The Electro-Voice site in Buchanan, Michigan operated as an audio equipment manufacturer from 1946 to 2002. Die casting, machining, painting, and electroplating left the soil and groundwater contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and metals. The site was added to the EPA's National Priorities List (NPL) in September 1984, marking it as one of the nation's most hazardous waste sites.
The site is divided into three operable units (OUs), which are distinct cleanup areas. OU 1 covers onsite groundwater, a lagoon cap, and soils. OU 2 addresses offsite groundwater. OU 0 covers sitewide activities. Key contaminants in soil and onsite groundwater include trichloroethene (TCE), vinyl chloride (VC), benzene, toluene, xylene, arsenic, chromium, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as benzo(a)pyrene. Offsite groundwater contains vinyl chloride, TCE, chromium, copper, and zinc. EPA identified 44 contaminants of concern across the site. All residents are connected to the public water supply, and city wells are not threatened by the contamination.
Physical construction of the cleanup finished in September 1999. The remedy for OU 1 included a clay cap over the former lagoons, soil vapor extraction, and in-place ventilation for contaminated soil and groundwater. OU 2 relies on monitored natural attenuation, meaning contamination breaks down on its own while conditions are tracked over time. Institutional controls, including zoning restrictions that block residential development, are in place across the site. The site reached sitewide ready for anticipated reuse status in January 2008, meaning cleanup goals for current and expected future land uses have been met. Operation and maintenance remain ongoing.
Human exposure is currently under control, with no unacceptable exposure pathways identified. However, EPA has stated that data on groundwater migration remains insufficient to determine whether contaminated groundwater movement has stabilized. The 2021 Five-Year Review confirmed that the remedies continue to protect human health and the environment in the short term. EPA is now conducting the sixth five-year review, with the next review estimated between June and August 2026. The site has not been deleted from the NPL.
Community members can engage with the ongoing five-year review by sharing information about site conditions or concerns directly with EPA. Site records are available at the Buchanan District Library at 128 East Front Street in Buchanan, Michigan. Questions can be directed to the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager.
