottled water for other affected homes.
Entire Site: The EPA will conduct an investigation into the nature and extent of
contamination at the site. The investigation will define the contaminants and will
recommend alternatives for final cleanup. It is scheduled to begin in 1992 and is to be
completed in 1994.
Environmental Progress
Providing an alternate source of water to affected residences eliminated the potential of exposure to
contaminated drinking water from the Sparta Landfill site and will continue to protect residents near
this site while investigations are underway and cleanup activities are being planned.
April 1991
158
SPARTA LANDFILL
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SPARTAN CHEM
COMPANY
MICHIGAN
EPAID#MID079300125
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 05
Kent County
Wyoming
The 2-acre Spartan Chemical Company site repackages, reblends, and distributes liquid industrial
chemicals. Chemicals currently are not manufactured on site. Prior to 1963, the company
discharged its wastewater to the groundwater. In 1981, five residential wells near the site were
found to be contaminated with volatile organic chemicals (VOCs). These wells have been
abandoned, and all five residences have been connected to the public water supply. An underlying
clay layer has prevented contamination of deeper aquifers. When contamination was discovered in
1975, explosive conditions existed in the storm sewer into which the groundwater discharged during
the dewatering activities. In 1986, an underground storage tank containing toluene was found to be
leaking. The tank has been emptied and is no longer in use. Approximately 7,200 people, some of
whom use private wells, live within 3 miles of the site. The closest residence is 1/4 mile from the
site. There are no public water supply wells in this area; public supplies are drawn from Lake
Michigan.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater is contaminated with VOCs, primarily from solvent and chemical discharge
spills and leaks. Soil was contaminated with VOCs prior to being treated by air stripping.
It is believed that there currently are no potential health threats to people at this site,
because disposal to groundwater stopped in 1963, and all aboveground storage tanks rest
on concrete pads surrounded by containment walls.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two long-term remedial phases focusing on groundwater and soil
cleanup.
159
April 1991
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Response Action Status
Groundwater: The potentially responsible party conducted a study to identify the
location of groundwater contamination. The party constructed a purge well and an air
stripping groundwater treatment system. The purge well has been operational since 1987,
with a noticeable effect in reducing groundwater contamination. The State installed a second purge
well off site to assure that groundwater contamination within the plume is contained and treated.
Soils: The State, with EPA assistance, conducted a study to address on-site soil
contamination in 1987. Air stripping has addressed the VOC contamination in the soil.
Site Facts: A Consent Order was signed by a potentially responsible party, requiring the party to
conduct a site investigation.
Environmental Progress
The groundwater treatment system has greatly reduced the potential for exposure to contaminated
materials at the Spartan Chemical Company site, and air stripping has eliminated the VOC
contamination in the on-site soils. Groundwater cleanup activities are underway.
April 1991
160
SPARTAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
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SPIEGELBERG
LANDFILL
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID980794481
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 06
Livingston County
Green Oak Township
Site Description
The 115-acre Spiegelberg Landfill site is a waste disposal pit that currently is being mined for sand,
gravel, and peat deposits. From 1966 to 1977, the site was used for the disposal of domestic waste,
with the main disposal area located in an abandoned sand and gravel pit. From 1967 to 1978, paint
sludge was dumped in one of the excavations of the gravel pit. The paint sludge area was the site's
major source of contamination. In 1986, wastes were covered with a plastic liner, and a layer of
sand was placed over the liner and wastes. The Spiegelberg site is adjacent to Rasmussen's Dump,
another NPL site. Several hundred people live within a mile of the site. More than 18,000 people
live within 3 miles of the landfill and use groundwater as a drinking water source. There are
approximately 250 wells within 1 mile of the site. The uncontaminated portion of the site is used for
recreational purposes including hunting and snowmobiling.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
Lead, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other organics are present in the
groundwater and soil. Potential health threats to people include accidentally ingesting or
coming in direct contact with contaminated groundwater or soil.
161
ApnM991
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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two long-term remedial phases focusing on the paint sludge area and
groundwater cleanup.
Response Action Status
Paint Sludge Area: The selected cleanup remedy to address the source of the
contamination included: (1) excavation of waste material; (2) off-site incineration of the
excavated waste material; and (3) disposal of waste into a landfill. The potentially
responsible parties, under EPA monitoring, completed excavation, separation, and incineration of
wastes and landfilling of the residue in late 1989. In late 1989 and early 1990, the potentially
responsible parties removed 58,500 tons of waste and soils. This included removing contaminated
soils down to the groundwater in the paint sludge disposal area and backfilling the area with clean
gravel.
Groundwater: In 1990, the State completed an investigation into the nature and extent
of groundwater contamination at the site and recommended alternative remedies for the
final groundwater cleanup. In mid-1990, the EPA chose to pump and treat groundwater
and reinject it to injection wells. Pump and treat technology for this site includes chemical
precipitation, bioremediation, air stripping, and carbon adsorption. Deed restrictions will be used to
restrict access to groundwater. Design of the selected remedy is expected to begin soon.
Site Facts: The EPA, the State, and the potentially responsible parties reached an agreement
requiring the parties to clean up the liquid and solid waste at the site.
Environmental Progress
The removal of containers of waste and contaminated soil has greatly reduced the potential for
exposure to contaminated materials at the Spiegelberg Landfill site while cleanup activities are being
planned.
April 1991 162 SPIEGELBERG LANDFILL
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SPRINGFIELD
TOWNSHIP DUINflP
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID980499966
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 06
Oakland County
35 miles northwest of Detroit
Other Names:
Oakland County Landfill
Site Description
The 4-acre Springfield Township Dump was used for chemical waste disposal from 1966 to 1968.
Liquid wastes and sludges were dumped into a low area at the site. During this same period,
approximately 1,500 drums of waste materials also were dumped at the site. Drums of waste
materials were stored at various locations throughout the dump. By 1980, 1,500 drums and 711 tons
of contaminated soil were removed from the site by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources
(MDNR). There are 25 residences located within 1 mile of the site, with the nearest residence
located 800 feet from the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and State actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and heavy metals
including arsenic and lead. Soil contains polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), VOCs,
phthalates, pesticides, and heavy metals including arsenic, barium, cadmium, and lead.
PCBs and dieldrin were detected in sludge. Health threats to people stem from direct
contact with contaminated soils and sludge, inhaling of contaminated dusts or vapors, or
accidental ingestion of contaminated soil or groundwater.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a long-term remedial phase focusing on
cleanup of the entire site.
163
April 1991
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Response Action Status
Initial Actions: A locked gate blocking the access road, warning signs, and a security
fence were installed at the site. Also, the state removed 1,500 drums and 711 tons of
polluted soil from the site by 1980.
Entire Site: The EPA and the State have completed an investigation into soil and
groundwater contamination at the site and recommended alternative remedies for final
cleanup. Based on the results of the investigation, the EPA in 1990 selected on-site
incineration, solidification, and in-place vacuum extraction for soil cleanup and extraction and
carbon adsorption for groundwater cleanup. Design of these technologies and additional soil
sampling have begun.
Environmental Progress
Removing drums and contaminated soil and installing a fence have significantly reduced the
potential for exposure to contaminated materials at the Springfield Township Dump site while
cleanup activities are being designed.
April 1991
164
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP DUMP
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STATE DISPOS
LANDFILL,
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID980609341
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 05
Kent County
Plainfield Township
The 30-acre State Disposal Landfill site operated from 1966 to 1972. From 1972 to 1976, the
landfill was owned and operated by Waste Management, Inc. In 1975, the landfill received a permit
from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) to accept general refuse. Since 1976,
Waste Management has maintained the landfill. The landfill was closed in 1977 and now is covered
with a layer of clay and equipped with methane gas vents. In 1985, the MDNR detected volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and heavy metals in monitoring wells downgradient of the site. Local
health officials warned some well owners near the site to seek an alternative drinking water source.
In 1985, Waste Management conducted a hydrogeological investigation of the site and installed
monitoring wells. Approximately 13,000 people obtain drinking water from public and private wells
within 3 miles of the site. Municipal water wells supplying Plainfield Township are 2 miles from the
site and have been affected; however, alternate wells are now being used.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/24/88
Final Date: 02/21/90
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater is contaminated with VOCs and heavy metals including barium and
nickel. The contaminated groundwater could be hazardous to health through direct
contact or ingestion.
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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: Between 1989 and 1990, the State extended a permanent
municipal water line to all affected residences. The potentially responsible parties have
installed a security fence at the site.
Entire Site: Waste Management of North America is conducting an investigation, under
State monitoring, to determine the extent of contamination on the site. The State is
conducting an off-site investigation of the contamination plume. Upon completion of the
investigations, scheduled for 1991, appropriate cleanup measures will be selected.
