United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region V
POLLUTION REPORT



Date:
Friday, August 3, 2007
From:
Brian Kelly

To:
Guy St. Germain, WUP Health Department
Mary Schafer, DEQ
Rosita Clarke-Moreno, U.S. EPA

Subject: 

Initiation of Removal Action
Lake Linden
1000 Hiltunen Street, Lake Linden, MI
Latitude: 47.1960000
Longitude: -88.4050000


POLREP No.:
1
Site #:
B5KY
Reporting Period:
D.O. #:
Start Date:
7/25/2007
Response Authority:
CERCLA
Mob Date:
7/25/2007
Response Type:
Emergency
Demob Date:
 
NPL Status:
Non NPL
Completion Date:
 
Incident Category:
Removal Action
CERCLIS ID #:
Contract #
RCRIS ID #:
 

Site Description

In July 2007, questions regarding a clay-like material along a shoreline in Lake Linden, Michigan were brought to the attention of the Western Upper Peninsula District Health Department (WUPDHD) and Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH).

Samples collected of the material by Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) showed levels above direct contact for metals (lead as high as 78,000 ppm*) and PCBs (as high as 12.4 ppm*).  

*At this site, direct contact criteria for lead is 400 ppm and 4 ppm for PCBs.

Prior sampling in 2004 and 2005 were below health based levels.  In recent years, lake levels have fallen to nearly historic lows and have exposed this new area.

In response to MDEQ's sample results, WUPDHD cordoned this area of the shoreline.  


Current Activities

On July 25, U.S. EPA Emergency Response Branch (ERB) assistance was requested.  Between July 25 and August 1, ERB collected samples in the cordoned area and along a 1/2 mile area to determine the extent of contamination.  ERB sample results from the cordoned area correlate with results collected by MDEQ.  Results from the 1/2 mile area are pending.  

Further delineation of sediment contamination will be conducted the week of August 6.


Planned Removal Actions

An Emergency Time-Critical Removal is being initiated to remove contaminated soil in the cordoned area.  Further action is contingent on pending analytical and results of sediment sampling.


Key Issues

The clay-like material is unrelated to stamp sands.  U.S. EPA Remedial Branch is currently working on issues related to stamp sands and information collected during the removal action will be shared.

Lake Linden was recently delisted from the Torch Lake NPL.  The near historic drop in lake levels has exposed this new area.


response.epa.gov/lakelinden