Superfund Sites in Reuse in Michigan
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Aircraft Components (D & L Sales) 
The 17-acre Aircraft Components (D & L Sales) Superfund site is located next to the Paw Paw River in Benton Harbor, Michigan. Several manufacturing companies operated on site, including an airplane parts resale business. Some of the aircraft parts contained radioactive paint. Site investigations found that some of the aircraft parts had deteriorated, raising concerns that radioactive paint and dust could leak out. EPA led emergency cleanup activities in 1995, installing a gate and fencing, boarding up buildings, posting warning signs, covering piles of radioactive materials, and consolidating waste materials. EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1996. Cleanup included removal and disposal of radioactive materials, contaminated soil and sediment, an on-site soil cover, cleanup and demolition of on-site buildings, and groundwater treatment. Today, the site is part of a community-wide development project. Hole 14 of the Harbor Shores Golf Course is located on part of the site. The course is also connected to the local arts community, and features sculptures at each hole created by area artists. In 2018, a craft brewery warehouse opened on the remaining part of the site. With EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment in mind, EPA established the Superfund Task Force in May 2017 to provide recommendations for improving and expediting site cleanups and promoting redevelopment. Based on the Superfund Task Force recommendations, EPA identified the site as a Redevelopment Opportunity site – a site with the greatest expected redevelopment potential.
Last updated September 2019
As of December 2019, EPA had data on 2 on-site businesses. EPA did not have further economic details related to these businesses. For additional information click here.
For more information:
- Superfund Site Profile Page
- Video: Brownfield Flip: Harbor Shores Golf Course in Benton Harbor
Allied Paper, Inc./Portage Creek/Kalamazoo River 
Allied Paper, Inc./Portage Creek/Kalamazoo RiverThe Allied Paper, Inc./Portage Creek/Kalamazoo River Superfund site is located in Allegan and Kalamazoo counties in Michigan. The site includes 80 miles of the Kalamazoo River, river banks and floodplains, a 3-mile stretch of Portage Creek, five landfills and a paper mill. The paper mill and the landfills discharged contaminated paper residuals into Portage Creek and the Kalamazoo River. These activities contaminated soil and sediment. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1990. Cleanup included soil removal, stabilization, capping and installation of groundwater monitoring systems at four of the five landfills. In 2006, the city of Plainwell (the City) purchased part of the site – the former paper mill property, also known as operable unit 7 (OU7). This area is now part of a Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. EPA provided reuse planning assistance to support the City’s evaluation of reuse opportunities in 2008. Redevelopment work began in 2010, when the City and Conestoga-Rovers & Associates (CRA) entered into an agreement for the redevelopment of the 36-acre former paper mill. CRA relocated its U.S. construction headquarters and 50 jobs to the site in 2012. The City completed a $1.7 million renovation of the former dewatering building to house its Public Safety Department. The City moved Plainwell City Hall into renovated office space in the former paper mill building on site. Local artists used salvaged materials to create a sculpture near the main entrance to the renovated mill complex. A new restaurant opened on site in 2018. The community also uses the adjacent Kalamazoo River for swimming, boating and fishing. CRA and city officials remain focused on opportunities for additional commercial, residential and community uses at the site. With EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment in mind, EPA established the Superfund Task Force in May 2017 to provide recommendations for improving and expediting site cleanups and promoting redevelopment. Based on the Superfund Task Force recommendations, EPA identified OU7 as a Redevelopment Opportunity site area of focus – an area with the greatest expected redevelopment potential.
Last updated September 2019
As of December 2019, EPA had data on 5 on-site businesses. These businesses employed 126 people and generated an estimated $27,106,000 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
For more information:
- Redevelopment of the Plainwell Paper portion of the Allied paper, Inc./Portage Creek/Kalamazoo Superfund Site (PDF)(3 pp, 2.6 MB, About PDF)
- Historic Preservation and Mixed-Use Superfund Redevelopment, The Plainwell Paper Mill in Plainwell, Michigan (PDF) (16 pp, 1.7 MB)
- Superfund Site Profile Page
Anderson Development Co.
