Ott/Story/Cordova Chemical Co.

Overview

The Ott/Story/Cordova Chemical Co. site covers about 20 acres in Dalton Township, Michigan. It operated as an organic chemical production facility from 1957 to 1985. Poor waste disposal practices contaminated groundwater, soils, and nearby Little Bear Creek. The site also stockpiled around 10,000 drums of waste, some containing phosgene gas. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List in September 1983.

Contaminants span a wide range of hazardous chemicals. Chlorinated solvents such as trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, and several trichloroethane and dichloroethene compounds are present in groundwater and soil. Other volatile organic compounds include benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, chlorobenzene, and chloroform. Heavy metals like arsenic, barium, copper, nickel, silver, and zinc appear in groundwater. Pesticides including DDT, aldrin, dieldrin, and heptachlor are found in soil, along with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), phthalates, dioxins, and cyanide.

Cleanup has moved through multiple phases. A Coast Guard removal action began in late 1980. Work has since included groundwater extraction and treatment, excavation and off-site disposal of contaminated soil and sediment, and on-site treatment of additional materials. A groundwater treatment facility started operating in 2000. In the 1970s and early 1980s, contaminated groundwater migrated about a mile southeast, reaching Little Bear Creek and several private wells. Residents received bottled water until a public water system was installed in 1982. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) now operates and maintains the groundwater extraction and treatment system.

Human exposure is currently under control, and groundwater migration is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. Physical construction of the cleanup is complete across the entire site. One operable unit is still in the remedial design phase, with an estimated completion between March and May 2028. EPA's most recent five-year review, completed in August 2022, found that cleanup actions protect human health and the environment in the short term. Long-term protection depends on meeting groundwater cleanup goals, addressing deep aquifer contamination, and maintaining effective institutional controls. In 2025, EPA and EGLE plan to replace or install several extraction wells and related components to keep the system effective. EPA and the state are also considering adding targeted in-place treatment to supplement the existing system.

Muskegon County acquired about 150 acres of the former facility in 2002. By 2013, cleanup progress was sufficient for the area to function as a shovel-ready business park. Several properties were purchased by private owners for industrial and commercial use starting in 2021 and 2022. Community members with questions can contact EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager directly. Site records are available at Walker Branch Library in Muskegon and Dalton Township Hall.