Region 5 Superfund (SF)

U.S. EPA REGION 5
IONIA COUNTY
IONIA

Congressional District # 03

AMERICAN ANODCO, INC.

EPA ID# MID006029102
Last Updated: September, 2006

Site Description

The American Anodco site is located in Ionia, Ionia County, Michigan. Since 1962, aluminum parts for the automotive industry have been cleaned on the eight-acre American Anodco, Inc. site. In 1962, under an agreement with the state, process wastewaters and spent chemicals from the site were discharged directly to the onsite seepage lagoon. The waste streams contained the heavy metals, manganese, boron, nickel, and phosphorous that leached from metal parts during the anodizing process. In order to promote wastewater infiltration, lagoon sludge and sediments were dredged in 1972 and 1978, and placed near the lagoon. In 1978, American Anodco received approval from the state to continue discharging wastewater into the lagoon. The company also disposed of process water in an unlined seepage lagoon. According to analyses conducted by United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), the water placed in the lagoon contained nitric acid and chromium. In 1986, American Anodco began to phase out the use of the seepage lagoon, and in 1987, began discharging process wastewaters to a new public sewer system.

Approximately 1,100 people reside within one mile of the area. The site is located in an industrial park with residents within one-quarter mile upgradient of the site. The glacial drift aquifer underlying American Anodco, supplies public and private wells within a three-mile radius; these wells serve over 10,000 people. No residential water supplies have been affected. The Grand River, which is within three miles of the site, is used for fishing and recreation. 

Site Responsibility

This site was addressed through federal and potentially responsible parties' actions.

Threats and Contaminants

Water samples collected from the lagoon by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in 1978 identified several contaminants, including phosphorus and heavy metals such as aluminum, chromium, copper, and lead. Because contaminants have been removed from the lagoons, direct contact with hazardous materials is unlikely. Prairie Creek which borders the site on the east joins the Grand River one mile south of the site. Because the groundwater is contaminated with arsenic, movement of contaminants to the creek is possible. The contamination plume does not reach any private wells.

Cleanup Progress

In 1987, as part of the facility's process to phase out the use of the lagoons, the company dewatered the lagoon, removed the sludge, and disposed of it in an offsite landfill. The lagoon was then filled with clean soil. In October 1987, the company entered into an Administrative Order on Consent to perform the Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study. On September 27, 1993, a "No Action" Record of Decision was signed for the site, determining that the response at the site was complete. However, the decision called for continued groundwater monitoring to ensure that contaminant levels continue to decrease. The company has monitored the groundwater as required by an April 28, 1994 Unilateral Administrative Order from U.S. EPA. It is anticipated that the site will be deleted from the National Priorities List in 2007. 

Contacts

Remedial Project Manager, U.S. EPA
david linnear (david.linnear@epa.gov)
(312) 886-1841

Community Involvement Coordinator, U.S. EPA
cheryl allen
(312) 353-6196

Aliases

AMERICAN ANODCO INC
AMERICAN ANODCO, INC

 

Site Profile Information

This profile provides you with information on EPA's cleanup progress at this Superfund site.