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Michigan Smelter

 
Site Contact:
Elizabeth Nightingale
OSC

(nightingale.elizabeth@epa.gov)

Site Location:
17867 Canal Road
Houghton, MI 49931
 response.epa.gov/michigansmelter

On 9/10/13, EPA initiated a time critical removal action at the Michigan Smelter site located at 17867 Canal Road in Houghton, Michigan. The site was operated as copper smelting facility between 1903-1947. The majority of the smelter infrastructure was subsequently dismantled, and the site was operated as a junkyard before being converted into a residential rental property. MDEQ contacted EPA in June 2012 and requested removal program assistance with the site. MDEQ and EPA assessments of the site identified an approximately 4 acre area where surface soil is contaminated with arsenic, lead and copper, as well as several other piles of metal contaminated smelter waste, piles of asbestos containing materials, and a battery pile, likely from the junkyard operation. Removal actions included removing accessible waste piles for treatment and/or proper disposal, posting the boundaries of the smelter ruins with signage regarding the presence of contamination, installing a 6 inch deep cover over approximately 1.5 acres of the site that can be safely accessed, and backfilling and restoring disturbed areas.


View looking north/northwest at the installation of the gate leafs at the primary entrance to the Site. View looking southeast at the topsoil, seed, and straw mulch placed in the disturbed areas of the Site. The capped area of the Site is located in the foregorund, View looking east at the capped area of the Site following the placement of topsoil, seed, and straw mulch. View looking northwest at the signage installed at an access trail along the ORV trail bordering the Site on the south. , View looking east/southeast at the restoration, of the access ramp constructed to access the HIllside Waste PIle. View looking east at the restored excavations in View looking west/northwest at Site restoration operations. Restoration activities include the placement of topsoil, seed, and straw mulch. View looking southwest at the placement of topsoil to restore areas of the Site disturbed by the removal activities. View looking north at the installation of gate posts at the entry to the Site. The gate will prohibit access to Site, mitigating risks to potential tresspassers. View looking west northwest at topsoil placed in the capped area of the Site. View looking east at the loading of a haul truck with treated lead contaminated soil for disposal at K&W Landfill. Post-treatment analytical results for the lead contaminated soil allowed the materials to designated as non-hazardous waste. View looking west at the sealing and placarding of the asbestos contaminated waste prior to transport. View looking southeast at the loading of a lined haul truck with asbestos contaminated waste. The asbestos contaminated waste stream is also being disposed of at K&W Landfill. View looking west at clean backfill sand in the proposed cap area. The treated and covered lead contaminated soil in the background of the photograph is scheduled for transport and disposal later in the week. View looking west at the loading of a haul truck with contaminated soil. The inorganic contaminated soil was trasported to K&W Landfill a licensed and CERCLA-approved disposal facility in Ontonagon County, Michigan. View looking east/southeast at the loading of a haul truck with contaminated soil. The inorganic contaminated soil was generated from the Mercury Knob Waste Pile and the hillside hotspot excavations. View looking south at the grading of clean backfill sand in the eastern portion of the cap area. View looking north at gravel placed at the entrance to the Site. View looking west at the placement of gravel in the vicinty of the entrance to the Site. The gravel is being placed to establish stable construction access for haul trucks. View looking southwest at the collection of waste characterization sample from the treated/stabilized lead contaminated soil. The analytical results will provide confirmation that the leachability of lead from the soil has been reduced below hazardous criteria. View looking west at the placement clean backfill sand in the cap area of the Site. View looking west/southwest at the application of Enviroblend® to the stockpiled lead contaminated soil. View looking west/northwest at the placement of clean backfill sand to construct a cap over contaminated surface soil. The cap will not prevent percolation of meterological waters, but will provide a barrier for risks posed by direct contact hazards. View looking west/southwest at the application of Enviroblend® to the stockpiled lead contaminated soil. The mixture is homogenized using heavy equipment. The Enviroblend® will stabilize the contaminated soil, reducing its capacity to leach lead and rendering it non-hazardous. View looking northwest at the mixing of Enviroblend® and and stockpiled lead contaminated soil. Enviroblend® is a white powder comprised of magnesium oxide and calcium phostphates used to stabilize waste materials. View looking east/northeast at the placement of topsoil along the restored slope of Terrace No. 3. View looking west/northwest at the placement of topsoil in the backfilled excavation of Hot Spot Area No. 3. View looking south at the placement of clean backfill sand in Hot Spot Area No. 5 which extends up the hillside from Terrace No. 4 to Terrace No. 3. View looking southwest at the excavation limits of Hot Spot Area No. 5. The excavation floors and sidewalls were screened with an XRF to verify to removal of contaminated soil above Site-Specifc Action Levels. View looking southwest at the excavation floor in Hot Spot Area No. 5. Soil was carefully excavated from the hillside to prevent damage to the historical walls and subgrade structures. View looking south at the excavation of contaminated soil from Hot Spot Area No. 5 which extended up the hillside from Terrace No. 4 to Terrace No. 3. Soil was carefully excavated from the hillside to prevent damage to the historical walls and subgrade structures. View looking southeast at the delivery of clean backfill sand to the Host Spot Area No. 3 excavation. View looking east at the excavation of Hot Spot Area No. 3. The excavation extended vertically approximately 18 to 24 inches. Contaminant concentrations were genrally below Site-Specific Action Levels in the tan sand underlying the darker colored surface soils. View looking up/south at excavation activities in Hot Spot Area No. 3 located on Terrace 