North Bronson Industrial Area

Overview

The North Bronson Industrial Area is a Superfund site in Bronson, Michigan, added to the National Priorities List in 1986. Waste disposal at several industrial sites contaminated soil and groundwater in the area. Cleanup is divided into two operable units. Operable Unit 1 covers two lagoon areas and an adjacent county drain. Operable Unit 2 addresses an industrial sewer system and related groundwater contamination.

The site contains 28 contaminants of concern. Heavy metals, including cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, and arsenic, appear in soil, sludge, and sediment. Groundwater contains volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as trichloroethylene, dichloroethylene, and vinyl chloride, along with heavy metals and cyanide. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and metals including cadmium have been found in sediment downstream of the former lagoons. Lagoon sludge contains cadmium, chromium, and lead.

For Operable Unit 1, a cleanup remedy was selected in 1998 and modified in 2008. Planned work includes dredging and excavating contaminated soil, consolidating it in the western lagoon area, and building a constructed wetland to treat groundwater. Remedial design is estimated to run from February through April 2028. For Operable Unit 2, an Administrative Order of Consent was issued in 2018 to oversee a combined investigation and feasibility study. That work is still ongoing, with no completion date listed.

Human exposure at the site is currently under control, meaning no unacceptable exposure pathways have been identified. However, contaminated groundwater migration has not yet been stabilized. Physical cleanup construction is not complete, and the site is not ready for its anticipated future use. Zoning restrictions are in place to prevent residential and other incompatible uses. EPA is also working with local officials through the Superfund Redevelopment Program to plan for future reuse of the site.

Community members with questions can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager.