Will Perry Creek "kill" the Au Sable below Mio, MI?

From Rusty Gates' web site -

Perry Creek

Hoskins Manufacturing, Kittle Road, Mio Michigan operated out of their sixty-acre site from the late 1960?s to 2001. They employed over 100 people. They manufactured nickel and chromium alloys into thermoelectric wire, both strip and ribbon. There are major issues with poor waste handling and chemical storage practices.

First problem appeared in 1976, when a residential drinking well 800 feet off the property was found to be contaminated, with chromium and chlorides. Hoskins bought the property. From 1976 to 2001 DEQ required Hoskins to conduct various soil/groundwater investigations related to chloride, nickel, chromium and tetrachloroethylene (PCE) releases to the environment.

In November of 2001, Hoskins Manufacturing abandoned the plant, leaving all chemicals and waste behind. Numerous demands by DEQ to immediately proceed with ongoing investigations and remediation of know contaminations were made. Hoskins responded they did not have the financial means to comply.

In 2002-2003, the EPA upon request from DEQ, removed bulk hazardous materials from the manufacturing site. These consisted of: 100,000 gallons of bulk hazardous liquids; 165-55 gallon drums; 340 small containers; one PCB transformer; and hazardous sludge from the wastewater treatment building.

2002-2006 hundreds of soil borings, hundreds of monitoring wells, and electromagnetic survey work was done to determine the extent of the contamination. 9,500 tons of sludge and contaminated soil were excavated and disposed of from the Hoskins Manufacturing property. Extensive areas of contaminated soil still remain at the property. Demolition of the Hoskins Manufacturing building is scheduled Nov/Dec 2007. Tons and tons of more contaminated soils will then be removed from this site.

Groundwater. A contaminated plume approximately half a mile long and 500-600 feet wide is migrating to the southeast of the former manufacturing site. It contains PCE, chromium, chlorides, and Nickel. The water table is 40-80 feet below grade, with a clay layer 70-115 feet below grade.

The groundwater contamination is discharging to Perry Creek. Perry Creek is a major tributary to the Au Sable, three miles east of Mio. Contamination has been detected in a floodplain east of Perry Creek, indicating the plume is both discharging to the creek and migrating beneath it to the floodplain beyond.

Tests in 2005 show that hexavalent chromium has been detected in Perry Creek above levels that are injurious to aquatic organisms from long-term exposure. PCE and chromium have been detected in surface water samples 700 feet south of the known discharge area. The threshold for chromium is 11 ppb. Samples from the floodplain east of Perry Creek contain 6000 ppb. The threshold for PCE is 45 ppb. Samples are showing 100-400 ppb.

Should this hexavalent chromium make it into the main river, it would kill all invertebrate, and plant life. The term is ?Sterile?. The discharge point into Perry Creek appears to be a couple miles north of the Main River.

DEQ is just now putting out bids for environmental firms to design a remediation plan. They will conduct a feasibility study in 2008, while obviously monitoring the travel of these contaminants.

DNR Fisheries Division has no knowledge of any of this activity. This is not a superfund site. DEQ will be handling this project. Yes they have done toxicity testing, at the discharge site. Preliminary findings is not acute, but some retardation in growth. It is affecting the insect life....

Their contract with MacTec, the folks cleaning up the facility itself, is about done. They will be hiring a trade contractor, to remove the buildings, and once again more tons of removal of contaminated soils. Late this fall, through the winter months.

Spring 2008 hire a service contractor. Low bidder gets it. That is for feasibility study, work plans, alternatives and options.

Spring 2009... alternatives on the table... bids go out.

Fall 2009.... start remediation. They will use GSI standards, not drinking water standards.