July 5, 2005

The Department of Environmental Quality has authorized $600,000 to install and operate a treatment system to address industrial waste contamination in the soil and groundwater on an eight acre parcel on Northline Road that was acquired by the city of Romulus, in Wayne County, through tax reversion.

During construction of the city’s Department of Public Works yard on the property, it was discovered that industrial waste was buried on the site by a previous owner. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the DEQ have removed over 3,500 drums containing industrial solvents, along with extensive contaminated soil and groundwater, from the property.

Further investigations have revealed that levels of solvent contamination remain in the soil and groundwater at concentrations high enough to pose a potential risk to nearby surface water, human direct contact with the groundwater, and by volatilization to indoor air. The DEQ will use this funding to install a soil vapor extraction treatment system and will operate the system until the contaminant concentrations are significantly reduced and any risks to public health are eliminated.

Editor’s note: DEQ news releases are available on the department’s Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

“Protecting Michigan’s Environment, Ensuring Michigan’s Future”

Revised July 5, 2004 by Alice Stimpson acting for Pat Watson