News Releases from Region 05
EPA Removes Burrows Sanitation Site in Michigan from National List of Most Contaminated Sites
For Immediate Release No. 15-OPA142
CHICAGO - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced that the Burrows Sanitation Superfund site in Hartford Township, Van Buren County, Michigan, has been officially removed from the Agency's list of the most serious uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites in the nation.
"After years of cleanup and monitoring by EPA and the State of Michigan, the Burrows site no longer poses a danger to the Hartford community and can now be safely redeveloped and returned to productive use," said Region 5 Administrator Susan Hedman. "For 35 years, EPA's Superfund program has been protecting public health by investigating and cleaning up contaminated land, groundwater and sediment at sites across the country."
The 10-acre Burrows site was used to dispose of plating sludge, waste coolant and oil. The site was added to the National Priorities List in 1984. In 1989, EPA and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources completed the removal of over 300 cubic yards of contaminated surface soil and sediment from the site. A groundwater cleanup system was then installed. Ongoing environmental monitoring since then shows that the cleanup has been effective.
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the enactment of the Comprehensive Environmental, Response, Compensation and Liability Act, the law establishing the Superfund program. The Superfund law gives EPA the authority to clean up releases of hazardous substances and directs EPA to update the National Priorities List at least annually.
For more information: http://www.epa.gov/Region5/superfund/npl/michigan/MID980410617.html