Environmental Progress
The extension of the municipal water line has eliminated the potential for residents to be exposed to
contaminated drinking water from the State Disposal Landfill site and will continue to protect nearby
residents while site investigations are underway and cleanup activities are being planned. A security
fence currently restricts access to the site and limits the potential for contact with contaminated
materials.
April 1991 166 STATE DISPOSAL LANDFILL, INC
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STURGIS MUNICIPAL
WELLS
MICHIGAN
EPAID#MID980703011
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 04
St. Joseph County
Sturgis
Site Description
Routine sampling by the Michigan Department of Public Health (MDPH) in 1982 revealed that two
of the four municipal wells serving the City of Sturgis were contaminated with volatile organic
compounds (VOCs). These two wells (the Layne well and the Jackson well) are located on the west
side of the City and supplied approximately 1/2 of the total city water at the time the contamination
was detected. The MDPH advised the City of Sturgis to cease using these wells except during peak
demands. Pumping capacity was increased on the two uncontaminated wells and the residents were
advised to reduce their potable water use. In 1983, two production wells at Ross Laboratories,
located 2,000 feet northwest of the municipal wells, revealed VOC contamination. These wells
were voluntarily removed from production and now are being used solely for cooling purposes. The
Layne well was abandoned in 1985. The Jackson well was still used occasionally to verify whether
it was functional for emergency use. In 1985, another municipal well, the Kirsch well, was found to
be contaminated with VOCs. This well subsequently was shut down. Of the four original
municipal wells, only the Oaklawn well remains uncontaminated. Approximately 10,000 people
live within the City of Sturgis, the majority of whom are served by the municipal water distribution
system. The City currently relies on the Oaklawn well and two new wells to meet its water needs.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and State actions.
IMPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 09/08/83
Final Date: 09/21/84
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater is contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene
(PCE) compounds. TCE, PCE, and other VOC compounds have been detected in the
soil. Direct contact with or accidental ingestion of the contaminated groundwater and
soil pose potential health threats.
167
April! 991
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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in a single long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
Response Action Status
Entire Site: The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) is conducting an
investigation to determine the nature and extent of contamination. The investigation
consists of groundwater monitoring, well installation, groundwater quality sampling, and
soil gas testing. The extent of contamination and three sources has been identified. In a draft
proposal submitted by the MDNR, the recommended cleanup actions include groundwater
extraction; groundwater treatment through air stripping, carbon adsorption, or chemical oxidation;
reinjection of the treated groundwater; soil vapor extraction; and excavation of any remaining
contaminated soil. The alternatives for site cleanup contained in the draft proposal are being
evaluated and remedy selection is scheduled for 1991.
Environmental Progress
After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary investigations and determined that
no immediate actions were required at the Sturgis Municipal Wells site while studies are being
completed and cleanup activities are being planned.
April1991 168 STURGIS MUNICIPAL WELLS
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TAR I AKF ^J£ EPA REGION 5
1 'nri 1-^llxt- ^3i-Ly^Ilfc~\ CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 11
MICHIGAN __^-9]ti^^ MAnrCT°unvh
I I h f s±] r\ Mancelona Township
EPA ID# MID980794655 j
Other Names:
Gulf and Western Antrim Property (Tar Lake)
Antrim Iron Works
Site Description
The 200-acre Tar Lake site contains the structural remains of various manufacturing companies that
produced iron. A secondary manufacturing process produced a waste similar to stillbottoms, which
was discharged into a depression on site. Operations ceased in 1944. As long ago as 1949,
groundwater contamination by phenolic compounds had been documented as far as 3 miles from the
site. A fence has been installed around the site. The total population served by well water in a 3-
mile radius of the site is approximately 3,000; about 800 people are served by private wells, and the
rest receive municipal water. The municipal wells are located 1 mile from the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
Phenols and lead have been detected in the groundwater. Phenols and heavy metals
including iron, lead, nickel, chromium, and copper have been detected in the sludge. The
contaminated groundwater poses a health hazard through direct contact or ingestion.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in a single long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
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April 1991
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Response Action Status
Entire Site: The Fifty-Sixth Century Antrim Iron Company is conducting a study to
determine the nature and extent of site contamination. Once the study is completed,
appropriate cleanup measures will be selected. Another study also is underway to address
source control and groundwater containment. Decisions on cleanup options for these concerns will
be made when this study is completed.
Site Facts: In 1986, the EPA issued an Administrative Order to the Fifty-Sixth Century Antrim
Iron Company to conduct the site study and to identify steps necessary to clean up the site.
Environmental Progress
After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary investigations and determined that
no immediate actions were required at the Tar Lake site while studies are taking place and cleanup
activities are being planned.
April 1991
170
TAR LAKE
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THERMO-CH^M?
MICHIGAN
EPAID#MID044567162
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 09
Muskegon County
Egleston Township
Site Description
Thermo-Chem, Inc. was involved in solvent reprocessing and liquid waste disposal on this 10-acre
site near Muskegon. Thermo-Chem, Inc. began operating in 1969 and continued until 1980. The
company received paint waste, antifreeze waste, and spent halogenated and non-halogenated
solvents. Distillation was used to regenerate usable solvents, and resultant sludges and residues
were incinerated at the site. In addition, materials that were unsuitable for processing reportedly
were incinerated at the site. Wastewater generated during the distillation processes and equipment
cleaning was discharged into a series of three interconnected seepage pits. Two of the seepage pits
were unlined, and the other was lined with clay to contain spills and contaminated wastes. All
drums and bulk liquid wastes were removed from the site by late 1982. There are no available
records documenting on-site disposal of hazardous materials. The process used for disposition of
incinerator ash is not known. Recently, the decision was made to include the 1 1/2-acre Thomas-
Solvent property, which is located adjacent to Thermo-Chem, Inc. and is contaminated with similar
wastes, to this site. Black Creek, which flows into Mona Lake, is only 2,000 feet away from the
site. Approximately 10,000 people live within a 3-mile radius of Thermo-Chem. The entire
population in this area is served by groundwater either from community wells or private wells. A
new mobile home park is under construction less than 1/2 mile from the Thermo-Chem site. The
water supply for the park will come from four wells drilled to a depth of 80 feet.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/15/84
Final Date: 06/10/86
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater, soil, and on-site sludges are contaminated with volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) including trichloroethylene (TCE), toluene, and xylene. The
contaminated groundwater and the soil pose a health hazard through direct contact or
ingestion. Surface drainage from the site is poor, and the permeable sand that exists
below the site facilitates the movement of contaminants into the groundwater.
Contaminants from the site could reach Black Creek and Mona Lake.
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April 1991
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Cleanup Approach —
The site is being addressed in three stages: immediate actions and two long-term remedial phases
focusing on cleanup of on-site soils, sludges, and groundwater, and of Black Creek and the
groundwater south of Black Creek.
Response Action Status
this site.
Immediate Actions: After a spill occurred in 1987, the EPA sampled, tested, and
removed 50 to 100 barrels of contaminated soil. A security fence was installed around 8
acres of the site in 1989. In early 1991, 16 underground storage tanks were removed from
On-Site Soils, Sludges, and Groundwater: The parties potentially responsible for
the site contamination are carrying out an investigation to determine the nature and the
extent of the contamination. The investigation, which is expected to be completed in
1991, also will evaluate the various engineering methods that can be used to clean up the site.
Black Creek and Groundwater South of Black Creek: The potentially responsible
parties are carrying out an investigation to determine the nature and extent of
contamination in this area. Based on the results of this investigation, expected to be
completed in late 1991, the EPA will recommend appropriate cleanup alternatives.
Site Facts: A Consent Order was signed in 1987 between the EPA and a committee composed of
the potentially responsible parties. The committee assumed responsibility for conducting a site
investigation and recommending methods that could be used to clean up the site.
Environmental Progress
By removing contaminated soil from the spill area, fencing the Thermo-Chem property, and
removing underground storage tanks, the potential for direct contact with hazardous materials has
been eliminated while investigations leading to the selection of permanent remedies for the
groundwater, soil, and sludge contamination are taking place.
April 1991
172
THERMO-CHEM, INC.
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TORCH LAKE
MICHIGAN
EPAID#MID980901946
Site Description
X ! EPA REGION 5
XQ CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 11
/ Houghton County
/ Keweenaw Waterway
Torch Lake is a 2,700-acre lake located in the Keweenaw Waterway in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
Copper mining activities in the area from the 1890s until 1969 produced mill tailings that
contaminated the lake sediments and shoreline. About 200 million tons of copper mill tailings were
dumped into the lake. The contaminated sediments are believed to be 70 feet thick in some areas,
and surficial sediments contain up to 2,000 parts per million (ppm) copper. The tailings deposited in
the lake and on the shoreline were dredged up during the early part of the 1900s and were processed
with flotation chemicals to reclaim copper. The tailings and much of the flotation chemicals were
returned to the lake and the shoreline. The lake also has received mine pumpage, leaching
chemicals, explosive residues and by-products, municipal and industrial trash, and sanitary wastes.
