The Anderson Development Co. facility sits on 12 acres in Adrian, Michigan. The company made specialty organic chemicals there from 1970 to 1979, including MBOCA (4,4'-methylenebis(2-chloroaniline)), a toxic curing agent used in polyurethanes and epoxies. MBOCA is a known carcinogen that can be absorbed through the skin. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL), the federal roster of priority Superfund sites, on September 8, 1983.
MBOCA showed up in high concentrations in lagoon sludge and at lower concentrations in sediments and soil within a two-mile radius of the facility. Groundwater, liquid waste, and sludge were all affected. Other contaminants found at the site include manganese and toluene, both detected in sludge, along with additional organic compounds.
Cleanup began in 1980 and 1981 through a joint effort involving EPA, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Lenawee County Health Department, and the responsible party. Early work included helping local homeowners clean their homes and connecting nearby residences that relied on private wells to the city water supply. EPA completed a remedial investigation and feasibility study between May 1986 and September 1990, then selected a long-term remedy. The original plan called for in-place vitrification, a process that uses intense heat to turn contaminated soil into a glass-like solid. EPA updated the approach in September 1991 to use low-temperature thermal desorption instead, which heats soil to drive off contaminants. Soil treatment ran from January 1992 through fall 1993. A 1992 Explanation of Significant Differences further refined the remedy to focus on monitoring and offsite disposal.
EPA confirmed that MBOCA levels in soil beyond the immediate lagoon area no longer posed a public health threat, and all cleanup goals were met. The site was deleted from the NPL on January 26, 1996. EPA assessments show that human exposure is under control, meaning there are no unacceptable ways for people to come into contact with contaminants today. Contaminated groundwater is stabilized in its original area with no unacceptable discharge to surface water, and EPA continues monitoring to confirm it stays contained. By 2006, the site had achieved readiness for anticipated reuse. The company still operates a chemical manufacturing business at the location, and as of December 2024, that business employed 115 people and generated about $50.5 million in annual sales.
Community members with questions can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager.