3. Excavated soil was placed in the track dump and then transferred to the staging area to await transport and dipsosal. View looking southwest at the excavation of Hot Spot Area No. 3. The southern limits of the excavation terminate against a concrete slab and curb approximately 5 feet from the wall marking the limits of Terrace 3. View looking west at excavation activities in Hot Spot Area No. 3. The excavation progressed from east to west. Contaminated soil was staged in the area scheduled for capping. Personnel donned Level C personal protective equipment during the removal of contaminated soil. View looking west at the initiation of excavation in Hot Spot Area No. 3. The excavation extended vertically 12-18 inches. Excavation activites in Hot Spot Area No. 3 are ongoing. Based on sampling results roofing material, was classified as Category I Non-friable ACM that will require disposal as ACM, but will not require special handling during removal. View looking north/northeast at the collection and bagging of suspect asbestos containing materials, specifically asphaltic roofing material. View looking west at the initiation of excavation in Hot Spot Area No. 4. The excavation extended vertically 12-18 inches and covered an area of approximately 600 square feet. View looking west along the western portion of Terrace 3 prior to the excavation of View looking south at the graded and restored Hillside Waste Pile excavation area. View looking southwest at area north of the hillside waste pile that was disturbed during the excavation activities. The area was graded and restored with clean topsoil. View looking southeast/up at the transfer of clean backfill sand up to Terrace No. 3 for placement in the Hillside Waste Pile Excavation. The existing hillside was graded to create an access ramp, allowing equipment to reach the waste pile. View looking south at the placement of clean sand backfill in the Hilliside Waste Pile Excavation. Contaminated soil was hand dug from in and around the structure to prevent damage to the historical feature. Personnel donned Level C personal protective equipment during the removal of contaminated soil. View looking southeast at the initiation of excavation activities at the Hillside Waste Pile. The southern portion of the Site and former operating area of the smelter is located on a steep hillside comprised of several terraces within approximately 100 vertical feet. View looking northwest at the final grade and topsoil placed in the Mercury Knob Waste Pile Excavation area. View looking northwest at the placement of clean sand backfill n the Mercury Knob Waste Pile Excavation area. View looking south at the excavation of contaminated soil from the Mercury Knob Waste Pile. Contaminated soil was staged in the area scheduled for capping. Personnel donned Level C personal protective equipment during the removal of contaminated soil. View looking northeast at topsoil placed along the slope to Coles Creek in the Battery Debris Area. View looking east at the placement of clean imported topsoil over the backfill sand in the Battery Debris Area. View looking northeast at a DataRAM placed along the perimeter of the Site for particulate air monitoring. The perimeter air monitors are equipped with radio modems to allow for remote, real-time monitoring. View looking east at the placement of clean imported topsoil over the backfill sand at the eastern limits of the haul road from the Battery Debris Area. View looking northeast at clean imported backfill sand placed in the Battery Debris Area. View looking west at the placement of imported clean sand as a soil cap extending east from the Battery Debris Area. View looking northwest at building debris that was suspected to contain asbestos. Materials were handled and removed as asbestos containing materials and transferred to the staging area for disposal. View looking west at the placement of imported clean sand as backfill in the Battery Debris Area. View looking west at the application of water to suppress dust in the work zone. View looking northeast at contaminated soil excavated from the Battery Debris Area, covered with plastic and staged for transport and disposal. View looking north/down at the excavated Battery Debris Area along Coles Creek. View looking east at the delivery of clean sand for use as backfill in the excavated and capped areas of the Site. View looking west/northwest at contaminated soil excavated from the Battery Debris Area, staged for disposal. View looking northeast at the floor of the excavation in the Battery Debris Area. The excavation was approximately 1 foot deep. View looking east/northeast at the transfer of contaminated soil excavated from the Battery Debris Area to a track-dump. Contaminated soil was staged in the area scheduled for capping. View looking north at excavation activities in the Battery Debris Area. Excavated soil was kept moist using a water spray to minimize dust. View looking north at excavation activities in the Battery Debris Area. Personnel donned Level C personal protective equipment during the removal of contaminated soil. View looking northwest at the initiation of excavation activities in the Battery Debris Area. Access to the Mercury Knob waste deposit was through the main area of the Site. Approximately one dozen trees required removal to allow for access by heavy equipment. View looking north/northeast at the waste deposit identified as Mercury Knob. Trees requiring removal to access the waste deposit were flagged and inventoried. View looking northeast at the preparation of contaminated surface scheduled to be capped and vegetated. View looking east at erosion controls being established along the northern limits of contaminated surface soil scheduled for capping. View looking north at observed asbestos containing construction materials after vegetative material was cleared from the waste deposit. View looking west/southwest at the Battery Debris Area adjacent to Coles Creek. The waste deposit is estimated to be greater than 8 feet thick. View looking east at soil erosion controls established along the south bank of Coles Creek, along the toe of the Battery Debris Area. View looking west/northwest at the Battery Debris Pile after clearing and grubbing. View looking west/northwest at an area of contaminated surface soil that is scheduled to be capped and vegetated. View looking southeast at a portion of the hillside that was regraded to allow access to the Hillside Waste Pile. Tree removal in the area of the Site to be capped.
For additional information, visit the Pollution/Situation Report (Pol/Sitreps) section.