1995

July 1995

Accumulation of methane gas in a basement led to the explosion of a residential dwelling at 2104 Breen Avenue. Response actions by the Michigan Consolidated Gas Company confirmed the presence of methane gas at explosive levels, but eliminated the natural gas pipeline in the area as the source.

The explosion which fire official’s suspect is methane gas, prompted the City of Kingsford to conduct an investigation into the source and extent of the methane gas in the area of 2104 Breen Avenue. This work included:

shallow soil gas surveys

the drilling of soil borings

the drilling and installation of methane gas probes

collection of gas for laboratory analysis

monitoring methane levels in the gas probes

Field work continued through August 1995

August 1995

The City of Kingsford received the Investigation Report for 2104 Breen Avenue. The report identified an area 500 feet long by 300 feet wide in which the subsurface is affected by methane gas concentrations of up to 100% (by volume with air) to a depth of nearly 40 feet. The report also recommended continuing monitoring of the gas probes for methane, and expanding the area of investigation.

September 1995

The City of Kingsford continues monitoring the gas probes for methane through the rest of 1995, while trying to acquire outside funding to correct the situation.

December 1995

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is asked to become involved in efforts to control methane gas in the residential area along the intersection of Breen and Garfield Avenues by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and United State Legislators.

1996

January 1996

The EPA began investigations into the methane gas problem at 2104 Breen Avenue. The work activities included:

monitoring methane gas levels in and around 2104 Breen Avenue

the drilling and installation of gas probes

the designing of a soil vapor extraction system

the drilling and installation of a soil vapor extraction wells

Field work continued through April 1996

March 1996

The EPA organized government and university groups to determine the source, nature, and extent of the methane gas problem in Kingsford.

EPA hosted their first public meeting at Kingsford City Hall to provide an update to area residents of the on-going work in the Breen Avenue area, and other actions being plan in regards to methane gas problem.

April 1996

The EPA broadens their investigation activities to include additional areas in Kingsford and Breitung Township. The work included:

the drilling and installation of groundwater monitoring wells

the drilling and installation methane gas probes

geophysical investigations

the collection of soil and groundwater samples for laboratory analysis

Field work continued through June 1996

May 1996

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) took over operation and maintenance (O&M) of the SVE system at the intersection of Breen and Garfield Avenues, and continued for the rest of 1996.

DEQ in cooperation with the EPA conducted an Integrated Assessment of the former disposal areas used by Ford and Kingsford Products Company for the disposal of wood-waste by products from past charcoal and chemical manufacturing practices in Kingsford. Work included:

the drilling and installation soil borings

the collection of soil, waste and groundwater samples for laboratory analysis

Field work continued through June 1996

December 1996

EPA hosted their second public meeting at Kingsford High School to provide an update to area residents of the investigation findings and other actions being taken with regard to the methane gas releases in the Kingsford and Breitung Twp area.

1997

During all of 1997

DEQ continued Operational & Maintenance activities of the Soil Vapor Extraction system at the intersection of Breen and Garfield Avenues.

March 1997

Accumulations of methane gas in and around the residential dwelling at 2001 Emmet Ave. prompted the EPA to design and install a SVE system at the intersection of Emmet and Grant Avenues.

May 1997

FORD and KPC and the EPA entered an Administrative Order by Consent (AOC) to perform an Engineering Evaluation and Cost Analysis Study (EE/CA) for the Easton Estate Site in Kingsford. The purpose of the EE/CA was to provide a comprehensive characterization of the formation, transport and fate of methane gas in the subsurface so alternatives for response actions could be developed.

Ford and KPC began investigation activities pursuant to the EE/CA. Activities included:

drilling and installation of groundwater monitoring wells

drilling and installation of methane gas probes

drilling of soil borings

collection of soil, groundwater and gas samples for laboratory analysis

monitoring of gas probes for methane

specific capacity testing, and development of the groundwater monitoring wells

seismic and ground penetrating radar studies

Field work continued for the rest of 1997

June 1997

The DEQ notified FORD of its legal responsibilities under Part 201 (Environmental Remediation) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 Public Act 451, as amended, and requested that FORD voluntarily take the necessary actions to resolve its liability regarding their former Ford Motor Company Plant site in Kingsford.

July 1997

The DEQ took over O&M of the SVE system at the intersection of Emmet and Grant Avenue, and continued for the rest of 1997.

September 1997

DEQ hosted their first public meeting at Kingsford High School to provide an update to area residents of the on-going work in the Kingsford and Breitung Twp. Also, as a precautionary measure for area resident, the DEQ, in cooperation with the City of Kingsford, provided free methane detectors and related methane guidance to residents living within the City of Kingsford and Breitung Township.

1998

Up until June 1998

DEQ continued Operational & Maintenance activities of the Soil Vapor Extraction system at the intersections of Breen and Garfield Avenue, and Emmet and Grant Avenue, and FORD and KPC continued their field work pursuant to the EE/CA.

January 1998

The DEQ notified KPC of its legal responsibilities under Part 201, and requested that KPC voluntarily undertake the necessary actions to resolve its liability regarding their former Ford Motor Company Plant site in Kingsford.

February 1998

The DEQ notified FORD and KPC to undertake the following interim response activities at the site:

operation & maintenance of the Soil Vapor Extraction system at the intersections of Breen and Garfield Avenue, and Emmet and Grant Avenue

implement an emergency response plan to ensure the safety of the communities should a methane gas emergency arise.

removal of the pooled tar at the former northeast tar pit

May 1998

DEQ received a Remedial Investigation (R.I.) Work Plan for the Kingsford and Breitung Twp Site. The purpose of the work plan was to characterize soil and groundwater conditions, define the nature and extent of soil and groundwater contamination, evaluate source areas, evaluate groundwater contamination discharging into the Menominee River, and to further evaluate the presence, concentration, and origin of methane gas in the subsurface soils.

June 1998

The EPA notifies FORD and KPC that they were transferring all regulatory aspects of the site to the DEQ. The DEQ begins oversight of the additional work being performed by FORD and KPC.

Ford and KPC began investigation activities pursuant to the R.I. Field activities included:

drilling and installation of groundwater monitoring wells

drilling and installation of methane gas probes

drilling of soil borings

the digging of test pits

installation of soil vapor extraction systems

collection of soil, groundwater and gas samples for laboratory analysis

monitoring of gas probes for methane

specific capacity testing, and development of the groundwater monitoring wells

Field work continued for the rest of 1998

FORD and KPC agreed to take over the operation & maintenance of the soil vapor extraction system at intersections of Breen and Garfield Avenue, and Emmet and Grant Avenue, and removal of the pooled tar at the former northeast tar pit, this continued through the rest of 1998.

July 1998

FORD and KPC submitted the EE/CA report to EPA. The report recommended that additional investigative work was needed due to the complex nature of the soil and groundwater conditions.

September 1998

FORD and KPC signed an agreement with the DEQ to implement a methane emergency response plan (ERP). The purpose of the ERP is to define actions to be taken to ensure the safety of the communities should a methane gas emergency arise.