2004 Demonstration Project
Butterworth Landfill:
Grand Rapids, Michigan
THE SITE: Located near the center of Grand Rapids, Michigan, the
Butterworth Landfill Superfund site occupies 120 acres along the Grand
River. Beginning in 1950, the landfill operated first as an open dump and
later as a sanitary landfill, leading to the contamination of both ground
water and soils. Approximately 1,300 people live within a mile of the
site.
THE OPPORTUNITY: In 2002, the City of Grand Rapids began to
discuss possible future uses of the Butterworth Landfill site. The City
of Grand Rapids approached EPA to inquire about what must be done to
extend an existing bike trail onto the southern portion of the site. At EPAs
request, the City performed a risk assessment to evaluate risks at the site
post-remedy implementation. EPA also approached the City with an offer
to participate in the Return to Use Initiative, a collaborative local and
Agency effort to usher cleaned-up Superfund sites into reuse. Together,
EPA and the City of Grand Rapids determined that there were manageable
barriers that would hinder the recreational reuse of the Butterworth
Landfill.
THE BARRIER: Once construction of the 2001 site remedy was
completed, the fenced 120 acres remained unused by the nearby residents.
Before reuse could move forward EPA needed assurance that any future
users would not negatively impact the remedy and that the remedy would
be protective for future recreational use.
THE SOLUTION: The City completed a risk assessment in July 2003
and submitted it to EPA for approval. On November 12, 2004, EPA made a
national announcement to commemorate the Return to Use Initiative and
community involvement at the Butterworth Landfill (pictured at right and
below). At the announcement, then-Superfund Director Michael B. Cook
and Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell endorsed the Initiative and
the activities at Butterworth Landfill and rode bicycles on the landfill's
former utility road as a demonstration of what the landfill's future will
hold. The City of Grand Rapids Master Plan includes a bike route that
will connect with existing roads on the Butterworth Landfill site. With
EPAs approval, City of Grand Rapids officials plan to open the site to
allow pedestrian and bicycle use. This is still planned but it has not yet
been implemented.
Barriers: Perimeter fence
restricting access; uncertainty
about what future uses were
appropriate on what areas of the
site
Solution: Evaluating and
implementing potential future
uses; install gates in perimeter
fence; qualitative risk assessment
approved by EPA; enhanced
stakeholder and community
involvement process
Before: Cleaned-up landfill, ready
for reuse; 120 acres of vacant,
riverfront land surrounded by a
fence
After: Extension of existing bike
trail to go through the site and
other recreational uses
United State
Environmental Protects
. Agency
Superfund Redevelopment Initiative
updated July 2009
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THE PARK: EPA Region 5 is working with the City as it
performs an enhanced stakeholder process at the Butterworth
Landfill. EPA's participation in the process will ensure that
the reuse activities do not interfere with the remedy or
damage the landfill's vegetative cap. Public meetings were
held in 2005 to help develop conceptual designs for the
site and gather feedback. Several recreational groups have
expressed interest in using the site for recreational purposes.
Department of Parks and Recreation officials expect that the
Butterworth Landfill recreation area will complement the
nearby Millennium Park. Recently, EPA Region 5 provided
resources to revise the site's conceptual reuse plan and
continues to work with the city to evaluate appropriate reuse
options. A new bike trail extension, which will allow bikers
access to the site and its paths, is scheduled to be constructed
in 2009.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Dion
Novak, Remedial Project Manager, at (312) 886-4737 or
novak.dion@epa.gov; or Tom Bloom, Region 5 Superfund
Redevelopment Coordinator, at (312) 886-1967 or
bloom.thomas@epa.gov.
Top to Bottom: Superfund Director Michael B. Cook (far left) announces the Return to Use Initiative at the Butterworth Landfill in
November 2004, joined by George Heartwell (second from left), Mayor of Grand Rapids, and Jay Steffen (far right), Director of
Parks and Recreation in the City of Grand Rapids; paved path to be used by bicyclists and pedestrians; view of the Grand River
from the site.
United State,
Environmental Protection Superfund Redevelopment Initiative
updated July 2009
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