The Lower Ecorse Creek Dump sits on a six-block stretch along the Ecorse River in Wyandotte, Michigan, about six miles southwest of Detroit. The area was originally wetlands that developers filled with waste material. A resident first noticed blue-stained soil in 1989, which led to the discovery of widespread contamination. EPA added the site to its National Priorities List (NPL) in May 1994 and removed it in July 2005 after cleanup construction was finished.
Eight contaminants of concern were identified, all found in soil in the North Drive area. They include arsenic, lead, cyanide, and several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, dibenzo(a,h)anthracene, and indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene. The primary health risk comes from direct contact with contaminated soil. Groundwater contamination is not a practical concern because all nearby homes connect to the public water supply and the local aquifer is not usable for drinking.
Cleanup included an emergency removal of hazardous substances in 1993 and excavation of about 3,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil from 16 residential lots. When additional cyanide turned up at one home in 2002, it was removed and corrective action followed. At Kiwanis Park, where lead and arsenic were found 3 to 4 feet below the surface, EPA chose to cap the area with at least 3 feet of clean fill rather than dig out all the material. A Record of Decision Amendment in 2001 formalized this approach, and the work was completed in 2002. The park now includes a playground, pavilion, basketball court, and open grass space.
Human exposure to contamination is under control. Institutional controls, including zoning restrictions that prevent residential use and other uses inconsistent with cleanup levels, remain in effect. The City of Wyandotte has implemented all EPA-required measures. Operation and maintenance activities and monitoring continue. EPA completed its fifth five-year review in January 2026 and determined that cleanup actions continue to protect human health and the environment. The site achieved sitewide ready for anticipated reuse status in June 2006, meaning cleanup goals for current and reasonably anticipated future land uses have been met.
People with questions can contact the EPA's Remedial Project Manager.
