LOCATION: The Old Charcoal Iron Facility is located in a rural area at the north end of the Village of Newberry, just east of Michigan Highway 123. The property is approximately 43 acres in size with small farms and homes located to the north and east.

SITE HISTORY: A charcoal-iron furnace and wood-chemical plant was established at this site around 1882. Pig iron was produced in a blast furnace fueled by charcoal which was manufactured on site. During charcoal production, the smoke and gases from the wood were captured, distilled and refined to create various chemicals of commercial value including: creosote, acetic acid, methanol, acetone, acetate, and wood oils. Charcoal production also resulted in the creation of useless "wood tars" which were typically disposed of in lagoons or discharged to surface areas on the property. The facility was operated by various owners until 1945 when all manufacturing operations at the site ceased. The facility was dismantled shortly thereafter. The site is now overgrown with brush and trees but concrete footings, miscellaneous surface debris, and cinders remain.

Environmental testing conducted in 1998 has identified groundwater contaminated with certain chemical compounds in excess of state-established criteria. Concentrations of benzene (11 parts-per-billion [ppb]), ethylebenzene (240 ppb) and xylene (930 ppb) have been detected in samples of groundwater collected from the property. Soils near the surface have also been found to contain lead at concentrations (as high as 2870 parts-per-million) which exceed state-established criteria for unrestricted use of the property.

CLEANUP ACTIONS: A total of $648,491 of state funds have been spent at this site to determine the extent of contamination and conduct remedies which will allow for the re-use of the property. Removal of remaining site debris and the disposal or control of contaminated soils have been completed at the site.

REDEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL: The site is privately owned, but the current owner has expressed a willingness to transfer the parcel to the Luce County Economic Development Corporation (EDC). The EDC is in the process of developing a long-term re-use plan for the site.
Current Assessed Value: Unknown.

Zoning: Industrial     Master Plan Use: Mixed use or industrial park.

Local Incentives: Possible brownfield redevelopment incentives.

Local Contact Information: http://www.luceedc.org/index.html