In 1972, an estimated 27,000 gallons of cupric ammonium carbonate were released into the lake
from storage vats. Barrels have been found at several sites along the shoreline of the lake. The only
active industry on the Torch Lake shoreline is the Peninsula Copper Company, which reclaims
copper oxide from scrap electronic circuit boards. During the early 1980s, the company dumped
processing water containing 2,400 times the local sewage authority's allowable limits for copper and
100 times the limit for ammonia into the Tamarack lagoon system. Recently, the Michigan
Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) funded a plan to monitor the lake and to restock fish
populations. The population within a mile of the lake is approximately 4,000. Most of the drinking
water in the area comes from springs or a municipal well located 1/4 mile north of the lake, near the
Trap Rock River. A public boat launch, beach, and park have been built on the northern shore of
Torch Lake near the Village of Lake Linden.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/15/84
Final Date: 06/10/86
173
April 1991
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Threats and Contaminants
The sediments and surface water are contaminated with copper and cupric ammonium
carbonate. The contaminated sediments and surface water pose a health hazard through
direct contact or ingestion. The Michigan Department of Health issued a fish consumption
advisory, since the contaminants already have affected the lake's fish and aquatic
vegetation. There also is concern about the physical hazards present on the site. These
include abandoned buildings, old machinery and equipment, and other discarded metal
objects such as rusting barrels, which can be found on the shoreline and in the water.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed through three long-term remedial phases focusing on the removal of
buried drums, the cleanup of groundwater and on-site tailings, and off-site tailings.
Response Action Status
Drums: The EPA began field investigation activities in 1988 at Torch Lake to determine
the nature and extent of contamination. A geophysical survey was conducted to locate
drums buried in the tailings piles on the western shore of Torch Lake and at the bottom of
the lake. Approximately 20 drums were located on the surface, and samples were taken to determine
if the drums contain any toxic materials. In 1990, 12 additional drum locations were excavated and
sampled. With the test results of all samples, the EPA is expected to identify cleanup methods and an
approach by 1992.
On-Site Tailings and Groundwater: In 1990, the EPA completed field work
involving a Bathymetric survey to locate submerged tailings, tailing and sediment
sampling, surface and groundwater sampling, and wildlife studies. This data will be used
to study the nature and extent of contamination and to identify cleanup alternatives.
Recommendations for cleanup are expected in 1992.
Off-Site Tailings: In 1990, the EPA sampled off-site tailings piles for metals and organic
compounds. Based on these sampling results, the EPA is expected to decide if further
investigation is warranted by 1992.
Environmental Progress
After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary investigations and determined that
no immediate actions were required at the Torch Lake site while investigations are taking place and
cleanup activities are being planned.
April 1991 174 TORCH LAKE
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U.S. AVIEX
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID980794556
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 04
Cass County
Howard Township
Site Description ;
U.S. Aviex manufactured non-lubricating automotive fluids at its 2-acre Huntly Road Plant in
Howard Township from the early 1960s until 1978. Although the plant is no longer in operation,
some buildings are used for storage purposes. In 1972, an underground pipeline containing diethyl
ether was broken during excavation on the southeastern side of the plant. Within three to four
months, low levels of ether had been detected in nearby residential wells. A fire in 1978 also
contributed to groundwater contamination in the area. Thousands of gallons of water were used to
extinguish the fire over a 2-day period. Barrels and indoor tanks of stored chemicals ruptured during
the blaze. Their contents either were consumed in the fire or washed from the plant into unpaved
areas, and subsequently, into the groundwater. Following the fire, residential wells were found to
contain low levels of the organic liquids believed to have been released from the plant. Throughout
the 1970s and early to mid-1980s, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and the
Michigan Department of Public Health (MDPH) collected samples from on-site and neighborhood
wells. Numerous single-family homes are located near the plant. The nearest houses are located
within 100 feet of the property. All residences have their own water supply wells. Farming and
manufacturing are the major occupations in the area surrounding the site. The closest agricultural
activity is located about 1/2 mile southeast of the site. An airport, a sewage treatment lagoon, and
various light industries are approximately 1 mile to the west of the site. There are 3 schools located
about 2 miles from the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater and soil are contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Direct contact with or ingestion of the contaminated groundwater and soil pose a
potential health risk. Inhaling contaminated vapors from the groundwater or soil also
could cause adverse health effects.
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April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
directed at cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: Since 1973, U.S. Aviex has provided bottled water to 32
homes having contaminated drinking water wells. U.S. Aviex also installed two new
wells. In 1982, a groundwater investigation and on-site groundwater treatment
program began. This program involves pumping groundwater out of the contaminated aquifer,
treating the water by air stripping, and discharging the treated water into the St. Joseph's River
system.
Entire Site: In 1988, the EPA selected the following methods to clean up the site:
soil flushing of approximately 11,500 cubic yards of contaminated on-site soil and
collection of on- and off-site groundwater and fluids from the soil flushing process,
with on-site treatment by air stripping. The design of the remedies is expected to be completed
in mid-1991, and the entire cleanup process is scheduled for completion in 1992.
Site Facts: In early 1982, the State filed a suit against U.S. Aviex. The company was ordered
to conduct a pump test as a first step to investigate and clean the contaminated groundwater. In
1986, U.S. Aviex filed for bankruptcy. Funds had been initially set aside for the investigation;
therefore, the bankruptcy action did not affect the investigation.
Environmental Progress
By providing local residents with a safe drinking water source and beginning to treat polluted
groundwater, the potential for exposure to contaminated groundwater has been virtually
eliminated. The operation of the groundwater treatment system will continue to protect nearby
residents and the environment from the contamination at the U.S. Aviex site while design of soil
cleanup technologies continues.
April 1991 176 U.S. AVIEX
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VELSICOL CHEMI
CORP.
(MICHIGAN)
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID000722439
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 10
Gratiot County
St. Louis
The Velsicol Chemical Corp. (Michigan) site consists of 50 acres in St. Louis. The site was used by
other companies from the mid-1800s to 1936, but it is not known what activities took place on the
site during that time. Located on the site were two injection disposal wells, a dredge pond, a lagoon,
a radioactive waste disposal area, and one or more drum storage areas. In 1974, the Michigan
Department of Public Health (MDPH) issued a fish consumption advisory for the Pine River
downstream of the site. Fish kills occurred as late as 1979, and a red leachate was observed oozing
into the river from the site. The population within 1 mile of the site is approximately 4,100. The
nearest residence is less than 500 feet away. The Pine River is used for fishing, boating, swimming,
and other recreational purposes. Water for drinking and other purposes is supplied from six
municipal wells located to the east and southeast of the site, with the nearest well being about 1,500
feet away. The site is located adjacent to the Pine River.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
On-site groundwater is contaminated with chloride, sulfate, phenol, and carbon
tetrachloride. On-site soil samples revealed contamination with phenol and lead.
Potential risks exist for people who eat contaminated fish and wildlife from the area of
the site.
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April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in a single long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
Response Action Status
Entire Site: In 1982, the following cleanup technologies were selected: (1) demolition,
salvage, and removal of building materials and scrap; (2) construction of a 2-foot-thick
slurry wall groundwater containment system; (3) construction of a clay cap; (4) a
groundwater collection system with deep well injection; and (5) a long-term maintenance and
monitoring program. Between 1983 and 1984, containment activities, including capping the site
and construction of a shallow groundwater cut-off wall, were conducted. In 1984 and 1985, the site
was fenced, and warning signs were posted to limit access. The State is overseeing maintenance
and monitoring operations. In addition, the EPA plans to investigate the deep aquifer and will
install six deep monitoring wells and one shallow well in the summer of 1991.
Site Facts: A Consent Agreement was signed in 1982 between the Michigan Department of
Natural Resources and Velsicol for the company to conduct the site cleanup.
Environmental Progress
By capping the site, installing a fence, posting warning signs, and building a system to prevent the
movement of contaminated groundwater off the site, the potential for direct exposure to hazardous
materials from the Velsicol Chemical site has been significantly reduced. The site is being closely
monitored to ensure the effectiveness of the cleanup remedies while the EPA is conducting studies
into the extent of deep aquifer contamination.
