U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will
soon start work to clean up contaminated soil in some areas of Belanger Park,
located on the banks of the Detroit River at 2 Belanger Park Drive in River
Rouge, Michigan. On April 1, the EPA will begin removing soil containing
elevated levels of lead and cadmium and replacing it with clean soil. Work is
expected to continue until mid-June.
Last fall, the EPA and the Michigan
Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy completed soil sampling at
three River Rouge parks. Results showed elevated levels of lead and cadmium
above the EPA’s contact criteria in certain grassy areas of Belanger Park,
which were then closed off by the city with temporary fencing until a cleanup
could take place. Harsh Michigan winters typically leave parts of the ground
frozen until springtime, making in-situ, or in-ground, construction projects
difficult. As temperatures are now beginning to warm, the EPA can begin its
cleanup of the park.
The cleanup will include excavation and
removal of contaminated soil, which will be backfilled with clean soil and
replanted with vegetation. Soil removed from the site will be sent to a
regulated waste facility for proper disposal.
Access to the park will remain restricted but
the boat launch and fishing pier will remain open for public use. When
recreating in these areas, the public should obey all posted signage
surrounding the construction area and watch for increased truck traffic until
further notice.
