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Project Facts
The short-term work done by CMS Land at East Park and the Bay Harbor development has significantly improved environmental conditions.
CMS Land has spent about $105 million on the environmental project since 2004 on "short term" removal actions.
After more than five years and $105 million, the project clearly is past the short-term stage and it's time to focus on long-term remedies.
The initial focus of this project was the high alkalinity (pH) of the water moving through the buried dust piles at East Park and the Bay Harbor development. The regulatory agencies set a pH standard of 9.0.
The collection system that CMS Land has installed at the affected areas is performing well with readings routinely less than pH 9 over the majority of the site.
The collected water also contains trace amounts of mercury.
The environmental work completed so far at East Park has reduced the amount of mercury going into the lake significantly.
The trace amount of mercury contained in the water collected at the site and shipped for disposal is about 10 times less than what the government considers safe for drinking water.
CMS Land submitted a final remedy proposal for East Park in February 2006 and is awaiting approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (MDNRE).
As part of its short-term work at East Park, CMS Land has installed measures that it envisions for the final remedy. These measures include: installation of water collection lines and water diversion wells, relocation of some cement dust, and shaping and capping the dust pile with an impermeable liner to prevent water infiltration.
It’s critically important for CMS Land and the EPA and MDNRE to reach an agreement on the scope, timing, and goals for the project going forward. CMS Land is committed to moving forward with the regulatory agencies on the cleanup standards, particularly for pH and mercury.
It is time to focus on long-term remedies so that a plan can be put into place to protect the bay and limit disruption to the community, residents and businesses.
Long-term remedies should be based on proven technology that is achievable and consistent with the standards applied to similar sites in Michigan and across the country.