The 12-acre Anderson Development Co. Superfund site is located in Adrian, Michigan. From 1970 to 1979, Anderson Development Company (ADC) produced highly toxic chemicals on site. Operators released discharges from manufacturing processes to surface water and air, causing widespread contamination. EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. The site’s potentially responsible party (PRP) led cleanup activities at the site and at off-site residences under EPA and state oversight. Activities included sampling and cleanup of affected homes, treatment of contaminated soils and sediments, and extension of the public water supply. Cleanup finished in 1993. EPA took the site off the NPL in 1996. ADC’s chemical manufacturing facility remains active on site.
Last updated September 2019
As of December 2019, EPA had data on one on-site business. This business employed 115 people and generated an estimated $49,000,000 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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Avenue "E" Ground Water Contamination
The 435-acre Avenue “E” Ground Water Contamination Superfund site is located in Traverse City, Michigan. The site includes an active U.S. Coast Guard Air Station and surrounding areas. Since 1943, the U.S. Navy has conducted industrial operations on site using oils, lubricants, paint, gasoline and volatile solvents. Improper handling, direct dumping and spills contaminated site groundwater. In 1980, residents near the station reported well water contamination. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1996. Working with the state of Michigan, the U.S. Coast Guard led cleanup activities, which included groundwater pumping and treatment. EPA took the site off the NPL in 2007, after groundwater met cleanup standards. The U.S. Coast Guard continues to use the site as a functioning air station.
Last updated September 2019
As of December 2019, EPA had data on 2 on-site businesses. These businesses employed 104 people and generated an estimated $460,000 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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Bendix Corp./Allied Automotive
Bendix Corp./Allied AutomotiveThe 20-acre Bendix Corp./Allied Automotive Superfund site is located in St. Joseph, Michigan. The Robert Bosch Corporation, the site’s current owner, operates a brake manufacturing facility on site. In the 1950s and 1960s, industrial activities included disposal of chemical waste in unlined lagoons. These waste handling practices resulted in groundwater contamination on site and off site. EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1990. EPA’s cleanup includes groundwater extraction, treatment and monitoring as well as soil vapor extraction and vapor phase treatment. Treatment and monitoring are ongoing. Institutional controls prohibit the use of groundwater in some contaminated areas. The brake manufacturing facility has remained in operation during cleanup; modern waste handling practices ensure the proper disposal of industrial byproducts.
Last updated September 2019
As of December 2019, EPA had data on one on-site business. This business employed 288 people and generated an estimated $63,827,000 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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Burrows Sanitation
The 10-acre Burrows Sanitation Superfund site is located in Hartford, Michigan. From 1970 to 1977, site operators disposed of plating sludge, waste coolants and oils at the site. Site operators dumped these wastes in unlined lagoons and at other spill areas on the site. In 1976, sampling results verified contamination of the area groundwater, surface water, soil and sediments. Contaminants included heavy metals and several volatile organic compounds (VOCs). EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1984. Cleanup included removing sludge, contaminated soils and sediments. Activities also constructed a groundwater extraction and treatment system to treat a small plume of contaminated groundwater. Groundwater treatment continued from 1992 until 1995. Monitoring of private groundwater wells near the site continues. EPA classified the site as Sitewide Ready for Anticipated Use (SWRAU) on January 11, 2008. EPA completed a reuse assessment for potential future site uses in January 2010. In 2015, the site was deleted from the NPL.
Last updated September 2019
As of December 2019, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
For more information:
Butterworth #2 Landfill 
Butterworth #2 LandfillThe Butterworth #2 Landfill Superfund site is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The site includes 120 acres along the Grand River. From 1950 to 1967, the city of Grand Rapids (the City) operated the landfill as an open dump and later as a sanitary landfill. Landfill operations contaminated groundwater and soil. EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. With EPA oversight, the site’s potentially responsible parties (PRPs) led cleanup activities. Cleanup included capping the landfill and installing groundwater monitoring wells. In 2002, the City began to discuss possible future uses for the site. To convert the area into a public recreation resource, the City worked with EPA on reuse plans that would ensure the protectiveness of the remedy and enable recreational use. These recreational uses include sports fields, walking and biking trails, and a skate park. The City held public meetings in 2005 and 2006. The City continues to work with the community and recreation organizations on reuse planning. In 2009, the City extended a bike trail across the site. EPA and the City also worked together to allow site access for a local marathon. EPA has also worked with the City to evaluate the site’s capacity to support a solar energy facility. The solar redevelopment is on hold as the City reevaluates their power needs for their wastewater treatment plant. A radio station is also operating on site.