April 1991 178 VELSICOL CHEMICAL CORP. (MICHIGAN)
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VERONA WELL
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID980793806
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 03
Calhoun County
Battle Creek
Other Names:
Battle Creek Verona Well Field
Site Description
The Verona Well Field, in the northeastern corner of Battle Creek, covers 160 acres and consists of
30 wells. During 1981, the Calhoun County Health Department discovered that the Verona Well
Field, which supplies potable water to an estimated 53,500 residents and a variety of businesses,
was contaminated with tricholoroethylene (TCE) and other volatile hydrocarbons. In 1984, the EPA
undertook a program to halt the spread of contamination. Three additional drinking water wells
were drilled north of the existing well field, and five of the existing wells were converted to pump
the water to a treatment system in order to create a hydrologic barrier to the advancing contaminant
plume. By fall 1984, the actions had raised the number of clean wells to 13, and a sufficient
quantity of potable water to fulfill the maximum municipal demand was ensured. The population of
Battle Creek is approximately 53,500.
Site Responsibility:
The site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 07/16/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater was contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including
perchloroethylene (PCE), TCE, toluene, xylene, and vinyl chloride. There presently is no
potential human exposure to VOCs from the site. The city's drinking water is supplied
from wells that are not contaminated.
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April 1991
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Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in three stages: immediate actions and two long-term remedial phases
focusing on cleanup of the southern plume and the eastern plume.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1983, bottled water and portable showers were provided to
residences and businesses east of the Battle Creek River and west of the railroad yard until
water main connections from the city system were completed. In 1989, a purge system
was installed to prevent any further migration of contaminants into the northern portion of the field.
A pump house was constructed and safety lights and a high-water alarm were installed. Three
additional drinking water wells were drilled north of the existing well field. Water from these
blocking wells is pumped to an air stripper/carbon adsorption system, which removes the VOCs
prior to discharge of the treated water into the Battle Creek River.
Southern Plume: The following cleanup methods were chosen for the southern
contaminant plume: (1) construction of a groundwater extraction well system to contain
and collect contaminated groundwater in the vicinity of the Thomas Solvent Company
(Raymond Road facility); (2) pumping and treatment of contaminated groundwater at the existing
well field air stripping facility; (3) installation of air extraction wells to enhance the vaporization of
VOCs from the contaminated solids; and (4) continued maintenance of the groundwater extraction
system. The soil vapor extraction system is scheduled for completion in the summer of 1993.
Eastern Plume: An investigation of the extent of contamination at two other sources of
contamination is being conducted by the EPA. The EPA is expected to decide on the
cleanup approach and technologies in the summer of 1991.
Site Facts: In March 1984, Thomas Solvent Company was ordered to immediately install and
operate a purge well and treatment system. In April 1984, Thomas Solvent Company filed Chapter
11 bankruptcy.
Environmental Progress
The provision of an alternate water supply and the installation of a groundwater treatment system
significantly reduced the potential for exposure to contaminated groundwater from the Verona Well
Field site while final cleanup actions and investigations are underway.
April 1991 180 VERONA WELL FIELD
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WASH KING LA
MICHIGAN
EPA!D#MID980701247
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 09
Lake County
Pleasant Plains Township
Site Description
The Wash King Laundry is located on a 2-acre site in Pleasant Plains Township and has been in
operation since 1962 as a coin-operated laundry. The operation eventually included dry cleaning. In
1962, Wash King Laundry was granted permission to discharge soapy laundry wastewater to nearby
seepage lagoons that had been constructed for this purpose. During the 1960s and early 1970s, the
area experienced increasing development, and many seasonal homes were constructed in the
vicinity. Pollution of the groundwater by laundry detergent wastes was first detected in 1973. Dry
cleaning solvents, particularly perchloroethylene (PCE), were discharged to the wastewater lagoons
in the 1970s. In 1977, PCE contamination of groundwater was also detected, and in 1978, Wash
King agreed to cease all dry cleaning operations. In 1979, it was determined that approximately 30
domestic water supplies northeast of the laundromat were contaminated with PCE. Housing in the
area consists of mobile homes, trailers, and cottages, most of which are utilized on a seasonal basis.
The population within a 3-mile radius of the site is approximately 4,000. Only three residences in
the immediate vicinity of the site are occupied on a year-round basis.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
IMPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater is contaminated with PCE, phosphorus, sodium, and chloride. Lagoons still
in use for laundry discharge and minor amounts of sludge contain the same contaminants
as the groundwater. Drinking or coming into direct contact with contaminated water may
pose a health risk.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
181
April 1991
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Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1984, the Wash King owner installed a public water supply
system to serve the affected homes and commercial establishments in the area.
Entire Site: The State is conducting an investigation to determine the extent and source
of contamination. At the conclusion of the investigation, expected in 1992, a final remedy
will be selected to clean up the site.
Site Facts: In 1978, a court agreement was reached, under which Wash King agreed to cease all
dry cleaning operations and to eliminate all sources of PCE at the facility.
Environmental Progress
By providing a safe drinking water source to the affected homes and businesses near the Wash
King Laundry site, the potential for exposure to contaminated groundwater has been reduced.
Investigations leading to the selection of the final cleanup remedies currently are underway.
April 1991
182
WASH KING LAUNDRY
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WASTE MANA
OF MICHIGAN
(HOLLAND LAGO
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID060179587
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 09
Ottawa County
North of Holland
Other Names:
Jacobusses Refuse Service
Site Description
The 160-acre Waste Management of Michigan site north of Holland was used from 1971 to 1979 as
a dewatering site for liquid industrial wastes, including aluminum and metallic hydroxides and
activated sludge residues. The dewatering lagoons occupied approximately 15 acres of the site.
Forty-three 55-gallon drums of wastes were removed intact in 1980. All dewatering sludges and on-
site contaminated soils have been transferred to the Southwest Ottawa County Landfill (SWOCL),
an adjacent NPL site that now is closed. An active landfill was operated at the site in the late 1960s,
and partially buried refuse is scattered across the surface. The estimated population living within 1/2
mile of the site is less than 50. However, the area is rapidly developing, and a new subdivision has
been created near the site. Holland State Park, a popular summer vacation and recreation spot, lies
less than 3 miles to the southwest of the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through a
combination of Federal, State, and
potentially responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/15/84
Final Date: 06/10/86
Threats and Contaminants
Initial sampling indicated groundwater contamination with volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) including toluene, benzene, trichloroethylene (TCE) and vinyl chloride and the
heavy metal cadmium. People may be exposed to contaminants through accidental
ingestion or direct contact with contaminated water.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a single long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
183
April 1991
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Response Action Status
Initial Actions: In 1980,43 55-gallon drums of waste were removed from the site. In
addition, dewatering sludges and contaminated soils were removed.
Entire Site: The State and the potentially responsible parties investigated the extent of
contamination at the site. Comprehensive water sampling from monitoring wells and soil
samples showed no contaminant levels of concern. Waste Management of Michigan is
expected to begin the process of having the site deleted from the NPL.
Environmental Progress
The removal of on-site drums and sludges in 1980 has eliminated the potential threat to area
residents and the environment. The EPA and Waste Management of Michigan are cooperating in
efforts to have the site removed from the NPL.
April 1991
184
WASTE MANAGEMENT OF MICHIGAN
(HOLLAND LAGOONS)
-------
WHITEHALL
MUNICIPAL WEL
MICHIGAN
EPA ID# MID980701254
EPA REGION 5
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 09
Muskegon County
Northeast portion of Whitehall
Other Names:
Funnel Field Well #3
Municipal Well #3
Site Description
The Whitehall Municipal Wells site is located in the northeastern section of Whitehall. The site is in
Funnel Field, north of Colby Street and south of the ravine and backwaters of the White River. In
1980, as a result of a routine quarterly sampling of the city's water supply, an organic solvent was
detected in the water. Further testing showed that the source of the contamination was Well 3. In
early 1981, the City took Well 3 off line and increased pumpage rates in Wells 2, 4, and 5 in order to
provide adequate water for the city. The City later brought Well 6 on line to increase the normal
water supply and decided to permanently close Well 3. Sampling of residential wells in 1982
indicated contamination of those wells with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Affected
residences were connected to the city water supply. Further investigation indicated that the source of
the residential well and groundwater contamination was not related to Well 3. Approximately 3,000
people live in the City of Whitehall, and about 20 residences still rely on their private wells for
potable water.
Site Responsibility:
This site was addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/21/84
Deleted Date: 02/11/91
Threats and Contaminants
Well 3 and surrounding monitoring wells have shown only minimal levels of
contaminants, or none at all, since 1982. Contaminants found in the groundwater in the
past have included perchloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), and chloroform.
Accidental ingestion, inhalation, or direct contact with contaminated water may have
posed a health threat.
Cleanup Approach
The site was addressed in a single long-term remedial phase directed at cleanup of the entire site.
185
April 1991
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Response Action Status
Entire Site: An investigation and risk assessment indicated there was no public health
risk involved with the site. As a result of the closing of Well 3, no further cleanup action
is recommended. The Michigan Department of Public Health will continue its routine
sampling of the city water supply and will investigate other areas of groundwater contamination.
This site was deleted from the NPL in early 1991.
