2004 Demonstration Project
Kentwood Landfi
Kentwood, Michigan
THE SITE: The Kentwood Landfill covers 72 acres of grassy, sloped land
in Kentwood, Kent County, Michigan. The site operated first as an open dump
site and later as a municipal landfill. The landfill was capped and closed in 1976,
but years of waste collection had already resulted in volatile organic compounds,
phenol, and heavy metals contamination in isolated soil areas, as well as in ground
water. Remedial actions included re-capping the landfill, constructing a gas
venting and leachate collection system, and extracting and treating contaminated
ground water.
THE OPPORTUNITY: The landfill's large size could support recreational
opportunities for the local community, such as a golf driving range, outdoor nature
classroom, or walking and biking trails.
THE BARRIER: The Kentwood Landfill site's Record of Decision (ROD)
calls for institutional controls in the form of "temporary and/or permanent fences"
to control site access and "deed restrictions to regulate the development of the
Kentwood Landfill property." The overlapping institutional controls (ICs) put into
place by the City of Kentwood, however, prohibit any and all human activity on
the site.
THE SOLUTION: Reuse of the Kentwood Landfill can only occur if the
institutional controls recorded with the deed are revised to allow human access
while remaining protective of human health, the environment, and the remedy. In
light of this, the City of Kentwood and Kent County have drafted new land use
restrictions that allow for appropriate recreational use of the site. EPA is involved
in this process to ensure that the new restrictions will adequately protect human
health and the environment.
RECREATIONAL REUSE PLANNING: The City of Kentwood and Kent
County are investigating reuse opportunities for the site and are coordinating with
EPA during this process. One potential reuse option is a golf driving range. The
city has commissioned a preliminary design and hopes to develop a business plan
to determine the financial viability of constructing a driving range. EPA Region
5 will support any appropriate reuse of the landfill, as long as the integrity of
the remedy is not compromised and there is no risk to human health and the
environment.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Tom Bloom, Region 5
Superfund Redevelopment Coordinator, at (312) 886-1967 or
bloom.thomas@epa.gov.
Barriers:
Institutional controls impeding
reuse
Solution:
EPA and local officials work
together to update land
use restrictions; ongoing
communication between EPA and
local officials
Before:
Cleaned up landfill; 72 acres of
vacant, grassy, sloped land
After:
Recreational opportunities for the
local community
United States
Environmental Protection
1 Agency
Superfund Redevelopment Initiative
updated August 2009
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