Last updated September 2019
As of December 2019, EPA had data on one on-site business. This business employed 15 people and generated an estimated $1,875,000 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
For more information:
- Butterworth Landfill, Grand Rapids, MI - Reuse Characterization (PDF)(13 pp, 4.3 MB, About PDF)
- Butterworth Landfill, Grand Rapids, MI - Reuse Assessment (PDF) (12 pp, 5.9 MB)
- Superfund Site Profile Page
Chem Central
The 2-acre Chem Central Superfund site is located in Wyoming, Michigan. Chem Central began distributing industrial chemicals at the site in 1957. Between 1957 and 1962, chemicals leaked into the ground due to a flaw in the pipe used to transfer liquids between rail cars and the bulk storage tanks at the site. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. Cleanup included removal of oils from the site, use of soil vapor extraction to remove harmful chemical vapors, and groundwater treatment. The potentially responsible party is cleaning up the site under EPA and state oversight. Groundwater treatment and vapor intrusion investigations are ongoing. Chem Central merged with Univar USA in 2007. Univar USA’s chemical distribution activities at the site are ongoing. An electric substation is located on an adjacent parcel.
Last updated September 2019
As of December 2019, EPA had data on one on-site business. This business employed 20 people and generated an estimated $9,800,000 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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Clare Water Supply
The Clare Water Supply Superfund site is located in Clare, Michigan. The Clare water supply system draws groundwater from four municipal wells in the area. Operations at an adjacent industrial park contributed to site groundwater contamination. Volatile organic compounds in two of the municipal wells led EPA to put the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1984. Cleanup activities included soil and groundwater treatment as well as deed and site access restrictions. Two 25-foot-tall air strippers have maintained a safe water supply since 1991. Some commercial and industrial operations use this groundwater. The Clare Fire Department and the Public Works Department are also located on the site.Little Tobacco Creek is part of a drainage system connected to a broad, low wetland on site. A hydraulic connection exists between the wetland area and the underlying aquifer, with the wetlands recharging the aquifer.
Last updated September 2019
As of December 2019, EPA had data on 57 on-site businesses. These businesses employed 476 people and generated an estimated $86,376,266 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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DSC McLouth Steel Gibraltar Plant
The Detroit Steel Company (DSC) McLouth Steel Gibraltar Plant Superfund site is in Gibraltar, Michigan. In the early 1950s, McLouth Steel Company began operating a steel finishing facility at the site. Mill operations ended in 1996 when DSC purchased the site through a bankruptcy settlement. The site includes three landfills and a landfill leachate treatment lagoon system. Mismanagement of the leachate treatment systems resulted in contamination of adjacent creeks. These creeks lead to the Detroit River and the Humbug Marsh Wildlife Refuge. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 2015. Due to the volume of leachate produced at the site, EPA selected an interim remedy in 2016 to control this source of contamination. Leachate is currently being pumped and transferred off site for treatment and disposal. EPA is continuing site investigations to determine a long-term cleanup plan for the site. Two active rail lines run through the site.
Last updated September 2019
As of December 2019, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
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Electro-Voice
The Electro-Voice Superfund site is located in Buchanan, Michigan. From 1946 to 2002, plant activities included die-casting, machining, assembly, painting and electroplating. From 1952 to 1962, operators discharged electroplating wastes into two clay-lined lagoons. From 1964 to 1973, operators disposed of paint wastes and solvents into a dry well. These waste disposal practices resulted in the contamination of soil and groundwater. EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1982. Soil cleanup included construction of a clay cap and in-place treatment. Groundwater cleanup includes monitoring the natural degradation of contamination.
