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Background
The Bronson Reel Company began manufacturing fishing reels in 1928 at 505 N. Douglas Street in Bronson, MI. Employees made their own dies, tools and fixtures in a machine shop. They also did their own plating and anodizing. In 1963, the company was purchased by Bronson Specialties. Production of fishing reels declined and was discontinued in 1968. Although plating operations stopped at that time, metal tooling and other manufacturing operations continued at the facility until the early 1990s. These industrial activities contributed to the contaminated soil on the property.
North Bronson Former Facilities
Former Bronson Reel Facility
A Record of Decision (ROD) issued September 2006 requires
- a warranty deed restriction on the property to require follow-up sampling under the site buildings if the foundations are ever removed
- groundwater use restrictions because of concerns about site-wide groundwater contamination that impacts the northern industrial area of Bronson
Former L.A. Darling Facility
This facility contains metal and solvent contamination in its soil and groundwater. The site Potentially Responsible Party (PRP) completed the Remedial Investigation (RI) Report in 2006 and submitted a draft Feasibility Study (FS) for EPA review in fall 2006. If not cleaned up, the contamination in the underground water can travel off-site and cause vapor intrusion problems. EPA has been monitoring properties near the former L.A. Darling site and the adjacent former Scott Fetzer property. The cleanup goal for the former L.A. Darling property is to reduce chemical levels in the soil to concentrations acceptable for future industrial redevelopment. The goal for the underground water supply is to stop contaminated ground water from moving beyond the property boundary and ultimately clean it to a level that is safe for drinking and other uses.
Former Scott Fetzer Facility
The former Scott Fetzer facility also contains metal and solvent contamination in its soil and groundwater. As with the L.A. Darling facility, there are concerns with the possible vapor intrusion from contaminated groundwater originating from the former Scott Fetzer facility.