Return to Use Initiative
2006 Demonstration Project
Tar Lake: Mancelona,
Ml
THE SITE: The 200-acre Tar Lake site is approximately one mile south
of Mancelona Township in Antrim County, Michigan. Between 1910
and 1944, the Antrim Iron Works Company discharged tar waste into
a four-acre depression at the site. The depression, referred to as Tar
Lake, is the source area of contamination for the 200-acre site. In 1998,
EPA began a time-critical response action, which included excavating
and transporting tar wastes from the depression, installing a poly-liner,
and backfilling the depression with clean soil. The long-term cleanup
activities at the site included removing remaining contaminated
materials and installing an on-site biosparge system that enhances the
natural breakdown of hazardous materials.The cleanup activities were
completed on September 28,2004. The ground water is currently being
monitored by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to
ensure the remedy remains protective. Ground water use is restricted
until the contamination decreases to acceptable ievels; according to
projections based on monitoring data,this is likely to occur by 2007.
THE OPPORTUNITY: The area is unzoned, is close to downtown
Mancelona, and provides significant opportunity for recreational,
commercial, and residential uses to address multiple community
needs. The site is currently not in use and is surrounded by iow-density
residential and light industrial properties.The future use of theTar Lake
site wili take place as part of the community's consideration of a larger
area, referred to as the Mancelona Community Redevelopment Area.
THE BARRIERS: A restrictive covenant originally implemented
prohibited use of the site for all non-industrial purposes, but it soon
became clear that industrial use was not a reasonable future use for the
site. Stigma affects public perception of the site, especially the 40-acre
uncontaminated area included within site boundaries. Reuse is also
hampered by confusion about what future uses are likely to take place
over what areas of the site.
THE SOLUTION: The Tar Lake site was one of ten Superfund
Redevelopment cooperative agreements entered into in 1999 to
provide local communities with the opportunity to consider the
reasonably anticipated future land use of sites. In an ongoing effort to
continue supporting communities interested in the protective future
use of sites, Region 5 provided additional assistance in the form of in-
kind services to explore and update the initial plan developed under
Superfund Redevelopment Initiative
Barriers:
Restrictive covenant preventing
the likely future use of the site;
stigma affecting both contami-
nated and uncontaminated par-
cels within the site's boundary
Solution:
Update restrictive covenant to
allow for appropriate uses; issue a
Ready for Reuse (RfR) Determina-
tion to address stigma

Before:
Cleaned up former industrial site
with beautiful views next to com-
mercial and residential areas
After:
Future mixed use development
complete with recreational
opportunities and commercial
development

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the 1999 cooperative agreement.This assistance is helping to determine whether the remedy is protective
of the future use envisioned by the stakeholders. The current reuse plan includes residential housing in the
eastern portion of the site (mostly the uncontaminated area), recreational uses such as open space and trails
in the western and southern portion of the site, and a commercial district along the western border of the site.
With a community-based redevelopment vision in mind, EPA, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality,
and Community Resource Development, Inc., of Mancelona, Michigan (current owner of the majority of the
site) worked together to update the restrictive covenant to allow uses for which the remedy is protective.
The new restrictive covenants and an environmental protection easement will allow for non-residential uses
with specific restrictions on ground water use and types of construction activities.On November 21,2005 EPA
deleted the 40-acre uncontaminated area from National Priorities List (NPL) to lessen the stigma associated
with the area. In a further attempt to combat stigma, EPA is writing a Ready for Reuse (RfR) Determination for
the site. The RfR Determination is an environmental status report that provides potential users of a site with
clear information about the status of a site, including the limitations and restrictions associated with the site.
This information helps the potential users to decide whether a proposed reuse is appropriate.
THE SITE NOW: The Redevelopment Plan will give stakeholders a clear reuse vision for the site, the new
restrictive covenants and environmental protection easement have been drafted and will soon be implemented,
and stigma will lessen due to the RfR Determination and deletion of the uncontaminated area. With these
barriers being addressed, the redevelopment of the site has begun and will continue to move forward.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Tom Bloom, Region 5 Superfund Redevelopment Coordinator, at
312.886.1967 or bloom.thomas@epa.gov.
The proposed recreational opportunity (e.g., trails) across Tar Lake depression. The background shows the current
topology and vegetation cover at the Tar Lake depression, overlaid with a hypothetical trail. This is one of the vi-
sions formed through the community-based planning process at the Tar Lake site. The community-based plan-
ning process has been an important factor in the redevelopment of the site.
Superfund Redevelopment Initiative
2

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