Return to Use Initiative
2004 Demonstration Project
Cannelton Industries Inc.:
Sault Sainte Marie, Ml
THE SITE:The Cannelton Industries Inc.site is a former tannery that spans
75 acres along the St Mary's River in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan, The
tannery processed animal hides from 1900 until it burned down in 1958.
During that time, tannery waste led to heavy metals contamination in
soil,sediments,and surface water in the St.Mary's River. The site has been
cleaned up since 1999 and the Five-Year Review in Fall 2004 declared the
remedy protective of human health and the environment.
THE OPPORTUNITY: Current land use surrounding the site is residential
and light industrial. Four hundred families live within one-half mile
of the site and an elementary school is located just to the south. The
nearby residences and industries make the site suitable for a number of
future land uses, such as residential, recreational, or industrial. The City
of Sault Sainte Marie published a 20-Year Master Plan that designates the
property for general industry and high-density residential. Some form of
commercial or recreational reuse is also likely.
THE BARRIER:The site has been vacant since 1958. Though the site was
cleaned up to accommodate the future land uses outlined in Sault Sainte
Marie's 20-Year Master Plan, EPA and local officials felt that additional
reassurance of the site's suitability for redevelopment would be helpful.
In addition,the site cannot be safely reused until appropriate and effective
institutional controls have been implemented.
THE SOLUTION: EPA will issue a Ready for Reuse (RfR) Determination for
the site that provides EPA's technical determination that the site is ready
for multiple uses, including residential, recreational, and industrial. EPA
hopes that issuing the RfR Determination will provide City officials with
the comfort they need to move forward with the acquisition of a portion
of the Cannelton Industries property and implement the remaining
institutional controls at the site.
REUSE PLANNING: When the Cannelton Industries RfR Determination
is issued and appropriate and effective institutional controls have been
implemented,local officials in Sauit Sainte Marie are hopeful that residents
and developers will embrace the planning process to reuse the site.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:Tom Bloom, Region 5 Superfund
Redevelopment Coordinator, at 312.886.1967 or bloom.thomas@epa.
gov.
Superfund Redevelopment Initiative
updated December 2005
Before:
Cleaned-up tannery; 75 acres of
vacant land along St.Mary's River
After:
75 acres of riverfront property,
ready for multiple uses
Barriers:
Superfund site stigma; lack of im-
plemented institutional controls
Solution:
Future RfR Determination;ongo-
ing effort to select and implement
appropriate and effective institu-
tional controls for the site

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