Region 5 Superfund (SF)

U.S. EPA REGION 5
LEELANAU COUNTY
GREILICKVILLE

Congressional District # 04

GRAND TRAVERSE OVERALL SUPPLY CO.

EPA ID# MID017418559
Last Updated: February, 2007

Site Description

The Grand Traverse Overall Supply Company site was a commercial laundering and dry cleaning facility covering one acre in Greilickville, Leelanau County, Michigan. The facility was built in 1953, and dry-cleaning machines were installed in 1968 and 1973. The facility is no longer used for dry cleaning, and the machines were removed in the early 1980s. A dry well was used to collect waste until 1955, but seepage lagoons were constructed in 1955, 1961, and 1968 and collected wastes until 1977 when the facility began discharging waste to the sanitary sewer system. In 1978, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) discovered that groundwater in the area was contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE). At least 10 wells were found to be contaminated, including a well used by an elementary school adjacent to the facility. The school and other residences used bottled water until new wells in a deeper, confined aquifer were installed. The contaminated wells were abandoned when the new wells were drilled. In the late 1970s, the lagoons on the site were drained and filled with gravel, and contaminated soils around the dry well and barrels of waste sludge were removed. Approximately 1,200 people live within three miles of the site. The nearest residence is 250 feet south of the facility. Cedar Lake, Cedar Lake Outlet, and Grand Traverse Bay are all less than 2,000 feet away from the site. Cedar Lake and Grand Traverse Bay are used for swimming and other recreational activities. 

Site Responsibility

This site is being addressed through federal actions.

Threats and Contaminants

At this time no one is exposed to the groundwater contamination.  Everyone in the area is on a public water supply well.  The GTOS building currently is not being used by anyone.  The removal program conducted a vapor intrusion study within the GTOS building and the elemetary school next door to the property.  The study found that there were VOC vapors within the GTOS building, since no one is using the building at this time no immediate actions was necessary.  VOC vapors were not seen in the school but were detected under the elementary school building.   A vapor extraction system was used to remove these vapors from under the building.

Cleanup Progress

MDEQ had the contaminated wells replaced by new, deeper wells. In addition, the lagoons were drained in the late 1970s, and sludge and contaminated soils were removed. In 1988, United States Environmental Protection Agency began a study to determine the nature and extent of the groundwater, soil, and surface water contamination at the site. The study, completed in 1992, showed that the initial cleanup actions had addressed the threats to the people and the environment. In 2001, MDEQ conducted a Phase I investigation as part of a site review. The investigation found previously unidentified groundwater contamination near the facility building. Because of this investigation, In 2006, USEPA conducted a Site investigation of the GTOS plant area and groundwater and determined that additional contamination remains on site under the GTOS building.  This contamination is moving off site directly to Grand Traverse Bay in a groundwater contamination plume.  A site investigation, risk assessment and feasiblity study have been completed for the site and have determined that voc contamination assoicated with dry cleaning operations at the site pose a future risk to human health and the environment. Another removal action is under way to demolish the on site building to aid in the clean up of contaminated soils under the building. The remedial program is currently accepting public comment on a propsed plan to clean up any remaining soils following the removal action as well as address the groundwater contamination plume assoicated with the soils on site.

Property Reuse

The property is currently not being used.  The local government rezoned the property for residental use.  It is hoped that following the clean up actions the property can be restored to benificial  use.

Contacts

Remedial Project Manager, U.S. EPA
linda martin (martin.lindab@epa.gov)
(312) 886-3854

Community Involvement Coordinator, U.S. EPA
bob paulson
(312) 886-0272

Aliases

GRAND TRAVERSE OVERALL SUPPLY CO

 

Site Profile Information

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