Project Description: The Master Metals, Inc. Site, located adjacent to residential, commercial, and industrial areas in downtown Detroit, Michigan, operated as a secondary lead reclamation facility from 1955 to 1983. Studies conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the abandoned facility indicated that on-site areas contained elevated levels of lead, arsenic, and cadmium. EPA also determined that elevated lead levels attributable to the former operations at the site were present into soil located approximately one-quarter mile from the property.
Scope of Work: To address on-site and off-site conditions, EPA issued a unilateral administrative order and an administrative order on consent to a group of potentially responsible parties who, in turn, retained Leed Environmental, Inc. to perform project coordination and management services for on-site work at the site. Leed Environmental, Inc. was also retained individually by one of the potentially responsible parties to monitor activities associated with off-site soil cleanup.
The scope of removal activities included:
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Development of work plans, health and safety plans, air monitoring plans, soil sampling plans, quality assurance plans, and contingency plans;
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Soil sampling to determine the extent of contamination on the former industrial property and off-site residential and commercial/industrial properties;
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Excavation and off-site soil disposal;
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Building decontamination activities;
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Asbestos abatement;
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Removal and off-site recycling of mercury-containing switches from the building;
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Oversight of building demolition activities performed by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality;
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Restoration of excavated properties;
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Reporting; and
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Others.
Special Features/Unusual Considerations: As a result of soil sampling conducted in off-site residential areas by the Detroit Free Press, the environmental conditions at the site were highly publicized in news releases.
Responsibilities: Leed Environmental, Inc. was responsible for coordinating on-site removal activities with EPA, the removal contractor retained by the potentially responsible parties, and neighboring property owners. Leed Environmental, Inc. was also responsible for coordinating work activities with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, who was responsible for demolishing the former office/warehouse building on the portion of the site owned by the State of Michigan.
Project Status: On-site and off-site removal activities have been successfully completed.
Project Duration for Leed Environmental, Inc.: Three years, complete.
