Superfund Sites

What is a Superfund site?

A site that has been evaluated by the EPA due to uncontrolled hazardous waste dumping and has been identified as an area that needs clean-up due to human and environmental health risks.

Where is the Kalamazoo River Superfund site located?

The Superfund site includes an approximate 80-mile stretch of the Kalamazoo River from Morrow Dam to Lake Michigan, and a three-mile stretch of Portage Creek.

Why is the Kalamazoo River Superfund site a Superfund?

The site is contaminated with a hazardous substance called polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). PCBs are probable cancer-causing contaminants that were discharged into the river due to dumping PCB-contaminated paper residuals.  Uncontrolled discharges of PCB-contaminated material took place from five disposal sites on the banks of the Kalamazoo River and Portage Creek in the 1950’s-1970’s.

What is being done to the Kalamazoo River Superfund site?

The EPA is first removing any current sources of PCB contamination and secondly will attempt to remove the sediment PCBs.  As it stands right now, human exposure to the PCBs is not under control and it has been estimated that the river sediments contain over 350,000 pounds of PCBs along with millions of cubic yards of contaminated river-banks.

What is GLEAMS role in the Kalamazoo River Superfund Site?

A primary goal of GLEAMS is to develop watershed-scale methods to assess and protect human and ecological health by restoring and maintaining stable, diverse, and self- sustaining populations of fish and other aquatic organisms, wildlife, and plants.

Looking Ahead to the Future of the Kalamazoo River Superfund Site?

In June 2004, the EPA announced that the Kalamazoo River cleanup decisions are on hold.  Additionally, up-river from the Superfund site, the Otsego Dam is under consideration to be removed to return the river’s flow and improve the aquatic habitat.  Although, the PCB contaminated sediment at the Kalamazoo Superfund site may become stirred-up and float further down-river, causing more contamination to flow into Lake Michigan.

For more information on legislation regarding environmental issues like superfund sites, click here.

For more information related to recent health issues and risks pertaining to the Great Lakes basin, including summaries, reports, and beach closings, click here.