The Avenue "E" Ground Water Contamination site covers 435 acres in Traverse City, Michigan, in Grand Traverse County. It sits on and around an active U.S. Coast Guard Air Station. The site was added to the National Priorities List in 1986 and deleted from it in 2007 after cleanup goals were met.
Contamination started when the Navy and Coast Guard used oils, lubricants, paints, solvents, and aviation gasoline for aircraft maintenance and servicing. Direct dumping, chemical spills, and storage leaks sent these hazardous chemicals into the groundwater. In 1980, residents near the station reported contaminated well water, which triggered federal action.
Cleanup work began in the early 1980s. An EPA removal action ran from September 1982 through December 1982. The final remedy, selected in September 1985, involved installing two blocking wells that pump and treat contaminated groundwater before discharging it to the Traverse City sanitary sewer system. Nearby residences were connected to a public water supply line so residents no longer relied on affected wells. Remedial construction was completed in September 2000. A five-year review was conducted in September 2005, and the site was declared ready for anticipated reuse in June 2006.
Today, human exposure to contaminated groundwater is under control. There are no unacceptable exposure pathways, and the spread of contaminated groundwater is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. Monitoring continues to make sure contamination stays within the original area. The Coast Guard continues to operate the air station, and as of December 2024, two on-site businesses employ 48 people and generate about $1,085,000 in annual sales.
Community members with questions can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager directly.
