At the request of EPA, on Feb. 1, 2016, MDEQ took multiple dust wipe samples around the L’Anse community, east of the L’Anse Warden Electric Co. EPA was trying to find any signature chemicals that may suggest emissions from the L’Anse Warden Electric Company facility were migrating over the fenceline. All samples were taken from private residences, businesses or public spaces.
The wipes were analyzed for pentachlorophenol, as well as multiple metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs. The samples did detect the presence of these substances. At this time EPA doesn’t have enough information to determine whether the levels found in the dust wipes were excessive or could cause health problems. Additional investigation will be needed to learn about any potential risk to the community.
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L'Anse Dust Wipe Results for Metals (PDF)(9 pp, 177 K,
Feb. 24, 2016)
Lab analysis of five surface wipe samples analyzed for metals by EPA's Region 9 Laboratory
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L'Anse Dust Wipe Results for PAHs (PDF)(15 pp, 132 K,
March 22, 2016)
Lab analysis of five surface wipe samples analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by EPA's Chicago Regional Laboratory
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L'Anse Dust Wipe Results for Pentachlorophenol (PDF)(9 pp, 118 K,
March 28, 2016)
Lab analysis of five surface wipe samples analyzed for pentachlorophenol by EPA's Chicago Regional Laboratory