LOCATION: Approximately three acres of this 10 acre site is located within the Escanaba City limits, with the remaining seven acres lying within Wells Township. The property is located on a small peninsula that extends into little Bay de Noc, just south of the mouth of the Escanaba River.

SITE HISTORY: The site was historically used as a shipping port for timber, coal and iron ore. In 1952, the Shell Oil Company leased the property and built a bulk terminal which rented fuel oil storage space. In 1979, the property was transferred to the Bay de Noc Oil Company. During the 1980's caustic soda was stored at the site for use by the paper industry. The property tax-reverted to the state in 1994 after the Bay de Noc Oil Company filed bankruptcy. The site is currently owned by the City of Escanaba.

CLEANUP ACTIONS: Phased environmental assessments were completed in January of 1998 with state Site Assessment Funds. Fuel releases from several underground storage tanks were identified and limited areas of the site were found to have soil and groundwater contaminated with petroleum constituents.

A total of $451,935 of state funds has been spent at this site to remove abandoned fuel storage tanks and evaluate environmental conditions at the site. In December of 1999, seven underground storage tanks were removed.  In November of 2000, two large above ground storage tanks, a fuel loading/transfer structure and associated piping, and a small concrete office building/garage were removed.  Test pits were excavated to evaluate subsurface conditions and soil and groundwater was sampled and analyzed.  A Demolition Summary Report and Technical Memorandum has been issued and the project is being closed out.

REDEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL: A public water supply is available for the property and navigable surface water exists within ¼ mile. The City has expressed interest in transferring ownership of the property to the adjacent property owner, a coal company, in exchange for another parcel to be used for recreational waterfront development (a boat launching facility).