Site Facts: In 1985, the EPA issued a Consent Order to Shellcast, Inc. and White Lake Landfill,
Inc., requiring them to install and sample monitoring wells and to provide a potable water supply
line to residents whose water supplies may be threatened by hazardous substances in the
groundwater.
Environmental Progress
The closing of Well 3 eliminated the potential for exposure to hazardous materials at the Whitehall
Municipal Wells site. The State is continuing to sample and monitor the groundwater to ensure
continued protection of nearby residents and the environment.
April 1991
186
WHITEHALL MUNICIPAL WELLS
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APPENDIX A
Glossary:
Terms Used
in the
Fact Sheets
187
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GLOSSARY
This glossary defines terms used
throughout the NPL Volumes. The
terms and abbreviations contained in
this glossary apply specifically to work
performed under the Superfund program in
the context of hazardous waste management.
These terms may have other meanings when
used in a different context.
Terms Used
in the NPL
Book
Acids: Substances, characterized by low pH
(less than 7.0), that are used in chemical
manufacturing. Acids in high concentration
can be very corrosive and react with many
inorganic and organic substances. These
reactions possibly may create toxic com-
pounds or release heavy metal contaminants
that remain in the environment long after the
acid is neutralized.
Administrative Order On Consent: A legal
and enforceable agreement between the EPA
and the parties potentially responsible for site
contamination. Under the terms of the Order,
the potentially responsible parties (PRPs)
agree to perform or pay for site studies or
cleanups. It also describes the oversight rules,
responsibilities, and enforcement options that
the government may exercise in the event of
non-compliance by potentially responsible
parties. This Order is signed by PRPs and the
government; it does not require approval by a
judge.
Administrative Order [Unilateral]: A
legally binding document issued by the EPA,
directing the parties potentially responsible to
perform site cleanups or studies (generally,
the EPA does not issue Unilateral Orders for
site studies).
Aeration: A process that promotes break-
down of contaminants in soil or water by
exposing them to air.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry (ATSDR): The Federal agency
within the U.S. Public Health Service charged
with carrying out the health-related responsi-
bilities of CERCLA.
Air Stripping: A process whereby volatile
organic chemicals (VOCs) are removed from
contaminated material by forcing a stream of
air through it in a pressurized vessel. The
contaminants are evaporated into the air
stream. The air may be further treated before
it is released into the atmosphere.
Ambient Air: Any unconfined part of the
atmosphere. Refers to the air that may be
inhaled by workers or residents in the vicinity
of contaminated air sources.
Aquifer: An underground layer of rock,
sand, or gravel capable of storing water
within cracks and pore spaces, or between
grains. When water contained within an
aquifer is of sufficient quantity and quality, it
can be tapped and used for drinking or other
purposes. The water contained in the aquifer
is called groundwater. A sole source aquifer
supplies 50% or more of the drinking water of
an area.
Artesian (Well): A well made by drilling
into the earth until water is reached, which,
from internal pressure, flows up like a foun-
tain.
189
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GLOSSARY.
Attenuation: The naturally occurring pro-
cess by which a compound is reduced in
concentration over time through adsorption,
degradation, dilution, and/or transformation.
Background Level: The amount of a sub-
stance typically found in the air, water, or soil
from natural, as opposed to human, sources.
Baghouse Dust: Dust accumulated in remov-
ing particulates from the air by passing it
through cloth bags in an enclosure.
Bases: Substances characterized by high pH
(greater than 7.0), which tend to be corrosive
in chemical reactions. When bases are mixed
with acids, they neutralize each other, form-
ing salts.
Berm: A ledge, wall, or a mound of earth
used to prevent the migration of contami-
nants.
Bioaccumulate: The process by which some
contaminants or toxic chemicals gradually
collect and increase in concentration in living
tissue, such as in plants, fish, or people, as
they breathe contaminated air, drink contami-
nated water, or eat contaminated food.
Biological Treatment: The use of bacteria or
other microbial organisms to break down
toxic organic materials into carbon dioxide
and water.
Bioremediation: A cleanup process using
naturally occurring or specially cultivated
microorganisms to digest contaminants and
break them down into non-hazardous compo-
nents.
Bog: A type of wetland that is covered with
peat moss deposits. Bogs depend primarily
on moisture from the air for their water
source, are usually acidic, and are rich in plant
residue [see Wetland].
Boom: A floating device used to contain oil
floating on a body of water or to restrict the
potential overflow of waste Liquids from
containment structures.
Borehole: A hole that is drilled into the
ground and used to sample soil or ground-
water.
Borrow Pit: An excavated area where soil,
sand, or gravel has been dug up for use
elsewhere.
Cap: A layer of material, such as clay or a
synthetic material, used to prevent rainwater
from penetrating and spreading contaminated
materials. The surface of the cap generally is
mounded or sloped so water will drain off.
Carbon Adsorption: A treatment system in
which contaminants are removed from
groundwater and surface water by forcing
water through tanks containing activated
carbon, a specially treated material that
attracts and holds or retains contaminants.
Carbon Disulflde: A degreasing agent
formerly used extensively for parts washing.
This compound has both inorganic and or-
ganic properties, which increase cleaning
efficiency. However, these properties also
cause chemical reactions that increase the
hazard to human health and the environment
Carbon Treatment: [see Carbon Adsorp-
tion].
Cell: In solid waste disposal, one of a series
of holes in a landfill where waste is dumped,
compacted, and covered with layers of dirt.
CERCLA: [see Comprehensive Environ-
mental Response, Compensation, and Liabil-
ity Act].
Characterization: The sampling, monitor-
ing, and analysis of a site to determine the
190
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GLOSSARY
extent and nature of toxic releases. Character-
ization provides the basis for acquiring the
necessary technical information to develop,
screen, analyze, and select appropriate
cleanup techniques.
Chemical Fixation: The use of chemicals to
bind contaminants, thereby reducing the
potential for leaching or other movement.
Chromated Copper Arsenate: An insecti-
cide/herbicide formed from salts of three toxic
metals: copper, chromium, and arsenic. This
salt is used extensively as a wood preservative
in pressure-treating operations. It is highly
toxic and water-soluble, making it a relatively
mobile contaminant in the environment.
Cleanup: Actions taken to eliminate a
release or threat of release of a hazardous
substance. The term "cleanup" sometimes is
used interchangeably with the terms remedial
action, removal action, response action, or
corrective action.
Closure: The process by which a landfill
stops accepting wastes and is shut down,
under Federal guidelines that ensure the
protection of the public and the environment.
Comment Period: A specific interval during
which the public can review and comment on
various documents and EPA actions related to
site cleanup. For example, a comment period
is provided when the EPA proposes to add
sites to the NPL. There is minimum 3-week
comment period for community members to
review and comment on the remedy proposed
to clean up a site.
Community Relations: The EPA effort to
establish and maintain two-way communica-
tion with the public. Goals of community
relations programs include creating an under-
standing of EPA programs and related ac-
tions, assuring public input into decision-
making processes related to affected commu-
nities, and making certain that the Agency is
aware of, and responsive to, public concerns.
Specific community relations activities are
required in relation to Superfund cleanup
actions [see Comment Period].
Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act
(CERCLA): Congress enacted the
CERCLA, known as Superfund, in 1980 to
respond directly to hazardous waste problems
that may pose a threat to the public health and
the environment. The EPA administers the
Superfund program.
Confluence: The place where two bodies of
water, such as streams or rivers, come to-
gether.
Consent Decree: A legal document, ap-
proved and issued by a judge, formalizing an
agreement between the EPA and the parties
potentially responsible for site contamination.
The decree describes cleanup actions that the
potentially responsible parties are required to
perform and/or the costs incurred by the
government that the parties will reimburse, as
well as the roles, responsibilities, and enforce-
ment options that the government may exer-
cise in the event of non-compliance by poten-
tially responsible parties. If a settlement
between the EPA and a potentially respon-
sible party includes cleanup actions, it must
be in the form of a Consent Decree. A Con-
sent Decree is subject to a public comment
period.
Consent Order: [see Administrative Order
on Consent].
Containment: The process of enclosing or
containing hazardous substances in a struc-
ture, typically in a pond or a lagoon, to pre-
vent the migration of contaminants into the
environment.
191
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GLOSSARY.
Contaminant: Any physical, chemical,
biological, or radiological material or sub-
stance whose quantity, location, or nature
produces undesirable health or environmental
effects.
Contingency Plan: A document setting out
an organized, planned, and coordinated course
of action to be followed in case of a fire,
explosion, or other accident that releases toxic
chemicals, hazardous wastes, or radioactive
materials into the environment
Cooperative Agreement: A contract be-
tween the EPA and the States, wherein a State
agrees to manage or monitor certain site
cleanup responsibilities and other activities on
a cost-sharing basis.
