United State Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Removal Action
The site is comprised of a former paper mill in which representatives of Allegan County discovered abandoned drums, totes, and containers. The site occupies an area of 17 acres in an industrial/residential setting and is surrounded by West River Street to the north, John Street and N. North Street to the east, the Kalamazoo River to the south, and vacant land to the west. The site is currently abandoned.
MacSimBar Paper Company began paper-making at the site in 1906. Paper and related products were produced at the site for 98 years during which time the facility was operated under several different names. The Rock-Tenn plant shut down in 2004. Cogswell Property LLC, of Redford Township, bought the site in 2006. The property entered foreclosure in 2011 after Cogswell failed to pay property taxes. Currently, the county owns the property.
In November and December 2011, U.S. EPA and Terra Contracting LLC, on behalf of Rock-Tenn Company, conducted assessments of the property. Both Terra and U.S. EPA identified drums and containers believed to contain acids, bases, oil, and other unknown substances. There is evidence of trespassing and vandalism at the site.
