LOCATION: This facility is located within the commercial district of Kinross Township, on the northeast corner of the intersection of Tone Road and Riley Street. Surrounding  properties include the U.S. Post Office to the west, the township RV park to the north and east, and commercial establishments to the south.SITE HISTORY: This facility was built in the late 1950's and used by the United States Air Force (USAF) as part of the potable water supply for the airbase until it's closure in 1978. Two structures are present: a partially buried cistern used for potable water storage  and; a cement block building which contained a chlorination room, pumps, pressure tank and a small office space. The cistern was constructed of concrete, measuring 40 feet in diameter and 18 feet deep, and held an estimated 125,000 gallons of water. The USAF formally abandoned this facility in 1982 and ownership reverted to Kinross Township. The cistern and support building have since been unused and paint from the exterior of the structures has deteriorated and become deposited onto the surrounding soil. The structure has been subject to vandalism and been deemed to be a safety concern and general nuisance.

CLEANUP ACTIONS: Just over $101,000 in CMI monies were spent at the site to demolish the two structures and remove and dispose of contaminated soil. A private owner is now doing this.  

REDEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL: Although several individuals had previously expressed interested in redeveloping the property, none had been agreeable to cope with removing the existing structures on the site. Kinross Township officials therefore requested the state to utilize CMI funds for the demolition of structures at this parcel to facilitate redevelopment. A local investor has now purchased the property and intends to build a restaurant at this location.

Current Assessed Value: Unknown.

Zoning: Commercial     Master Plan Use: Unknown.

Local Incentives: Unknown.

Local Contact Information: Scott Schafer, DEQ Newberry Office, 906-293-5131.

LOCATION: Kinross Manufacturing Corporation (KMC) is a 64 acre portion of the former Kincheloe Air Force Base (KAFB), which is approximately 15 miles south of the City of Sault Ste. Marie. The KMC property is bordered to the east by a public golf course and to the south by a state prison. The land is wooded and undeveloped to the west and north, however, an old landfill used by KAFB exists directly north of the site.

SITE HISTORY: This facility was originally built by the United States Air Force in the early 1960's and was used by the federal government for weapons storage until 1977. The KMC began producing ordnance and pyrotechnics at the facility in 1983, under exclusive contract with the Department of Defense and, continued their operations until 1989 when it filed a petition seeking creditor protection in the United States Bankruptcy Court. Investigations conducted at the facility have identified contaminated soil at concentrations sufficient for the soil to be classified as hazardous waste.

CLEANUP ACTIONS: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency conducted an emergency cleanup of this property in 1991 after a state inspection revealed that numerous containers of chemicals and waste had been abandoned, with some of them leaking. It was also evident that trespassers were entering the property through a breach in the security fence and vandalizing equipment and materials at the site.

In October of 1997 the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality conducted further environmental testing and found lead paint and asbestos in the buildings remaining at the site. Samples also indicate that chromium and lead are present in the soil at concentrations above state-established criteria, in areas of the site where electroplating processes occurred when the KMC was in operation.

Clean Michigan Initiative (CMI) monies in the amount of $774,611 have been spent at the site to remove unsafe structures containing lead and asbestos and, for the removal of contaminated soils and ordnance left on site.

REDEVOPMENT POTENTIAL: Kinross Township has identified this property as a prime site for redevelopment due to its large size and its proximity to a variety of transportation modes (Interstate-75, an active railroad line, and the Chippewa International Airport). This facility has usable infrastructure, perimeter fencing, storage facilities and is located near an industrial park. A residential subdivision and golf course are also nearby.

Current Assessed Value: Unknown.

Zoning: Commercial     Master Plan Use: Unknown.

Local Incentives: Unknown.

Local Contact Information: Linda Peters, EDC Director, 906-495-5381 ext. 109 or check out the website at: http://kinross.net/government/property/index.html

LOCATION: This facility is located at the western city limits of Sault Ste. Marie. The site consists of approximately 75 acres along the shore of the St. Mary's River, about one mile upstream of the Soo Locks.

SITE HISTORY: The site is a former leather tannery, the Northwest Leather Company, which was operational from 1900 to 1958. The company dumped solid waste materials and piped liquid wastes from the tanning operations into a riverine wetland on the Saint Marys River. High concentrations of chromium and mercury, and significant concentrations of other heavy metals and polyaromatic hydrocarbons remain in site soils and river sediments.

The site includes the former tannery site (now demolished), the waste disposal areas along the river, and portions of the river where eroded shoreline wastes have deposited in the sediment. An approximately two-acre portion of the disposal area, referred to as the barren zone, had experienced spontaneous periodic fires during dry summer months over the years. Stressed vegetation exists in this area of the site and the highest levels of soil contamination are found here. Some disposal of drums is also evident along a portion of the shoreline several hundred yards west of the barren zone.

CLEANUP ACTIONS: The EPA conducted a fund-lead Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study from 1989 through 1992. Removal actions were completed by the PRP to isolate the highly contaminated barren zone, including construction of a fence and seawall. The PRP also installed a temporary sprinkler system to address the fire threat. In fall 1991 and spring 1992, the PRP fenced most of the site and extended the seawall, and the EPA conducted ecotoxicological studies and an ecological inventory. The MDEQ conducted several contamination leachability studies on site soils and sediments to assist in the establishment of cleanup criteria.

The Record of Decision (ROD) was issued on September 30, 1992, calling for removal and disposal of debris, waste, soils and sediments in an on-site landfill; treatment, if necessary, of groundwater collected during the dewatering activities as part of construction; groundwater monitoring and land use restrictions for the landfilled area.

In April 1993, the EPA and the PRP signed an Administrative Order on Consent for the Remedial Design (RD). In the beginning phases of RD, the PRP completed the pre-design studies, and issued a final report in October 1994. Due to findings in the pre-design studies, the PRP submitted a remedial alternative in October 1995, calling for a less extensive remediation. This document was reviewed by all involved agencies, including the EPA, the MDEQ, U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers, (MDPH).

The EPA redrafted the remedial alternative proposal, to reflect the consensus of the agencies, and used this to complete an amended ROD. The amended ROD went out for public comment, and was signed in September 1996, with State of Michigan concurrence. The PRP completed construction of the amended ROD October 1999, including: removal of barren zone and shoreline wastes, and shoreline stabilization. NOAA, in conjunction with EPA, MDEQ, and the PRP, finalized the first of at least three bio-monitoring studies at the site to evaluate bio-uptake of heavy metals.

Clean Michigan Initiative (CMI) funds were appropriated for this site to conduct additional remedial actions on the sediments of Tannery Bay, in the event such actions were to be deemed necessary by the agencies. This work would be done in conjunction with the liable party. At this time, the liable party has just completed studies which will provide information to assist the agencies in their decision on the need for remediation of the bay.

REDEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL: This site is located on the St. Mary's River in a highly developable area, with rail and highway access in close proximity. A portion of the site is already undergoing redevelopment as a housing project. The local unit of government has significant interest in developing the remainder of the site.

 MDEQ Contact:  Rob Franks, Superfund Section,  (517) 335-3392