Return to Use Initiative
2004 Demonstration Project
Superfund Redevelopment Initiative
Kentwood Landfill: Kentwood,Mi
lJ
updated December 2005
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 to-
gether to update land use restric-
tions; ongoing communication
between EPA and local officials
After:
Recreational opportunities for the
local community
Before:
Cleaned up landfill; 72 acres of
vacant,grassy, sloped land

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