Site history: From 1900 to 1958, tannery and animal hide
processing operations were conducted at the site, contaminating shoreline
areas.
Location: Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan.
Partners:
Case status: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has
completed remedial implementation. The site is currently in the long-term
operations and maintenance phase. The responsible party, Phelps Dodge, is the
local sponsor on a dredging project in Tannery Bay.
Overview: The Cannelton Industries, Inc. Superfund Site covers
75 acres along the St. Mary’s River in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan. From 1900
to 1958, tannery and animal hide processing operations were conducted at the
site. Waste products from these operations were routinely discharged to
shoreline areas via three facility drainage systems, as shown in our Photo
Gallery. These waste products included trace elements (chromium, mercury, lead,
cadmium, and arsenic), cyanide, calcium carbonate, sulfide, brine, organic
solvents, formic acid, carbolic acid, formaldehyde, ammonia, and
alcohols. Chromium is the primary contaminant of concern.
Resources at risk include fishery resources and supporting habitat. Remedial
construction, including the removal of contaminated material from the southern
shoreline of Tannery Bay, was completed in 2000. NOAA has provided extensive
technical assistance to the project by designing and developing a long-term
biological monitoring program to verify the effectiveness of site cleanup
actions. Superfund long-term monitoring has been suspended pending the
conclusion of the Great Lakes Legacy Act
dredging project in Tannery Bay. NOAA continues to work with the Great Lakes
Legacy Act project team to maximize the degree to which the dredge project
protects the aquatic environment. NOAA will continue to assist EPA Superfund
and the responsible parties to verify protection of aquatic resources following
completion of the Great Lakes Legacy Act project.
