Michigan environmental authorities issue orders on contaminated Detroit River shoreline property

Michigan environmental authorities have issued several new orders to the aggregate company that operates on the Detroit River where a shoreline collapse occurred two months ago, as well as to the property’s owners.

Interim response efforts to slow the ongoing collapse of the contaminated property into the river by Detroit Bulk Storage — the aggregate company involved in the Nov. 26 collapse — and Revere Dock, which owns the property, have been problematic, said Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE).

EGLE in a letter issued on Friday “requested additional measures be implemented immediately” to the companies being held responsible.

An updated plan by the aggregate company to install a new 400-foot silt curtain across the front of the collapsed property in a bid to help prevent further erosion caused by the fast-moving Detroit River, while also preventing the property’s contaminated soil from entering the river, is “not performing satisfactorily,” EGLE said.

Also of concern is a large pond that has opened up due to the collapse and has essentially become a sinkhole that is now 12 feet deep and continues to grow.

“EGLE requested Revere to conduct an expedited evaluation of the sinkhole and develop a plan to prevent further discharges of contaminated soil and aggregate into the river now and in the future,” the agency said in a statement.

Revere Dock and Detroit Bulk Storage have been given until Friday to submit a new written update identifying contingency actions.

The aggregate company and property owner have retained PM Environmental — an environmental services company — to oversee mitigation of the site, which sits on the shoreline in an industrial area about one kilometre west of the Ambassador Bridge.

Earlier last week, PM Environmental submitted a plan to EGLE that called for soil and water testing over the next few weeks in and around the site to help determine exactly what needs to be done to repair the site. But EGLE responded that the company’s plans were not “appropriate.”

“EGLE has reviewed the proposed geotechnical assessment and required that the property be assessed from pre-collapse conditions to the present and provided review comments on the work proposed,” the agency said.

The shoreline and large area of the former Revere Copper site, which at one time dating back to the 1940s manufactured uranium products, collapsed into the Detroit River on Nov. 26 when the aggregate company leasing the property stored too much gravel.

Since that time the site has continued to deteriorate causing concerns of chemical contamination into the river since the property was also used as a toxic dumping ground after Revere Copper abandoned the site in the 1980s.

A retired Detroit city administrator previously told the Star that PCBS, among other toxins, are known to be buried on the site.

Initial test results released by government authorities identified traces of a variety of toxins on the property, including uranium, but nothing above federally regulated standards.

Testing has continued around the site as it has continued to deteriorate.

Revere Dock and Detroit Bulk Storage have additionally been given a Feb. 29 deadline by EGLE to submit a progress report and geotechnical investigation results.

The companies named have until March 30 to submit a full restoration plan report, “which is to detail longer-term and more specific plans to remediate the site,” the state authority said.