Last updated September 2019
As of December 2019, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
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Folkertsma Refuse
The Folkertsma Refuse Superfund site is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Beginning in the mid-1960s, a landfill on site accepted a variety of wastes, including foundry sand and construction debris. After changing ownership several times, the landfill closed in 1972 and a wood pallet business began operating at the site. An EPA investigation in 1984 found contamination in landfill materials, sediment and groundwater. In 1989, EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL). The site’s potentially responsible parties (PRPs) conducted cleanup activities at the site from 1991 to 1994. Cleanup included removal of contaminated sediment and its placement in the landfill. The PRPs put a clay cap over the landfill. The wood pallet repair and manufacturing business relocated to an unrestricted on-site area north of the landfill. The relocation enabled the firm to continue operating during and after cleanup. The business remains active and this property was deleted from the NPL with the rest of the site deletion in 1996; it is no longer considered part of the site. Site PRPs continue to conduct site inspections as well as groundwater and surface water monitoring.
Last updated September 2019
As of December 2019, economic data were not publicly available for this site. For additional information click here.
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Grand Traverse Overall Supply Co.
The Grand Traverse Overall Supply Co. Superfund site is located in Greilickville, Michigan. A dry-cleaning business operated at the site from 1968 to 1987. Until 1977, site operators disposed of waste in a dry well and several lagoons on site, resulting in soil and groundwater contamination. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1982. Since 2005, EPA has led cleanup activities, installing a soil vapor mitigation system at the Norris School next to the site, demolishing the on-site facility and removing contaminated soil. After completing soil cleanup, EPA installed a groundwater extraction and treatment system. EPA later enhanced the groundwater treatment by adding carbon, microorganisms and iron to promote breakdown of the contamination. In 2014, a non-profit arts organization purchased the site property and the adjacent Norris School for redevelopment as the Grand Traverse Recreational Art Center. Today, the Grand Traverse Regional Arts Campus, also known as Leelanau Studios, hosts artists, fitness and health studios, and other local businesses.
Last updated September 2019
As of December 2019, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
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Gratiot County Golf Course
The 5-acre Gratiot County Golf Course Superfund site is in St. Louis, Michigan. From 1956 to 1970, Michigan Chemical Corporation and later Velsicol Chemical Corporation burned and disposed of industrial waste at the site. The site was redeveloped into a golf course in 1970. EPA proposed the site for listing on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1982 but it was never finalized since Velsicol Chemical Corporation implemented a cleanup plan that consisted of excavation and off-site disposal of contaminated soils. The company completed the cleanup in 1982 under the supervision of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). MDEQ investigations in 2006 concluded that additional cleanup was needed for the former burn area at the site. EPA added the site to the NPL in 2010 and chose a cleanup plan for it in July 2015. The remedy included treating an area with in-place thermal treatment, replacing the drinking water for nine homes as a precautionary measure and removing a small ash pile for off-site disposal. EPA is in the design phase for the site remedy and expects cleanup activities to begin in 2021; cleanup is dependent on funding being provided since Velsicol Chemical Corporation filed for bankruptcy. The site is currently an out-of-bounds area in the Hidden Oaks golf course and surface soils do not present an unacceptable risk.
Last updated September 2019
As of December 2019, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
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Hedblum Industries
The Hedblum Industries Superfund site, a former automotive parts manufacturing plant, is located one mile southwest of Oscoda, Michigan. Between 1968 and 1972, disposal practices led to soil and groundwater contamination with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In 1983, EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL). Initial cleanup included soil excavation and groundwater extraction and treatment. In 2012, the potentially responsible party (PRP) installed and began operating a 24-well groundwater circulation system combined with a three-well soil vapor extraction system to address groundwater concerns. EPA monitors treatment of contaminated groundwater and evaluates any potential soil vapor issues. The PRP recently conducted a supplemental investigation to assess whether the plume is being adequately captured and mitigated as well as the potential for exposure to soil gas contamination. Preliminary results indicate that the remedy has been effective. However, additional testing will be performed. Institutional controls restrict use of groundwater to help protect public health. An institutional control long-term stewardship plan is currently being developed. The current site owner, an aircraft tool supply company, has operated on site since 1985, chiefly as a parts distribution warehouse.
