Barrels, Inc.

Overview

Barrels, Inc. operated a drum reclamation facility on a 2.3-acre property in Lansing, Michigan from 1961 until the owner abandoned it in 1980. Spills from drum reclamation processes and a storage tank left surface soils contaminated with metals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and cyanide. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources removed about 1,000 drums, 1,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil, and nine underground storage tanks in 1986. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in October 1989 and later designated it a state-lead enforcement site.

Cleanup work in the 1990s was carried out under a Consent Decree between the State of Michigan and 15 potentially responsible parties. Studies completed in 1995 and 1996 showed that groundwater contamination came from an upgradient historical source, the former Motor Wheel Plant, not from Barrels, Inc. itself. Because of that finding, the cleanup approach shifted from capping the site to excavating and removing all on-site soil that exceeded cleanup standards. An Interim Response Action ran from December 2011 through fall 2012, covering soil removal, tank decontamination and demolition, and debris removal.

In December 2020, EPA issued a "No Further Action" Record of Decision (ROD) for the site. Two small areas along an active railroad right-of-way could not be fully excavated without compromising the track, so those areas are restricted to non-residential use and prohibit groundwater use through recorded covenants. Cleanup construction across the entire site was complete by July 2018. EPA deleted the site from the NPL in September 2021, confirming that cleanup goals had been met. A five-year review was conducted in November 2025 to verify the long-term effectiveness of the remedy.

Human exposure across the whole site is under control, with no unacceptable exposure pathways identified. Groundwater contamination is stabilized in its original area. All required controls are in place, and current and reasonably anticipated future land uses can proceed safely. The site is part of EPA's Superfund Redevelopment Program, which supports returning the property to productive use.

Community members who want more information can contact EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager. Site documents, including an NPL deletion docket and administrative records, are available online. The full five-year review is also available as a PDF or in person at the Downtown Lansing branch of the Capital Area District Libraries at 401 South Capitol Avenue.