Return to Use Initiative
009 Demonstration Project
Quincy Smelter Site:
Franklin Township, Michigan
THE SITE: The approximately 25-acre Quincy Smelter site is situated
on the Keweenaw Peninsula along the shoreline of Portage Lake in
Franklin Township, Michigan. The site forms a portion of Operable
Unit 3 of the Torch Lake Superfund Site. From the 1890s until 1969,
copper mining activities produced mill tailings called stamp sands. It is
estimated that approximately 200 million tons of stamp sands were
dumped into Torch Lake, contaminating sediments and the shoreline
with copper. Starting around 1916, sediments were dredged and
chemically treated in an effort to reclaim additional copper from
previously deposited stamp sands, resulting in additional contamination
of the lake and its sediments by chemical reagents. Sediment and
surface water contamination, as well as fish consumption advisories
and severe benthic habitat degradation, led to the addition of the Torch
Lake site to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) in 1986. At
the Quincy Smelter site in particular, stamp sands, asbestos in
infrastructure, and slag deposits were source contaminants of concern.
Removal actions and stabilization of sand stamps and slag were
undertaken in 2005, and removal of asbestos in buildings on the
property was completed in 2008. Further remedial action to cover
stamp sands with soil and native vegetation plantings is planned for
2009 in an effort to control erosion.
THE OPPORTUNITY: The Quincy Smelter site is located within the
Keweenaw National Historical Park and is recognized as part of the
Quincy Mining Company National Historic Landmark (NHL),
established by Congress in 1989. The NHL site provides a visual stage
for remembering and learning about the historic copper mining
industry on the Keweenaw Peninsula. Active incorporation of the
Quincy Smelter site into the NHL park area would allow extension of
the historical tour to include the smelter area would create a waterfront
recreational area for fishing and picnicking.
Historic photograph of smelter site with slag
pile in foreground. (Source: National Park
Service)
Barrier: Effective remediation while
preserving site history
Solution: Close stakeholder
collaboration in development of site
Reuse Assessment
Quincy Smelter in 2008.
Before: Vacant, former copper
smelter
After: Plans to incorporate smelter
into National Historic Landmark for
copper mining industry
United States
Environmental Protection
. Agsncy
Superfund Redevelopment Initiative
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THE BARRIER: The historic value of the Quincy Smelter site included the asbestos-contaminated
infrastructure and buildings as well as several slag piles that are features integral to the historic interpretation of
the site. However, a remediation plan was required to ensure protection of human health before the site could
be opened as part of the park system. A site remediation plan had to be designed around preservation of the
site's historical integrity.
THE SOLUTION: EPA, the town, local community, and National Park Service worked together to develop a
Reuse Assessment. The Assessment addresses the remaining contamination at the site and proposes a Reuse
Concept Plan for establishing the Quincy Smelter site as an active component of the Quincy Mining Company
NHL. Additionally, an asbestos abatement plan was carried out to address contaminated infrastructure while
maintaining as much of the original structures as possible.
THE SITE NOW: The Reuse Assessment for the Quincy Smelter site was completed in December 2008. The
Reuse Assessment proposed a Reuse Concept Plan for the eastern portion of the site that would achieve the
desired goals of utilizing the site for historical interpretation as well as waterfront recreation. These ideas will
be incorporated in the drafting of a Remedial Design for the site. The Remedial Design will outline actions to
reduce erosion of stamp sands by covering piles with dirt and plantings, or paving them over, and further
minimize contact with stamp sands by expanding and improving vehicular and pedestrian access paths to the
site, while limiting ATV access. Currently, EPA is working to put institutional controls (ICs) in place to ensure
appropriate future uses for the Quincy Smelter site. Once ICs are established, the site will be ready for reuse
and can begin implementation of the Reuse Concept Plan and additional remedial activities.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Patrick Hamblin, Remedial Project Manager, at (312)
886-6312 or hamblin.patrick@epa.gov: or Tom Bloom, Region 5 Superfund Redevelopment Coordinator, at
(312) 886-1967 or bloom.thomas@epa.gov.
xc/EPA
United
Environmental
Agency
Superfund Redevelopment Initiative
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