Last updated September 2019
As of December 2019, EPA had data on one on-site business. This business employed 21 people and generated an estimated $2,500,000 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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Hi-Mill Manufacturing Co.
The 4.5-acre Hi-Mill Manufacturing Co. Superfund site is located in Highland Township, Michigan. From 1946 to the mid-1980s, Hi-Mill Manufacturing Company made aluminum, brass and copper tubing parts and fittings, mainly for the refrigeration industry on site. Site activities resulted in the contamination of soil and groundwater. Under Michigan Department of Natural Resources oversight, the company removed contaminated sludge, soil and wastewater from the site in 1983. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1990. Cleanup activities include groundwater monitoring and deed restrictions prohibiting the use of groundwater. Hi-Mill Manufacturing Company began groundwater sampling and monitoring in 1994. The company went out of business in about 2013. Since then, EPA and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality ensured institutional controls are in place and are coordinating ongoing operation and maintenance activities at the site. Raves Construction currently operates at the site. The company provides general contracting services, maintenance, repair work, warehousing and equipment sales.
Last updated September 2019
As of December 2019, EPA had data on one on-site business. This business employed 5 people and generated an estimated $360,000 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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Kentwood Landfill
Kentwood LandfillThe 72-acre Kentwood Landfill Superfund site is located in Kentwood, Michigan. Landfill operations from the 1950s to 1976 led to soil and groundwater contamination. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. The city of Kentwood (the City) and Kent County worked with EPA to collect and treat groundwater, install a passive gas ventilation system, maintain the landfill cap and enforce groundwater use restrictions. Cleanup finished in 1995. In 2009, EPA approved a modification of the restrictive covenant to allow a 46,000-square-foot, two-story public library on a portion of the site. In 2012, the City worked with EPA to update land use restrictions and agreements to allow for on-site storage of inert materials that do not disturb the landfill cover. In 2015 and 2017, Kent County installed an active gas ventilation system to ensure that landfill gas does not migrate to nearby buildings. In 2019 EPA learned that the City hosts an outdoor summer concert series on part of the site, in violation of the restrictive covenant. EPA has advised the City to collect data to support a modification of the restrictive covenant to allow recreational use and construction of an outdoor campus in this area. Kentwood Farmer’s Market operates seasonally next to the site, providing a place for local vendors to sell food and goods.
Last updated September 2019
As of December 2019, EPA had data on 4 on-site businesses. These businesses employed 28 people and generated an estimated $200,000 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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Kysor Industrial Corp.
The Kysor Industrial Corp. Superfund site is located in the Cadillac Industrial Park in Cadillac, Michigan. Since 1959, Kysor Industrial Corporation has been operating an automotive parts plant on site. Operators dumped barrels of spent solvent and degreaser directly onto the ground behind the plant, resulting in soil and groundwater contamination. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1989. Cleanup activities included removal and treatment of contaminated soil and extraction and treatment of groundwater. This remedy also addresses groundwater contamination from the nearby Northernaire Plating Superfund site, which shares the groundwater table with the Kysor Industrial Corp. Superfund site. Groundwater treatment is ongoing for the removal of volatile organic compounds. Operators discharge treated groundwater into the Clam River. Land use controls prevent the use of contaminated groundwater as a drinking water source. With assistance from EPA and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), the city of Cadillac revised its municipal ordinances in September 2018 to strengthen its land use controls and groundwater use restrictions. EPA issued a Sitewide Ready for Anticipated Use (SWRAU) determination in September 2018 to memorialize that cleanup goals have been met and effective institutional controls are in place. The automotive plant continues to operate under new ownership, manufacturing car parts for combustion, hybrid and electric vehicles on site.
Last updated September 2019
As of December 2019, EPA had data on one on-site business. This business employed 29 people and generated an estimated $54,836,000 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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McGraw Edison Corp.
