The C&H Machine Shop building and surrounding properties (Site) consists of a series of 15 parcels located in an area bound by Mine Street, Sixth Street, and Red Jacket Road in Calumet, Houghton County, Michigan, in a mixed residential, industrial, and commercial area.
The C&H Machine Shop supported the operations of the Calumet and Hecla Mine Company beginning in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s. Machining operations have been conducted in the former C&H Machine Shop building on Parcel 9 since that time. More recently the building has been used primarily as storage and as a lumber and paint supply company (Rudy’s Paint and Lumber).
Inside the building were 1,950 containers including 55-gallon drums, paint cans, oil cans, antifreeze containers, mineral spirits, used oil, cleaners, and solvents.
MDEQ requested U.S. EPA assistance in removal of these containers.
On July 10, 2007, U.S. EPA met with C&H Machine shop owner owner Rudy Kump, and representatives of Keweenaw National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service) KNHP, Calumet Township Supervisor Paul Lehtlo, and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) Hank Switzer to discuss cleanup options.
During the meeting there was concern expressed about soil contamination on the C&H Machine Shop parcel and the other 14 adjacent parcels.
During the months of July through September, the site owner voluntarily completed removal of containerized wastes with the exception of paint cans. The owner has entered into a donation agreement with Habitat for Humanity, which as agreed to accept the paint.
During this same period, U.S. EPA conducted soil sampling along the perimeter of the building, and reviewed previous sample results provided by the U.S. National Park Service.
On September 11, 2007, a second stakeholder meeting was held at the Calumet Municipal Building. It was determined that soil results did not show an imminent and substantial threat, with the exception of a 10ft X 5ft area (delineated with XRF screening) near the C&H Machine Shop building. The site owner covered this area with asphalt.
During the week of October 1, 2007, U.S. EPA completed oversight of the owner's voluntary removal.
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1) Amend TDD to complete final report. 2) Issue final report to stakeholders.
Contamination within the C&H Machine Shop building, such as lead and PCB staining, did not present a threat outside the building and were not addressed.
The project was a voluntary PRP-lead. Had the project been fund-lead the estimated cleanup cost would have been $250,000.
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