ALPENA, MICHIGAN
SITE LOCATION
In the northeast section of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.
SITE DESCRIPTION (as of dates of TOSC assistance)
Citizens of Alpena requested TOSC assistance in addressing
the investigation and remediation of a large cement kiln dust (CKD) waste
pile located along the western shore of Lake Huron, on Thunder Bay. The
site is bordered to the west by the Lafarge Corporation cement plant,
and to the north by Misery Bay Road and a railroad right of right-of-way.
The rest of the pile is surrounded by Lake Huron. Directly across Misery
Bay Road is a large active quarry owned by the Lafarge Corporation. The
majority of residential properties in the City of Alpena lie southwest
of the cement plant.
It is believed that the now-defunct Huron Portland Cement Company created
the waste pile between 1950 and 1954. Aerial photos taken of the site
confirm this time frame. The site is approximately 80 plus acres in size
and ranges from 30 feet to 68 feet above lake level. A portion of the
pile now rises above lake level in areas that were once open water. In
addition to the waste pile that is above water level, approximately 70
acres of subsided CKD now lie under the surface of Lake Huron.
The majority of the CKD waste pile (approximately 90%)
rests on property owned by National Gypsum Company. According to the Michigan
Department of Environmental Quality Interim Response Investigative Action,
a portion of the bottomlands filled in with CKD lie on property currently
owned by LaFarge Corporation. This is a claim that the LaFarge Corporation
disputes. Historical property boundaries indicate that there is a significant
portion of the CKD material on offshore bottomlands owned by the State
of Michigan.
In 1997 the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
(MDEQ) Environmental Response Division (ERD) contracted with Snell Environmental
Group, Inc. (SEG) to perform an Interim Response Investigative Action
(IRIA) of the site. The general focus of the ongoing investigation is
to characterize both the onshore and offshore lateral and vertical extent
of CKD at the site. Additionally, the investigation will determine if
CKD migrates from the site, and what the migration pathways might be.
The United States Environmental Agency (EPA) performed an offshore impact
assessment, but the final data analysis and report have not been completed.
SEG has also completed a work plan for an assessment of
the ecological health of the area immediately surrounding the pile. The
objectives are to investigate the potential effects of the CKD pile on
fish and macroinvertebrate communities of Thunder Bay, as well as to evaluate
the physical and chemical effects of the CKD material on surrounding surface
and ground water.
Michigan DEQ is continuing to investigate the CKD site
and adjacent lake area. The divisions of MDEQ that are involved include
Surface Water Quality Division and Land and Water Management Division,
as well as the ERD. SEG’s Final Work Plan describes the overall
scope of work and technical approach. The major elements of the investigation
are as follows:
1. Installation and sampling of 15 onshore borings.
2. Installation of seven piezometers along the lake shore.
3. Installation and sampling of 10 monitoring wells.
4. Installation of nine staff gauges.
5. The collection of water elevation data from piezometers, staff gauges,
and site monitor wells.
6. The collection and analysis of four rounds of groundwater samples from
all monitor wells.
7. Monitoring and assessment of offsite transport or possible onsite deposition
of CKD and/or clinker dust material.
8. The development of an appropriate air monitoring system.
9. The collection and physical testing of up to eight clinker-dust/crusted
CKD samples.
10. Determination of a water budget for the site.
11. Evaluation of the feasibility of restoring Lake Bottomlands affected
by CKD.
12. The performance of a liability investigation.
13. The development of a Phase II Investigation report.
The findings of the MDEQ’s site investigation include:
Laboratory results have identified arsenic at concentrations 11 times
greater than the health risk-based direct contact level.
• Mercury in the groundwater at concentrations ranging from 0.8
to 3.5 parts per billion (ppb), which may adversely affect fish and other
aquatic life.
• Laboratory results that identify lead concentrations 8 times above
the health risk based drinking water standard.
• Arsenic at concentrations that may adversely affect fish and other
aquatic life.
• Measured pH values in surface water between 8 and 13 (surface
water is expected to be near a neutral pH of 7).
• Heavy metals where found to exceed background sediment concentrations
in off- and on-shore solid samples: aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barium,
beryllium, bismuth, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, manganese, mercury,
nickel, potassium, selenium, silver and thallium.
As an interim remedy for the site, National Gypsum Company
has proposed the installation of a rock revetment along a limited portion
of the pile. MDEQ is currently reviewing the permit application.
ORGANIZATION REQUESTING ASSISTANCE
Alpena County Air and Water Quality Study/Action Group
BEGINNING DATE OF ASSISTANCE
March 1999
ENDING DATE OF ASSISTANCE
November 2001
INFORMATION CONTACT
Kirk Riley
TOSC Program Manager
Tel: (517) 355-7493
Fax: (517) 432-1550
E-mail: rileyki@egr.msu.edu
SUMMARY OF TOSC ASSISTANCE
TOSC provided assistance to the Alpena, Mich., community
concerning the investigation of the cement kiln dust pile by National
Gypsum Corporation, under oversight by the Michigan Department of Environmental
Quality. TOSC also reviewed National Gypsum’s plans to construct
a revetment (seawall) along the shore of Lake Huron to stabilize the CKD
pile. For more information on TOSC assistance in Alpena, visit the project
website. |