The 24-acre McGraw Edison Corp. Superfund site is in Albion, Michigan. From 1958 until 1980, McGraw Edison Corporation made air conditioners, humidifiers and similar equipment at the site. Between 1970 and 1980, the company spread about 15,000 gallons of oily waste on the site’s dirt roads to control dust. Wastes contaminated two on-site water supply wells and 45 nearby residential wells. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. Cleanup included removing contaminated soil, flushing remaining soil contamination and treating site groundwater. EPA offered a municipal water supply connection to area residents affected by contamination. Many agreed, but some residents declined. The site remedy was selected in a Consent Decree between Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the site’s potentially responsible parties, who are responsible for cleanup. Soil cleanup is complete. Groundwater treatment and monitoring is ongoing. A car repair and restoration business currently operates on site.
Last updated September 2019
As of December 2019, EPA had data on 4 on-site businesses. These businesses employed 14 people and generated an estimated $5,160,000 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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Northernaire Plating
The 13-acre Northernaire Plating Superfund site is located in the Cadillac Industrial Park in Cadillac, Michigan. From 1971 to 1981, Northernaire operated an electroplating facility on site and used metal in its industrial processes. Through improper handling and faulty sewer lines, hazardous metals, namely chromium, leaked into soil and groundwater. In 1983, EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL). EPA immediately removed chemical containers, drums and sewer lines. In 1995, EPA facilitated other cleanup activities, including installation and operation of an extensive groundwater extraction and treatment system, new discharge piping and a soil vapor extraction system. The remedy also addresses groundwater contamination from the nearby Kysor Industrial Corporation Superfund site. The remedy has achieved cleanup goals for the Northernaire Plating site. Remedial systems continue to operate to clean up volatile organic compounds from groundwater at the Kysor Industrial Corporation site. No restrictions are necessary to protect human health or the environment from chromium. As a result, EPA is working to take the site off the NPL. A trucking company currently owns the facility.
Last updated September 2019
As of December 2019, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
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Organic Chemicals, Inc.
Organic Chemicals, Inc.The 5-acre Organic Chemicals, Inc. Superfund site is located in Grandville, Michigan. Several petroleum-related industries operated on site from 1941 to 1991. Chemical spills and leaking waste lagoons contaminated soil and groundwater. EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. Cleanup workers installed a groundwater extraction and treatment system and removed contaminated soil. In 2006, a Grandville-based trucking company purchased the site property. The company currently parks trucks on the site.
Last updated September 2019
As of December 2019, EPA had data on one on-site business. This business employed 20 people and generated an estimated $1,000,000 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
For more information:
- Organic Chemicals, Inc., Grandville, MI - Situation Assessment (PDF) (11 pp, 1.8 MB, About PDF)
- Superfund Site Profile Page
Ossineke Ground Water Contamination
The 11-acre Ossineke Ground Water Contamination Superfund site is in Ossineke, Michigan. Operations at three properties – the Barn gas station and convenience store, the Marathon Service Station, and an area near Alphonse and LaRose Streets – are thought to have contaminated soil and groundwater at the site. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. In 1991, EPA investigations determined that contamination came from leaking underground storage tanks. EPA’s underground storage tank program took over site cleanup in 1995. EPA removed the site from the NPL in 1996. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality continues to monitor the site. No residents receive drinking water from the area of contaminated groundwater. Several homes and businesses continue to operate above the area of groundwater contamination.
Last updated September 2019
As of December 2019, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
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PMC Groundwater
PMC GroundwaterThe PMC Groundwater Superfund site is located on the shores of Lake Michigan’s Little Traverse Bay in Petoskey, Michigan. The Petoskey Manufacturing Company (PMC) operated a die casting plant at the site. Improper disposal practices contaminated area groundwater, soil and the town’s municipal well. EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. Cleanup activities included removing contaminated soil and the contaminated well, and monitoring groundwater. Deed restrictions limit the future use of the groundwater. EPA, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, the city of Petoskey (the City) and local developers worked together on cleanup and redevelopment planning for the site and surrounding waterfront. This collaboration and the City’s visionary efforts and creative financing strategies transformed the site. Today, it supports residential and commercial areas and a recreational waterfront. Site uses also include condominiums with integrated all-underground utilities, an improved road, parking and a lakefront bicycle path. In 2017, EPA conducted a vapor intrusion investigation at the condominium redevelopment on the former PMC property. In 2018, EPA installed vapor mitigation systems in all units with indoor air results above health-based standards. EPA is planning to expand the investigation into the surrounding neighborhood.
