G&H Landfill

Overview

G&H Landfill operated in Utica, Michigan from the mid-1950s until 1973, accepting both municipal refuse and industrial waste. PCB-contaminated groundwater found south of the landfill led state authorities to restrict further industrial solvent disposal and refer the site to EPA in 1982. EPA placed it on the National Priorities List in September 1983, formally designating it as a priority cleanup site.

Twelve contaminants of concern have been identified at the site. In groundwater, these include 1,2-dichloroethene, arsenic, benzene, vinyl chloride, ethylbenzene, lead, naphthalene, tetrachloroethene, trichloroethene, and xylene. Polychlorinated biphenyls, known as PCBs, were found in both soil and groundwater. These contaminants pose risks through ingestion or contact with soil, surface water, and groundwater.

EPA selected a cleanup plan in December 1990 calling for a landfill cap, a groundwater containment system using a slurry wall barrier, leachate extraction, air stripping, vertical well extraction, and connection of affected properties to municipal water supply. Potentially responsible parties, meaning companies or individuals legally liable for the contamination, completed construction by 1999 and have operated the systems since. A 2016 five-year review found methane in perimeter monitoring probes along 23 Mile Road. EPA required installation of a gas management barrier in 2017 to protect nearby residents. Previously unidentified waste found during barrier installation was removed before construction continued.

The most recent five-year review, completed April 22, 2021, found the remedy currently protects human health and the environment in the short term. Human exposure is under control, and contaminated groundwater has been stabilized in its original area with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. All affected properties are connected to municipal water, and a local ordinance prohibits private wells without county and township approval. The landfill cap and fence remain intact. However, cleanup goals for long-term protection have not all been met, so EPA will require additional actions. Institutional controls, including zoning restrictions that limit residential uses, are in place to reduce exposure. The site has not been deleted from the National Priorities List. The next five-year review is estimated for April through June 2026.

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