Cost Recovery: A legal process by which
potentially responsible parties can be required
to pay back the Superfund program for money
it spends on any cleanup actions [see Poten-
tially Responsible Parties].
Cover: Vegetation or other material placed
over a landfill or other waste material. It can
be designed to reduce movement of water into
the waste and to prevent erosion that could
cause the movement of contaminants.
Creosotes: Chemicals used in wood preserv-
ing operations and produced by distillation of
tar, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocar-
bons and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons
[see PAHs and PNAs]. Contaminating
sediments, soils, and surface water, creosotes
may cause skin ulcerations and cancer
through prolonged exposure.
Culvert: A pipe used for drainage under a
road, railroad track, path, or through an
embankment.
Decommission: To revoke a license to
operate and take out of service.
Degradation: The process by which a
chemical is reduced to a less complex form.
Degrease: To remove grease from wastes,
soils, or chemicals, usually using solvents.
De minimis: This legal phrase pertains to
settlements with parties who contributed
small amounts of hazardous waste to a site.
This process allows the EPA to settle with
small, or de minimis contributors, as a single
group rather than as individuals, saving time,
money, and effort.
Dewater: To remove water from wastes,
soils, or chemicals.
Dike: A low wall that can act as a barrier to
prevent a spill from spreading.
Disposal: Final placement or destruction of
toxic, radioactive, or other wastes; surplus or
banned pesticides or other chemicals; polluted
soils; and drums containing hazardous materi-
als. Disposal may be accomplished through
the use of approved secure landfills, surface
impoundments, land farming, deep well
injection, or incineration.
Downgradient: A downward hydrologic
slope that causes groundwater to move toward
lower elevations. Therefore, wells downgra-
dient of a contaminated groundwater source
are prone to receiving pollutants.
Effluent: Wastewater, treated or untreated,
that flows out of a treatment plant, sewer, or
industrial outfall. Generally refers to wastes
discharged into surface waters.
Emission: Pollution discharged into the
atmosphere from smokestacks, other vents,
and surface areas of commercial or industrial
facilities.
Emulsifiers: Substances that help in mixing
materials that do not normally mix; e.g., oil
and water.
192
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GLOSSARY
Endangerment Assessment: A study con-
ducted to determine the risks posed to public
health or the environment by contamination at
NPL sites. The EPA or the State conducts the
study when a legal action is to be taken to
direct the potentially responsible parties to
clean up a site or pay for the cleanup. An
endangerment assessment supplements an
investigation of the site hazards.
Enforcement: EPA, State, or local legal
actions taken against parties to facilitate
settlements; to compel compliance with laws,
rules, regulations, or agreements; and/or to
obtain penalties or criminal sanctions for
violations. Enforcement procedures may
vary, depending on the specific requirements
of different environmental laws and related
regulatory requirements. Under CERCLA,
for example, the EPA will seek to require
potentially responsible parties to clean up a
Superfund site or pay for the cleanup [see
Cost Recovery].
Erosion: The wearing away of land surface
by wind or water. Erosion occurs naturally
from weather or surface runoff, but can be
intensified by such land-related practices as
farming, residential or industrial develop-
ment, road building, or timber-cutting. Ero-
sion may spread surface contamination to off-
site locations.
Estuary (estuarine): Areas where fresh
water from rivers and salt water from
nearshore ocean waters are mixed. These
areas may include bays, mouths of rivers, salt
marshes, and lagoons. These water ecosys-
tems shelter and feed marine life, birds, and
wildlife.
Evaporation Ponds: Areas where sewage
sludge or other watery wastes are dumped and
allowed to dry out.
Feasibility Study: The analysis of the
potential cleanup alternatives for a site. The
feasibility study usually starts as soon as the
remedial investigation is underway; together,
they are commonly referred to as the RI/FS
[see Remedial Investigation].
Filtration: A treatment process for removing
solid (particulate) matter from water by
passing the water through sand, activated
carbon, or a man-made filter. The process is
often used to remove particles that contain
contaminants.
Flood Plain: An area along a river, formed
from sediment deposited by floods. Flood
plains periodically are innundated by natural
floods, which can spread contamination.
Flue Gas: The air that is emitted from a
chimney after combustion in the burner
occurs. The gas can include nitrogen oxides,
carbon oxides, water vapor, sulfur oxides,
particles, and many chemical pollutants.
Fly Ash: Non-combustible residue that
results from the combustion of flue gases. It
can include nitrogen oxides, carbon oxides,
water vapor, sulfur oxides, as well as many
other chemical pollutants.
French Drain System: A crushed rock drain
system constructed of perforated pipes, which
is used to drain and disperse wastewater.
Gasification (coal): The conversion of soft
coal into gas for use as a fuel.
Generator: A facility that emits pollutants
into the air or releases hazardous wastes into
water or soil.
Good Faith Offer: A voluntary offer, gener-
ally in response to a Special Notice letter,
made by a potentially responsible party,
consisting of a written proposal demonstrating
a potentially responsible party's qualifications
193
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GLOSSARY.
and willingness to perform a site study or
cleanup.
Groundwater: Underground water that fills
pores in soils or openings in rocks to the point
of saturation. In aquifers, groundwater occurs
in sufficient quantities for use as drinking and
irrigation water and other purposes.
Groundwater Quality Assessment: The
process of analyzing the chemical characteris-
tics of groundwater to determine whether any
hazardous materials exist.
Halogens: Reactive non-metals, such as
chlorine and bromine. Halogens are very
good oxidizing agents and, therefore, have
many industrial uses. They are rarely found
by themselves; however, many chemicals
such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs),
some volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
and dioxin are reactive because of the pres-
ence of halogens.
Hazard Ranking System (HRS): The
principal screening tool used by the EPA to
evaluate relative risks to public health and the
environment associated with abandoned or
uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. The HRS
calculates a score based on the potential of
hazardous substances spreading from the site
through the air, surface water, or groundwater
and on other factors such as nearby popula-
tion. The HRS score is the primary factor in
deciding if the site should be on the NPL.
Hazardous Waste: By-products of society
that can pose a substantial present or potential
hazard to human health and the environment
when improperly managed. It possesses at
least one of four characteristics (ignitability,
corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity), or appears
on special EPA lists.
Hot Spot: An area or vicinity of a site con-
taining exceptionally high levels of contami-
nation.
Hydrogeology: The geology of groundwater,
with particular emphasis on the chemistry and
movement of water.
Impoundment: A body of water or sludge
confined by a dam, dike, floodgate, or other
barrier.
Incineration: A group of treatment technolo-
gies involving destruction of waste by con-
trolled burning at high temperatures, e.g.,
burning sludge to reduce the remaining
residues to a non-burnable ash that can be
disposed of safely on land, in some waters, or
in underground locations.
Infiltration: The movement of water or other
liquid down through soil from precipitation
(rain or snow) or from application of waste-
water to the land surface.
Influent: Water, wastewater, or other liquid
flowing into a reservoir, basin, or treatment
plant.
Injection Well: A well into which waste
fluids are placed, under pressure, for purposes
of disposal.
Inorganic Chemicals: Chemical substances
of mineral origin, not of basic carbon struc-
ture.
Installation Restoration Program: The
specially funded program established in 1978
under which the Department of Defense has
been identifying and evaluating its hazardous
waste sites and controlling the migration of
hazardous contaminants from those sites.
Intake: The source from where a water
supply is drawn, such as from a river or water
body.
Interagency Agreement: A written agree-
ment between the EPA and a Federal agency
that has the lead for site cleanup activities,
194
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GLOSSARY
setting forth the roles and responsibilities of
the agencies for performing and overseeing
the activities. States often are parties to
interagency agreements.
Interim (Permit) Status: Conditions under
which hazardous waste treatment, storage,
and disposal facilities, that were operating
when regulations under the RCRA became
final in 1980, are temporarily allowed by the
EPA to continue to operate while awaiting
denial or issuance of a permanent permit. The
facility must comply with certain regulations
to maintain interim status.
Lagoon: A shallow pond or liquid waste
containment structure. Lagoons typically are
used for the storage of wastewaters, sludges,
liquid wastes, or spent nuclear fuel.
Landfarm: To apply waste to land and/or
incorporate waste into the surface soil, such
as fertilizer or soil conditioner. This practice
commonly is used for disposal of composted
wastes and sludges.
Landfill: A disposal facility where waste is
placed in or on land. Sanitary landfills are
disposal sites for non-hazardous solid wastes.
The waste is spread in layers, compacted to
the smallest practical volume, and covered
with soil at the end of each operating day.
Secure chemical landfills are disposal sites for
hazardous waste. They are designed to
minimize the chance of release of hazardous
substances into the environment [see Re-
source Conservation and Recovery Act].
Leachate [n]: The liquid that trickles
through or drains from waste, carrying soluble
components from the waste. Leach, Leach-
ing [v.t.]: The process by which soluble
chemical components are dissolved and
carried through soil by water or some other
percolating liquid.