Last updated September 2019
As of December 2019, EPA had data on 3 on-site businesses. These businesses employed 9 people and generated an estimated $851,478 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
For more information:
- Reuse and the Benefit to Community: PMC Groundwater Superfund Site (PDF) (13 pp, 1.2 MB, About PDF)
- Superfund Site Profile Page
Roto-Finish Co., Inc.
The 7-acre Roto-Finish Co., Inc. Superfund site is located in Portage, Michigan. From 1950 to 1988, the company made equipment and mechanical parts on site. Operators discharged wastewater into several lagoons. From 1979 to 1984, the Roto-Finish Company excavated the lagoons and removed surface soils. Cleanup also included disposal of excavated materials and placement of clean material in excavated areas. EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1986. Long-term monitoring is ongoing. Groundwater use restrictions are in place until groundwater meets drinking water standards. Clark Logic uses the site for commercial warehousing. A brand management company also operates on site.
Last updated September 2019
As of December 2019, EPA had data on 3 on-site businesses. These businesses employed 10 people and generated an estimated $589,000 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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Sturgis Municipal Wells
The Sturgis Municipal Wells Superfund site is in Sturgis, Michigan. Two local industrial properties are possible sources for soil and groundwater contamination at the site. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1984. Groundwater pumping and treatment has been underway since 1997. Soil cleanup included soil vapor extraction (SVE) and soil removal for remaining soils that could not be treated with SVE. Commercial businesses continue to operate on parts of the site. In 2019, a new remedial investigation is being initiated for part of the site, the Wade Electric property. It is being conducted to address vapor intrusion concerns. EPA has funded the work through a cooperative agreement with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.
Last updated September 2019
As of December 2019, EPA had data on 2 on-site businesses. These businesses employed 18 people and generated an estimated $2,049,000 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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Tar Lake
Tar LakeThe 189-acre Tar Lake Superfund site surrounds a dry 4-acre pond in Mancelona Township, Michigan. From 1882 to 1945, Antrim Iron Company operated an iron works facility that disposed of wastes in the pond, referred to as Tar Lake. Disposal practices resulted in groundwater contamination. In 1983, EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL). Cleanup activities included removal of tar waste and contaminated soil as well as containment and treatment of groundwater. EPA took the 45-acre Eastern Tailings Area (ETA) of the site off the NPL in 2005, after completing cleanup. In 2009, Mancelona Renewable Resources (MRR) purchased a 115-acre part of the site, including the ETA area. In 2011, EPA took the remaining 75-acre part of the site purchased by MRR off the NPL. MRR considered constructing a biomass alternative energy facility on site. Community Resources Development (CRD), a nonprofit agency, owns 54 acres of the site. EPA and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) have been working with CRD and a railroad company to support the redevelopment of 24 acres of CRD’s property next to Route 131 for industrial use. In 2014, Great Lakes Central Railroad purchased 5 acres of the CRD property. A commercial business operates on site, and a municipal wood waste storage area is located on site. MDEQ continues to operate the site’s groundwater treatment system and conduct groundwater monitoring.
