Former McLouth Steel Corp Site

Phase I documents have been received and are posted below. These were required by the Phase I Corrective Action Consent Order for the facility. EGLE is currently using the information from these to build an enforcement referral to generate a Phase II Corrective Action Consent Order for more remedial action.

• Phase I Completion Report
  • WMU-29 Completion Report Addendum
• Groundwater Investigation Report
• WMU-26 Investigation Report
• WMU-27 Investigation Report
• WMU-29 Investigation Report
• WMU-30 Investigation Report
• WMU-31 Investigation Report
• Stormwater Options Report

Work Plans

Work plans pursuant to the CACO have been approved by EGLE. The documents can be found below, and public comment period was closed May 17, 2019.

Questions can be referred via email to Rich Conforti at ConfortiR@Michigan.gov (preferred) or mailed to:

Mr. Rich Conforti
Materials Management Division
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
P.O. Box 30241
Lansing, Michigan 48909-7741

• Dust Control Work Plan (PDF)
• Groundwater Investigation Work Plan (PDF)
• Storm Water Work Plan (PDF)
• Waste Management Unit Investigation Work Plan (PDF)

Consent Order

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and Riverview-Trenton Railroad Co. (RTRR), entered into a Consent Order, called a Corrective Action Consent Order, or CACO. Pursuant to the CACO, RTRR will undertake certain corrective actions within the approximately 76-acres that comprise the northern portion of the former McLouth Steel Corp facility.

RTRR has agreed to do the following:

• Perform the first phase of the corrective action (environmental investigation and response activities) that includes investigation of the five known waste management units, or WMUs, on the northern portion of the site.
• Clean up the WMUs if needed.
• Investigate groundwater contamination.
• Control dust.
• Evaluate stormwater management options to eliminate flow to the Trenton Channel of the Detroit River.

EGLE will use the information collected during the first phase of the corrective action and other sources to help determine if additional phases of corrective action are necessary.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), U.S. Department of Justice, and Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) have finalized a legal agreement called a Settlement Agreement and Covenant Not to Sue with Crown Enterprises, Inc. and MSC Land Co., LLC (MSC). Under the terms of the settlement, MSC will do some cleanup on and assessment activities within the southern portion of the site. In exchange, MSC and Crown Enterprises, Inc., parties not responsible for the contamination on the property, received covenants not to sue. The covenants enable MSC to take title to 183 acres of the former McLouth Steel Corp facility from the Wayne County Land Bank. The settlement will foster redevelopment by allowing MSC to clarify their cleanup responsibilities while U.S. EPA investigates and later fully addresses existing contamination within the property. The steps to be taken by MSC mark the first, but not the final steps, in addressing conditions at the property.

To secure the covenants not to sue, the settlement requires MSC to do the following work in the southern portion of the site:

• Demolish about 45 structures.
• Remove asbestos-containing material, containerized wastes and materials containing polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) from all structures prior to demolition.
• Install a fence around the property.
• Remove contaminated water and sludges from 23 subsurface structures (pits, basements and lagoons), clean or remove the structures and, if the structures remain, fill them with clean fill materials.
• Investigate five areas where PCBs may have been released.
• Assess and report on options for stormwater management to eliminate uncontrolled flow to the Trenton Channel of the Detroit River.

To address environmental issues not covered by the settlement, U.S. EPA intends to propose the entire southern portion of the site, consisting of approximately 197 acres, for listing on the Superfund National Priorities List. Listing on the Superfund National Priorities List will make work within the southern portion eligible for federal funding.

More information: U.S. EPA McClouth Steel Corp Reports and Documents

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Public Comment Period

The U.S. EPA held a public hearing on the proposed settlement agreement for the southern portion of the McLouth Steel Corp, LLC. corrective action on September 5, 2018. The public comment period closed September 13, 2018. 

On October 25,2018, the U.S. EPA, EGLE, and U.S. Department of Justice entered into a final Settlement Agreement and Covenant Not to Sue with Crown Enterprises Inc. and MSC Land Co. LLC. For a summary of the settlement, please see the U.S. EPA press release.

For comprehensive details on the U.S EPA and EGLE response to public comments, please see the Public Comment Responsiveness Summary.