Leachate Collection System: A system that
gathers liquid that has leaked into a landfill or
other waste disposal area and pumps it to the
surface for treatment
Liner: A relatively impermeable barrier
designed to prevent leachate (waste residue)
from leaking from a landfill. Liner materials
include plastic and dense clay.
Long-term Remedial Phase: Distinct, often
incremental, steps that are taken to solve site
pollution problems. Depending on the com-
plexity, site cleanup activities can be sepa-
rated into several of these phases.
Marsh: A type of wetland that does not
contain peat moss deposits and is dominated
by vegetation. Marshes may be either fresh or
saltwater and tidal or non-tidal [see Wetland].
Migration: The movement of oil, gas,
contaminants, water, or other liquids through
porous and permeable soils or rock.
Mill Tailings: [See Mine Tailings].
Mine Tailings: A fine, sandy residue left
from mining operations. Tailings often
contain high concentrations of lead, uranium,
and arsenic or other heavy metals.
Mitigation: Actions taken to improve site
conditions by limiting, reducing, or control-
ling toxicity and contamination sources.
Modeling: A technique using a mathematical
or physical representation of a system or
theory that tests the effects that changes on
system components have on the overall
performance of the system.
Monitoring Wells: Special wells drilled at
specific locations within, or surrounding, a
hazardous waste site where groundwater can
be sampled at selected depths and studied to
obtain such information as the direction in
195
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GLOSSARY^
which groundwater flows and the types and
amounts of contaminants present.
National Priorities List (NPL): The EPA's
list of the most serious uncontrolled or aban-
doned hazardous waste sites identified for
possible long-term cleanup under Superfund.
The EPA is required to update the NPL at
least once a year.
Neutrals: Organic compounds that have a
relatively neutral pH, complex structure and,
due to their organic bases, are easily absorbed
into the environment. Naphthalene, pyrene,
and trichlorobenzene are examples of
neutrals.
Nitroaromatics: Common components of
explosive materials, which will explode if
activated by very high temperatures or pres-
sures; 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT) is a
nitroaromatic.
Notice Letter: A General Notice Letter
notifies the parties potentially responsible for
site contamination of their possible liability.
A Special Notice Letter begins a 60-day
formal period of negotiation during which the
EPA is not allowed to start work at a site or
initiate enforcement actions against poten-
tially responsible parties, although the EPA
may undertake certain investigatory and
planning activities. The 60-day period may
be extended if the EPA receives a good faith
offer within that period.
On-Scene Coordinator (OSC): The
predesignated EPA, Coast Guard, or Depart-
ment of Defense official who coordinates and
directs Superfund removal actions or Clean
Water Act oil- or hazardous-spill corrective
actions.
Operation and Maintenance: Activities
conducted at a site after a cleanup action is
completed to ensure that the cleanup or
containment system is functioning properly.
Organic Chemicals/Compounds: Chemical
substances containing mainly carbon, hydro-
gen, and oxygen.
Outfall: The place where wastewater is
discharged into receiving waters.
Overpacking: Process used for isolating
large volumes of waste by jacketing or encap-
sulating waste to prevent further spread or
leakage of contaminating materials. Leaking
drums may be contained within oversized
barrels as an interim measure prior to removal
and final disposal.
Pentachlorophenol (PCP): A synthetic,
modified petrochemical that is used as a wood
preservative because of its toxicity to termites
and fungi. It is a common component of
creosotes and can cause cancer.
Perched (groundwater): Groundwater
separated from another underlying body of
groundwater by a confining layer, often clay
or rock.
Percolation: The downward flow or filtering
of water or other liquids through subsurface
rock or soil layers, usually continuing down-
ward to groundwater.
Petrochemicals: Chemical substances
produced from petroleum in refinery opera-
tions and as fuel oil residues. These include
fluoranthene, chrysene, mineral spirits, and
refined oils. Petrochemicals are the bases
from which volatile organic compounds
(VOCs), plastics, and many pesticides are
made. These chemical substances often are
toxic to humans and the environment.
Phenols: Organic compounds that are used
in plastics manufacturing and are by-products
of petroleum refining, tanning, textile, dye,
and resin manufacturing. Phenols are highly
poisonous.
196
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GLOSSARY
Physical Chemical Separation: The treat-
ment process of adding a chemical to a sub-
stance to separate the compounds for further
treatment or disposal.
Pilot Testing: A small-scale test of a pro-
posed treatment system in the field to deter-
mine its ability to clean up specific contami-
nants.
Plugging: The process of stopping the flow
of water, oil, or gas into or out of the ground
through a borehole or well penetrating the
ground.
Plume: A body of contaminated groundwater
flowing from a specific source. The move-
ment of the groundwater is influenced by such
factors as local groundwater flow patterns, the
character of the aquifer in which groundwater
is contained, and the density of contaminants
[see Migration].
Pollution: Generally, the presence of matter
or energy whose nature, location, or quantity
produces undesired health or environmental
effects.
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons or
Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs):
PAHs, such as pyrene, are a group of highly
reactive organic compounds found in motor
oil. They are a common component of creo-
sotes and can cause cancer.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs): A
group of toxic chemicals used for a variety of
purposes including electrical applications,
carbonless copy paper, adhesives, hydraulic
fluids, microscope immersion oils, and caulk-
ing compounds. PCBs also are produced in
certain combustion processes. PCBs are
extremely persistent in the environment
because they are very stable, non-reactive,
and highly heat resistant Chronic exposure
to PCBs is believed to cause liver damage. It
also is known to bioaccumulate in fatty
tissues. PCB use and sale was banned in
1979 with the passage of the Toxic Sub-
stances Control Act
Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons
(PNAs): PNAs, such as naphthalene, and
biphenyls, are a group of highly reactive
organic compounds that are a common com-
ponent of creosotes, which can be carcino-
genic.
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): A plastic made
from the gaseous substance vinyl chloride.
PVC is used to make pipes, records, raincoats,
and floor tiles. Health risks from high con-
centrations of vinyl chloride include liver
cancer and lung cancer, as well as cancer of
the lymphatic and nervous systems.
Potable Water: Water that is s?fe for drink-
ing and cooking.
Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs):
Parties, including owners, who may have
contributed to the contamination at a Su-
perfund site and may be liable for costs of
response actions. Parties are considered PRPs
until they admit liability or a court makes a
determination of liability. PRPs may sign a
Consent Decree or Administrative Order on
Consent to participate in site cleanup activity
without admitting liability.
Precipitation: The removal of solids from
liquid waste so that the solid and liquid
portions can be disposed of safely; the re-
moval of particles from airborne emissions.
Electrochemical precipitation is the use of an
anode or cathode to remove the hazardous
chemicals. Chemical precipitation involves
the addition of some substance to cause the
solid portion to separate.
Preliminary Assessment: The process of
collecting and reviewing available informa-
tion about a known or suspected waste site or
release to determine if a threat or potential
threat exists.
197
-------
GLOSSARY.
Pump and Treat: A gnoundwater cleanup
technique involving the extracting of contami-
nated groundwater from the subsurface and
the removal of contaminants, using one of
several treatment technologies.
Radionuclides: Elements, including radium
and uranium-235 and -238, which break down
and produce radioactive substances due to
their unstable atomic structure. Some are
man-made, and others are naturally occurring
in the environment. Radon, the gaseous form
of radium, decays to form alpha particle
radiation, which cannot be absorbed through
skin. However, it can be inhaled, which
allows alpha particles to affect unprotected
tissues directly and thus cause cancer. Radia-
tion also occurs naturally through the break-
down of granite stones.
RCRA: [See Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act].
Recharge Area: A land area where rainwater
saturates the ground and soaks through the
earth to reach an aquifer.
Record of Decision (ROD): A public docu-
ment that explains which cleanup
alternative(s) will be used to clean up sites
listed on the NPL. It is based on information
generated during the remedial investigation
and feasibility study and consideration of
public comments and community concerns.
Recovery Wells: Wells used to withdraw
contaminants or contaminated groundwater.
Recycle: The process of minimizing waste
generation by recovering usable products that
might otherwise become waste.
Remedial Action (RA): The actual construc-
tion or implementation phase of a Superfund
site cleanup following the remedial design
[see Cleanup].
Remedial Design: A phase of site cleanup,
where engineers design the technical specifi-
cations for cleanup remedies and technolo-
gies.
Remedial Investigation: An in-depth study
designed to gather the data necessary to
determine the nature and extent of contami-
nation at a Superfund site, establish the
criteria for cleaning up the site, identify the
preliminary alternatives for cleanup actions,
and support the technical and cost analyses of
the alternatives. The remedial investigation
is usually done with the feasibility study.
Together they are customarily referred to as
the RI/FS [see Feasibility Study].
