Region 5 Superfund (SF)

U.S. EPA REGION 5
LIVINGSTON COUNTY
HOWELL

Congressional District # 08

SHIAWASSEE RIVER

EPA ID# MID980794473
Last Updated: April, 2008

Site Description

Since 1969, the Cast Forge Company and now Western Wheel have manufactured aluminum cast products in Howell, Michigan. Until 1973, wastewater, contaminated by hydraulic fluids, containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), was discharged by the potentially responsible parties to the South Branch of the Shiawassee River. From 1973 to 1977, wastewater was discharged into a 400,000 gallon onsite lagoon. Discharges from this lagoon as well as periodic overflows have contaminated nearby wetlands and, subsequently, the Shiawassee River. 

In 1978 and 1979, the state detected high levels of PCBs in soils around the site and in onsite monitoring wells. Concentrations above one part per million (ppm) were found in Shiawassee River sediments fourteen miles downstream of the plant.

Site Responsibility

This site is being addressed through federal, state, and potentially responsible parties' actions.

Threats and Contaminants

PCBs have been detected in fish, sediments, and soil. Wetland contamination has been identified. The health threat of greatest concern is eating PCB-contaminated fish. Other health threats include direct contact with contaminated river sediments and soils. 

Cleanup Progress

In November 1977, the state filed suit against Cast Forge for PCB-contamination of the environment. The case was settled through a consent judgment in June 1981. Under that settlement, the company removed the lagoon, cleaned up PCB-contaminated soil and sediment from its property, and provided $750,000 for restoration of the Shiawassee River. Dredging of the South Branch of the Shiawassee River began in June 1982. Only the first mile downstream from the plant was vacuumed, removing approximately 2,600 pounds of PCBs prior to exhausting the funds. Both the site property and river still contain PCBs.

The state began a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS) in September 1986. Field sampling activities were started in October 1987 and completed in November 1989. 

The RI report was finalized in January 1992. The final study of cleanup alternatives was submitted in December 1997, and a proposed plan was released to the public in August 1998.  Because the data, used to develop cost estimates, were obtained as long ago as 1986, it was determined that additional data should be obtained to develop more accurate cost estimates for the site. 

Additional sampling of the site began in November 1999 and was completed in April 2000.  These sample data were released to the public in the data evaluation report in May 2000.  The supplemental FS report was released in early 2001, and a Record of Decision (ROD) was signed on September 28, 2001. The ROD selected the floodplain and contaminated areas near the Cast Forge facility to be remediated to less than 10 ppm PCBs. The river was to be remediated to less than 5ppm PCBs for the first mile downstream of the facility.  Remediation was completed in 2005, meeting all ROD requirements.

A Five Year Review will be completed by August 27, 2009 and will assess the protectiveness of the remedy.

 

 

Contacts

Remedial Project Manager, U.S. EPA
james hahnenberg (hahnenberg.james@epa.gov)
(312) 353-4213

Community Involvement Coordinator, U.S. EPA
dave novak
(312) 886-7478

Site Profile Information

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