2004 Demonstration Project
Cannelton Industries Inc.:
Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan
THE SITE: The Cannelton Industries Inc. site is a former tannery that spans 75
acres along the St. Mary's River in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan. The tannery
processed animal hides from 1900 until it burned down in 1958. During that
time, tannery waste led to heavy metals contamination in soil, sediments, and
surface water in the St. Mary's River. The site has been cleaned up since 1999
and the Five-Year Review in Fall 2004 declared the remedy protective of
human health and the environment.
THE OPPORTUNITY: Current land use surrounding the site is residential
and light industrial. Four hundred families live within one-half mile of the site
and an elementary school is located just to the south. The nearby residences
and industries make the site suitable for a number of future land uses, such as
residential, recreational, or industrial. The City of Sault Sainte Marie published
a 20-Year Master Plan that designates the property for general industry and
high-density residential. Some form of commercial or recreational reuse is
also likely.
THE BARRIER: The site has been vacant since 1958. Though the site was
cleaned up to accommodate the future land uses outlined in Sault Sainte Marie's
20-Year Master Plan, EPA and local officials felt that additional reassurance of
the site's suitability for redevelopment would be helpful. In addition, the site
cannot be safely reused until appropriate and effective institutional controls
have been implemented.
THE SOLUTION: EPA will issue a Ready for Reuse (RfR) Determination for
the site that demonstrates EPA's technical determination that the site is ready
for multiple uses, including residential, recreational, and industrial. EPA hopes
that a completed RfR Determination will provide City officials with the comfort
they need to move forward with the acquisition of a portion of the Cannelton
Industries property. Toward that end, the City is working to implement any
remaining institutional controls at the site.
REUSE PLANNING: When the Cannelton Industries RfR Determination
is issued and appropriate and effective institutional controls have been
implemented, local officials in Sault Sainte Marie are hopeful that residents
and developers will embrace the planning process to reuse the site.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Tom Bloom, Region 5 Superfund
Redevelopment Coordinator, at (312) 886-1967 or bloom.thomas(g),epa. gov.
Barriers:
Superfund site stigma; lack of
implemented institutional controls
Solution:
Future RfR Determination; ongoing
effort to select and implement
appropriate and effective institutional
controls for the site
Before:
Cleaned-up tannery; 75 acres of
vacant land along St. Mary's River
After:
75 acres of riverfront property, ready
for multiple uses
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Superfund Redevelopment Initiative
updated September 2009
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