Remedial Project Manager (RPM): The
EPA or State official responsible for oversee-
ing cleanup actions at a site.
Remedy Selection: The selection of the
final cleanup strategy for the site. At the few
sites where the EPA has determined that
initial response actions have eliminated site
contamination, or that any remaining con-
tamination will be naturally dispersed with-
out further cleanup activities, a "No Action"
remedy is selected [see Record of Decision].
Removal Action: Short-term immediate
actions taken to address releases of hazardous
substances [see Cleanup].
Residual: The amount of a pollutant remain-
ing in the environment after a natural or
technological process has taken place, e.g.,
the sludge remaining after initial wastewater
treatment, or particulates remaining in air
after the air passes through a scrubbing, or
other, process.
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA): A Federal law that established a
regulatory system to track hazardous sub-
stances from the time of generation to dis-
posal. The law requires safe and secure
198
-------
GLOSSARY
procedures to be used in treating, transport-
ing, storing, and disposing of hazardous
substances. RCRA is designed to prevent
new, uncontrolled hazardous waste sites.
Retention Pond: A small body of liquid
used for disposing of wastes and containing
overflow from production facilities. Some-
times retention ponds are used to expand the
capacity of such structures as lagoons to store
waste.
Riparian Habitat: Areas adjacent to rivers
and streams that have a high density, diver-
sity, and productivity of plant and animal
species relative to nearby uplands.
Runoff: The discharge of water over land
into surface water. It can carry pollutants
from the air and land and spread contamina-
tion from its source.
Scrubber: An air pollution device that uses a
spray of water or reactant or a dry process to
trap pollutants in emissions.
Sediment: The layer of soil, sand, and
minerals at the bottom of surface waters, such
as streams, lakes, and rivers, that absorbs
contaminants.
Seeps: Specific points where releases of
liquid (usually leachate) form from waste
disposal areas, particularly along the lower
edges of landfills.
Seepage Pits: A hole, shaft, or cavity in the
ground used for storage of liquids, usually in
the form of leachate, from waste disposal
areas. The liquid gradually leaves the pit by
moving through the surrounding soil.
Septage: Residue remaining in a septic tank
after the treatment process.
Sinkhole: A hollow depression in the land
surface in which drainage collects; associated
with underground caves and passages that
facilitate the movement of liquids.
Site Characterization: The technical pro-
cess used to evaluate the nature and extent of
environmental contamination, which is
necessary for choosing and designing cleanup
measures and monitoring their effectiveness.
Site Inspection: The collection of informa-
tion from a hazardous waste site to determine
the extent and severity of hazards posed by
the site. It follows, and is more extensive
than, a preliminary assessment. The purpose
is to gather information necessary to score the
site, using the Hazard Ranking System, and to
determine if the site presents an immediate
threat that requires a prompt removal action.
Slag: The fused refuse or dross separated
from a metal in the process of smelting.
Sludge: Semi-solid residues from industrial
or water treatment processes that may be
contaminated with hazardous materials.
Slurry Wall: Barriers used to contain the
flow of contaminated groundwater or subsur-
face liquids. Slurry walls are constructed by
digging a trench around a contaminated area
and filling the trench with an impermeable
material that prevents water from passing
through it. The groundwater or contaminated
liquids trapped within the area surrounded by
the slurry wall can be extracted and treated.
Smelter: A facility that melts or fuses ore,
often with an accompanying chemical change,
to separate the metal. Emissions from smelt-
ers are known to cause pollution.
Soil Gas: Gaseous elements and compounds
that occur in the small spaces between par-
ticles of soil. Such gases can move through
199
-------
GLOSSARY.
or leave the soil or rock, depending on
changes in pressure.
Soil Vapor Extraction: A treatment process
that uses vacuum wells to remove hazardous
gases from soil.
Soil Washing: A water-based process for
mechanically scrubbing soils in-place to
remove undesirable materials. There are two
approaches: dissolving or suspending them in
the wash solution for later treatment by
conventional methods, and concentrating
them into a smaller volume of soil through
simple particle size separation techniques [see
Solvent Extraction].
Stabilization: The process of changing an
active substance into inert, harmless material,
or physical activities at a site that act to limit
the further spread of contamination without
actual reduction of toxicity.
Solidification/Stabilization: A chemical or
physical reduction of the mobility of hazard-
ous constituents. Mobility is reduced through
the binding of hazardous constituents into a
solid mass with low permeability and resis-
tance to leaching.
Solvent: A substance capable of dissolving
another substance to form a solution. The
primary uses of industrial solvents are as
cleaners for degreasing, in paints, and in
Pharmaceuticals. Many solvents are flam-
mable and toxic to varying degrees.
Solvent Extraction: A means of separating
hazardous contaminants from soils, sludges,
and sediment, thereby reducing the volume of
the hazardous waste that must be treated. It
generally is used as one in a series of unit
operations. An organic chemical is used to
dissolve contaminants as opposed to water-
based compounds, which usually are used in
soil washing.
Sorption: The action of soaking up or at-
tracting substances. It is used in many pollu-
tion control systems.
Stillbottom: Residues left over from the
process of recovering spent solvents.
Stripping: A process used to remove volatile
contaminants from a substance [see Air
Stripping].
Sumps: A pit or tank that catches liquid
runoff for drainage or disposal.
Superfund: The program operated under the
legislative authority of the CERCLA and
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization
Act (SARA) to update and improve environ-
mental laws. The program has the authority
to respond directly to releases or threatened
releases of hazardous substances that may
endanger public health, welfare, or the envi-
ronment. The "Superfund" is a trust fund that
finances cleanup actions at hazardous waste
sites.
Surge Tanks: A holding structure used to
absorb irregularities in flow of liquids, includ-
ing liquid waste materials.
Swamp: A type of wetland that is dominated
by woody vegetation and does not accumulate
peat moss deposits. Swamps may be fresh or
saltwater and tidal or non-tidal [see Wet-
lands].
Thermal Treatment: The use of heat to
remove or destroy contaminants from soil.
Treatability Studies: Testing a treatment
method on contaminated groundwater, soil,
etc., to determine whether and how well the
method will work.
Trichloroethylene (TCE): A stable, color-
less liquid with a low boiling point. TCE has
many industrial applications, including use as
200
-------
GLOSSARY
a solvent and as a metal degreasing agent.
TCE may be toxic to people when inhaled,
ingested, or through skin contact and can
damage vital organs, especially the liver [see
Volatile Organic Compounds].
Unilateral [Administrative] Order: [see
Administrative Order].
Upgradient: An upward hydrologic slope;
demarks areas that are higher than contami-
nated areas and, therefore, are not prone to
contamination by the movement of polluted
groundwater.
Vacuum Extraction: A technology used to
remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
from soils. Vacuum pumps are connected to a
series of wells drilled to just above the water
table. The wells are sealed tightly at the soil
surface, and the vacuum established in the
soil draws VOC-contaminated air from the
soil pores into the well, as fresh air is drawn
down from the surface of the soil.
Vegetated Soil Cap: A cap constructed with
graded soils and seed for vegetative growth,
to prevent erosion [see Cap].
Vitrification: The process of electrically
melting wastes and soils or sludges to bind
the waste in a glassy, solid material more
durable than granite or marble and resistant to
leaching.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs):
VOCs are manufactured as secondary petro-
chemicals. They include light alcohols,
acetone, trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene,
dichloroethylene, benzene, vinyl chloride,
toluene, and methylene chloride. These
potentially toxic chemicals are used as sol-
vents, degreasers, paints, thinners, and fuels.
Because of their volatile nature, they readily
evaporate into the air, increasing the potential
exposure to humans. Due to their low water
solubility, environmental persistence, and
widespread industrial use, they are commonly
found in soil and groundwater.
Waste Treatment Plant: A facility that uses
a series of tanks, screens, filters, and other
treatment processes to remove pollutants from
water.
Wastewater: The spent or used water from
individual homes or industries.
Watershed: The land area that drains into a
stream or other water body.
Water Table: The upper surface of the
groundwater.
Weir: A barrier to divert water or other
liquids.
Wetland: An area that is regularly saturated
by surface or groundwater and, under normal
circumstances, is capable of supporting
vegetation typically adapted for life in satu-
rated soil conditions. Wetlands are critical to
sustaining many species of fish and wildlife.
Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes,
and bogs. Wetlands may be either coastal or
inland. Coastal wetlands have salt or brackish
(a mixture of salt and fresh) water, and most
have tides, while inland wetlands are non-
tidal and freshwater. Coastal wetlands are an
integral component of estuaries.
Wildlife Refuge: An area designated for the
protection of wild animals, within which
hunting and fishing are either prohibited or
strictly controlled.
201
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APPENDIX B
Information
Repositories
for
NPL Sites
in Michigan
203
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