Site Name: TORCH LAKE
EPA ID: MID980901946 EPA Region: 05 Metro Statistical Area:
STE RTE 26 N OF QUINCY MILLS, HUBBELL, MI 49934
Operable Unit: 02
ROD ID: EPA/ROD/R05-94/264 ROD Date: 03/31/94
Contaminant: Heavy metals
Keys: No action, milling and smelting operations, groundwater contamination, sediment contamination, surface water contamination
Abstract:
Please note that the text in this document summarizes the Record of Decision for the purposes of facilitating searching and retrieving key text on the ROD. It is not the officially approved abstract drafted by the EPA Regional offices. Once EPA Headquarters receives the official abstract, this text will be replaced.
The 2,700-acre Torch Lake Superfund site is located on the Keweenaw Peninsula in Houghton County, MI. The site includes Torch Lake, the west shore of Torch Lake, the northern portion of Portage Lake, the Portage Lake Canal, Keweenaw Waterway, the North Entry to Lake Superior, Boston Pond, Calumet Lake, and other areas associated with the Keweenaw Basin. Stumps, piles, and slag deposited along the western shore of Torch Lake, Northern Portage Lake, Keweenaw Waterway, Lake Superior, Boston Road, and Calumet Lake are also included as part of the site. Several small communities are located on the west shore of Torch Lake. Wetlands are located on the east portion of the Lake Linden pile, on the eastern edge of the Hubbell pile, around Boston Pond, and the eastern shore of Torch Lake. Torch Lake was the site of copper milling and smelting operations between 1868-1968. Between 1868 and 1968, approximately 200 million tons of stampsands were dumped into Torch Lake The site is currently inactive.
In the 1970s, environmental concern developed regarding the century-long deposition of stampsands into Torch Lake. High concentrations of copper and other heavy metals in Torch Lake, sediments, toxic discharges into the lakes, and fish abnormalities prompted many investigations into long- and short-term impacts attributed to mine waste disposal. An RI/FS was performed in November 1988. In July 1991, EPA and six companies and individuals entered into an Administrative Order on Consent, whereby the companies and individuals agreed to sample and remove drums located on the shore and lake bottom. EPA determined that a full-blown FS was not necessary for operable unit 2 (OU2). Instead, EPA produced a Remedy Position Paper which presents the results of the efforts undertaken by EPA to evaluate the remedial options for OU2. The Remedy Position Paper, which will serve as the Focused Feasibility Study for OU2, describes the operative site conditions and various potential remedial measures, assesses the feasibility considering the conditions, documents EPA's position regarding the measures which have been considered, and describes the Proposed Plan for OU2.
This ROD addresses OU2, which includes areas of potential contamination in and around Torch Lake, including ground water, submerged stampsands at the bottom of the lake (i.e. sediment), and surface water. OU 1 and OU3 are being addressed under a 1992 ROD.
Remedy:
EPA has selected a "No Action" remedy for OU2. The remedy selected for OU2 takes into consideration and relies upon: reduction of stampsand loading to surface water bodies expected as a result of the remedial action which will be taken at OUs I & III; ongoing natural sedimentation and detoxification like that occurring in other surface water bodies in the area; institutional programs and practices controlling potential future exposure to site-affected groundwater and are administered at the county and state level; and the long-term monitoring and five year review process monitoring requirements of the remedy selected for OUs 1 & 3 under a previous ROD for this site.
Operable Unit: 02
ROD ID: EPA/ROD/R05-94/258 ROD Date: 08/23/94
Contaminant: lead, iron, aluminum, arsenic, barium, calcium, PCBs, antimony, beryllium, PCE, TCE, VOCs
Keys: groundwater, soil, sediments, surface water, monitoring, institutional controls, metals, well, city water supply, natural attenuation, lead, battery lagoon
Abstract:
Please note that the text in this document summarizes the Record of Decision for the purposes of facilitating searching and retrieving key text on the ROD. It is not the officially approved abstract drafted by the EPA Regional offices. Once EPA Headquarters receives the official abstract, this text will be replaced.
The Prestolite Battery site is an inactive lead-acid battery manufacturing facility located in Knox County, Indiana. The facility occupies approximately 1 acres on U.S. Highway 41 northwest of the city of Vincennes. The land use immediately surrounding the Prestolite site is residential and commercial. Five residences are situated on North Second Street immediately north of the site, an two residences are located on North Sixth Street immediately south of the site. The site is bordered on the west by an Indiana State Highway garage and on the east by the parking lot of a local inn. A five acre pond and associated wetland complex, as well as an auto salvage yard, lie immediately northwest of the site. The city limits of Vincennes lie approximately 500 feet to the west of the site.
In 1945, the Autolite Battery Corporation established the facility for the manufacture of lead-acid batteries, primarily for use in cars and trucks. In 1955, the site was purchased by the Eltra Corporation, under the name Prestolite Battery. Allied Chemical Company acquired the Eltra Corporation in 1979. Allied announced the decision to cease production at the plant on March 6, 1985, and the site has been inactive since closure in May 1985.
In the course of plant operations, manufacturing process wastes and wastewater became laden with lead, lead oxides, lead sulfates, and sulfuric acid. These lead-containing sludges and wastewaters were discharged to an on-site sewer system. Over time, these sewer lines became plugged with lead sludges, and as a result of leaks and sewer line back-ups, the soils around some of these sewers and associated sumps were contaminated. Lead dust was also released from the plant's ventilation system, contaminating surface soils in the vicinity. Accidental spills of process materials also contributed to the lead-contamination of on-site soils. Elevated concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were also present on-site in soils around a transformer pad near the northwest corner of the main building.
Prior to 1978, wastewaters were sent through the on-site sewer system directly t the Vincennes Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) via the city sanitary sewer system. Beginning in 1978, wastewaters were subject to pH treatment on site followed by placement into a wastewater sedimentation lagoon prior to discharge to the POTW. An analysis of the lagoon sediment indicated high levels of lead, iron, aluminum, arsenic, barium, and calcium. Based on file information, other chemicals potentially used at the site included trichloroethane, methylene chloride, paint thinner, epoxy resin, refined coal tar, and a lubricant containing trichloroethylene.
Beginning in 1982, Allied commenced investigations to assess the degree of contamination on and off site. Pursuant to these investigations, more than 7,00 cubic yards of lead and PCB contaminated soils were reportedly removed from both on- and off-site areas. The cleanup standard was to remove all lead-contaminates; standard was coupled with a requirement to add lime to all remaining soils where lead levels exceeded 250 ppm to reduce the mobility of lead still in the soil. PCB soils were remediated to a level below 10 ppm.
Remedy:
The remedy selected for groundwater contamination includes continued monitoring of the shallow and intermediate aquifers at the site as well as monitoring of surface water and sediments. The selected remedy also incorporates institutional controls on the placement of drinking water wells and natural attenuation of shallow contaminated groundwater.
The major components of the selected remedy include: long term groundwater monitoring of the shallow and intermediate aquifers for volatile organic compounds and metals; long term monitoring of surface water and sediments for volatile organic compounds and metals at the N.W. Pond and Kelso Creek; groundwater, surface water and sediments will be sampled semi-annually for the first three years, after which consideration will be given to reducing sample frequency to annually; institutional controls will be implemented - one unused well will be abandoned (closed) and one active residential well will be closed and the residence connected to the city water supply; and natural attenuation of shallow groundwater.