Public Notice: EPA Begins Fifth Five-Year Review of Cannelton Industries Superfund Site
Summary
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is conducting a five-year review of the Cannelton Industries Superfund site, located in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. The Superfund law requires regular checkups of sites that have been cleaned up – with waste managed on-site – to make sure that the cleanup continues to protect people and the environment. This is the fifth five-year review of this site and is expected to be completed by September 12, 2024.
This 75-acre site formerly held The Northwestern Leather Co., which operated a tannery and processed animal hides between 1900 and 1958. Waste disposal operations contaminated soil, sediment and surface water in the St. Mary’s River with heavy metals, including chromium, lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury.
The site’s long-term remedy included the excavation and consolidation of contaminated waste material, soil and river sediment into an on-site landfill, collection and treatment of groundwater, groundwater monitoring, and land use restrictions for the landfilled area. Construction of the remedy took place in 1999. In 2006 and 2007, additional dredging operations removed 40,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment, about 500,000 pounds of chromium and 25 pounds of mercury from Tannery Bay and nearby wetlands.
The five-year review is an opportunity for you to tell EPA about site conditions and any concerns you have. You are welcome to contact the Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager with comments.