Last updated September 2019
As of December 2019, EPA had data on one on-site business. This business employed one person and generated an estimated $184,000 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
For more information:
- Tar Lake, Mancelona, MI - Situation Assessment (PDF) (24 pp, 1.9 MB, About PDF)
- Tar Lake, Mancelona, MI - Reuse Plan (PDF) (47 pp, 5.6 MB)
- Superfund Site Profile Page
Torch Lake
Torch LakeThe 2,700-acre Torch Lake Superfund site is located on Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula, within the Torch Lake Area of Concern. The site includes lakes, ponds, waterways and tailing piles. From the 1890s to 1969, copper mining activities deposited mine wastes into surrounding soil and surface water, resulting in soil, surface water and groundwater contamination. In 1986, EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL). EPA’s cleanup activities included cap construction, slag removal and habitat restoration. EPA took parts of the site off the NPL in 2002, 2004, 2012 and 2013 as cleanup goals were met. EPA continues to provide oversight for site monitoring efforts by the state of Michigan and the community. Area municipalities continue to operate well fields and sewage lagoons on site. Habitat restoration activities on Torch Lake’s Gull Island included the construction of a recreation area with nature trails and a campground, and an outreach and monitoring program that introduces high school students to biodiversity and soil fertility studies. The village of Lake Linden has developed a facility with a bathing beach, camping, park, and boat ramps at the northeast end of Torch Lake. Residential redevelopment on the Hubbell/Tamarck City portion of the site is underway. Redevelopment has resulted in several residential developments on site, including the communities of Isle-Royale, Dollar Bay, Mason Sands and Point Mills. EPA has also worked closely with the National Park Service, the Keweenaw National Historical Park Advisory Commission, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Franklin Township and local partners for a 25-acre portion of the site known as Quincy Smelter, located in Keweenaw National Historical Park, to be recognized as part of the Quincy Mining Company National Historic Landmark. EPA took the Quincy Smelter part of the site off the NPL in 2013. Reuse plans for the area include historical tours of the landmark, the best-preserved copper smelter in the country, and a waterfront recreation area.
Last updated September 2019
As of December 2019, EPA had data on 4 on-site businesses. These businesses employed 27 people and generated an estimated $2,105,000 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
For more information:
- Quincy Smelter: From Stamp Sands to National Historic Park (PDF)(16 pp, 6 MB)
- Superfund Site Profile Page
Velsicol Burn Pit
The 5-acre Velsicol Burn Pit Superfund site is located in St. Louis, Michigan. Between 1956 and 1970, the Michigan Chemical Corporation, later known as the Velsicol Chemical Corporation (Velsicol), operated on site. Operators burned industrial waste products and pesticides and disposed of the materials at the facility. Industrial waste and pesticides contaminated area groundwater and surface soils. After EPA proposed listing the site on the National Priorities List (NPL), Velsicol removed contaminated soil. EPA placed the site on the NPL in 2010. EPA selected the site’s long-term remedy in 2015. Cleanup planning for thermal treatment of soils is underway. A neighboring golf club currently uses the former burn area as an out-of-bounds area for their golf course. EPA makes sure that workers, golfers and visitors have little to no contact with contaminated soil and groundwater.
Last updated September 2019
As of December 2019, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
For more information:
Velsicol Chemical Corp. (Michigan)
The Velsicol Chemical Corp. (Michigan) Superfund site is located in St. Louis, Michigan. Since 1936, the Michigan Chemical Corp. (now known as Velsicol) produced chemical products, including pesticides, at the 54-acre facility. After years of poor waste management practices, the facility shut down in 1977. Site investigations found pesticides in soil and groundwater. Site discharges also contaminated surrounding properties, including residential homes and the Pine River. A fish advisory prevents consumption of fish. In 1982, Velsicol entered into an agreement with EPA and the state of Michigan to build a cap and slurry wall around the facility to prevent further migration of contaminants. EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. EPA and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality collected groundwater, sediment and fish tissue samples to determine the extent of contamination. Cleanup activities completed include the removal of sediments from the Pine River and cleanup of contaminated soils in a residential area. Design activities are underway for a number of technologies to remediate the site. EPA completed the first phase of soil cleanup using in-situ thermal treatment and is currently implementing in-situ thermal treatment for a second area on the former chemical plant site. EPA funded the replacement of the city of St. Louis’ municipal drinking water supply and new drinking water has been provided to the community. Residential use adjacent to the former chemical plant site is ongoing. The city has developed a possible redevelopment approach for the former chemical plant site once all cleanup activities have been completed.
Last updated September 2019
As of December 2019, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
For more information: