The Site encompasses approximately 14 acres and contains one dilapidated building; the former C&H Power Plant building (the Power Plant).  The Site historically contained several primary buildings including the power plant, a centrally located boiler house, and the “Hecla” Stamp Mill along the water front.  Smaller buildings located north of the power plant and boiler house included a “Filter House” and a “Still House.”  The Site currently contains foundations and floors from these buildings which no longer exist, although remnants of some of the buildings remain.  The Site also contains former rock bins and bermed rubble and debris piles.

            The Power Plant was established in 1905 to meet the electrical demands of the evolving industrial complex and mining operations.  The Power Plant was one of two electrical generating stations that operated in parallel and supplied electricity throughout the region. By 1931, the Power Plant was connected to the electrical grid through transformers and eight outgoing feeders that exited the west side of the building overhead.

The topography of the Site is relatively flat, with building foundations and debris scattered at various locations.  The eastern Site boundary has a steep sloping grade towards Torch Lake, which is approximately twenty feet lower than the ground surface of the center of the Site, and below the elevation of the basement floor of the Plant.  Groundwater flow in the Site area is unknown; however, based on the proximity of the Site to Torch Lake, EPA presumes that the groundwater flows east toward Torch Lake.

1.1.2.1 Location

The Site is located on Highway M-26 south of the Village of Lake Linden, in Houghton County, Michigan.  The geographical coordinates for the Site are latitude 47.1850924 North and longitude, -88.4133392 West. The Site is bounded to the east by Torch Lake; to the north by the Houghton County Historical Museum, a public park, and a marina; to the south by residential properties; and to the west by Highway M-26.

The Site is composed of a distinct parcel of property which was surveyed in 2002. EPA has adopted the legal description of the Property contained in the 2002 survey to establish the boundaries of the Site. 

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

Widespread bulk Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) contamination has been detected throughout the Site and inside the Power Plant. Asbestos fibers have also been detected in surface soil and air samples. Contaminated soils contain concentrations of arsenic, antimony, copper, iron, and lead that are greater thanMichigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) Part 201 Residential Direct Contact Cricteria (RDCC). Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) have also been detected in the water in the basement of the Power Plant.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

At the request of the MDEQ, the EPA performed a three-phase site assessment (SA) beginning on April 15, 2010.  The SA was composed of the following activities:

·         A visual assessment of Site features, and exposed debris and materials;
·        An asbestos survey consisting of collecting bulk samples, soil samples, and performing activity-based sampling of air;
·         X-ray fluorescence analyzer soil screening for metals;
·         A gamma radiation survey to screen for radiological contaminants; and,
·         Soil and water sample collections for laboratory analysis for potential contaminants of concern (COC).

The SA indicates the presence of uncontrolled hazardous substances at the Site, including: inorganic COCs in surface soils; lead and ACM on the surface soil, interior building foundations and exterior debris piles; and, possibile PCB contamination in the water and basement of the Power Plant.

AMEC mobilized to the Site on Monday July 23, 2012.

On July 24, 2012, AMEC conducted a Pre-bid kickoff meeting for potential abatement and removal contractors at the Lake Linden City Hall Lake Linden, MI. Specifications and bidding documents included the abatement and demolition of the Power Plant building and the removal, transportation, and disposal of bermed soils at the Site. Following the meeting, AMEC escorted potential bidders on an inspection of the Site. Following the site-walkthrough AMEC conducted site preparation activities in suppport of the planned assessment activities including soil boring and sampling Site preparation activities included utility clearance, setup of a mobile weather station, staging and inventorying PPE, and establishemnt of the contaminant reduction zone and support zone. Coleman Engineeering Company of Iron Mountain, MI provided direct push drilling support and mobilized a Geoprobe to the Site. mobilizing the direct push drill rig, setup of the perimeter air monitors, and marked the drilling locations in each planned grid cell.

AMEC/Coleman initiated soil boring and sampling activities at the Site on Wednesday July 25, 2012. Soil borings were installed in predetermined grid cells in the northeast section of the Site. Approximately 14 soil borings were advanced in grid cells 39, 40, 48, 49, and 58. Soil samples were collected from three subsurface intervals in accordance with approved plannning documents. Grab samples were analyzed for inorganic constituents and composite samples were collected from each grid for asbestos and waste characterization analyses.  AMEC also conducted perimeter air sampling using six air sampling units established at the work limits and adjacent to off-site receptors. One entry team member donned personal air sampler for the collection of air samples.

AMEC/Coleman continued soil boring and sampling activities at the Site on Thursday July 26, 2012. Soil borings were installed in predetermined grid cells in the southern portion of the Site. Approximately 28 soil borings were advanced in grid cells 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, and 13. Soil and air samples were collected the same as previous days and in accordance with planning documents.

·         Activity Based Sampling for Asbestos: Week of September 10, 2012 (Tentative)

·         Berm Removal/Building Abatement and Demolition: Week of September 30, 2012 (Tentative)

ACTIVITY BASED SAMPLING - ASBESTOS

Following receipt of analytical results for asbestos in soil at the Site, AMEC will rank grid cells for proposed activity based sampling activities. Proposed sampling areas will be provided to the USEPA for review and approval prior to the initiation of activities at the Site.

BERM REMOVAL

BUILDING ABATEMENT/DEMOLITION

Following procurement of a removal contractor, AMEC will initiate abatement activities on the Power Plant building. In addition, floor openings will be covered to prevent debris from falling into the basement and to protect workers in the building. Following abatement activities, the building will be razed leaving the concrete floor and covered openings at the SIte until removal activities resume in Spring 2013.

Following receipt of data summaries, review of the analytical results and approval of the proposed work outlined above will be required prior to resuming field work.

2.2.2 Issues

Inclement weather, specifically significant snow accumulation, would potentially delay or postpone the proposed work activities.

ACM             Asbestos-containing material

ACWM          Asbestos-containing waste material

C&H              Calumet and Hecla

COC              Chemical of concern

MDEQ           Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

NCP              National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan

NESHAP        National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants

OSC              On-Scene Coordinator

OSHA            Occupational Safety and Health Administration

PCB               Polychlorinated biphenyls

RACM            Regulated asbestos-containing material

RDCC             Residential Direct Contact Criteria

SA                 Site assessment

START           Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team

TSI                 Thermal system insulation

U.S. EPA       United States Environmental Protection Agency

XRF                X-ray fluorescence