Site history
The former McLouth Steel Trenton facility originally consisted of approximately 273 acres and operated from about 1950 until 1995. In 1995, McLouth filed for bankruptcy. In 1996, the McLouth bankruptcy estate sold the entire McLouth facility to Hamlin Holdings, Inc., which transferred title to Detroit Steel Company, Ltd. DSC tried without success to restart steel operations. In 2000, DSC sold the 76-acre northern portion of the facility to Manuel J. Maroun, who transferred title through Crown Enterprises, Inc. to Riverview-Trenton Railroad Co.
In 2017, Wayne County Land Bank acquired 183 acres of the 197-acre southern portion through tax foreclosure. Wayne County then entered into a Purchase and Development Agreement with Crown Enterprises.
The southern portion was added to US EPA’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 2019 and comprises a larger parcel owned by MSC Land Company LLC and two smaller parcels owned by DSC. The northern portion is subject to a Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy Corrective Action Consent Order (CACO) and is owned by the Riverview Trenton Railroad Company (RTRR).
Initial cleanup (2018-2021)
In 2018, prior to listing, US EPA, the US Department of Justice, and EGLE entered into an Administrative Settlement Agreement and Covenant Not to Sue with Crown Enterprises and MSC Land Company to clarify environmental liability. Under the Settlement Agreement, Crown and MSC were required to
- Demolish 45 structures
- Remove asbestos, wastes, and PCBs prior to demolition
- Erect a fence around the property
- Remove contaminated water and sludges from 23 pits, basements, and lagoons
- Investigate 5 areas for PCBs
- Assess and report on options for stormwater management
US EPA and EGLE had an oversight role under the Settlement Agreement, with responsibilities as follows:
- Approving workplans, contractors, disposal facilities, the project manager and the air technician
- Conducting site visits
- (EPA) Hiring a contractor and maintaining a dedicated workspace
- Reviewing MSC monthly reports and issuing and reviewing EPA situation reports
- Conducting a final walkthrough inspection of the site
- (EPA) Issuing a notice of completion
- Reviewing the final report and related appendices
MSC also carried out additional work not required under the Settlement Agreement under the same work plans.
The initial phase of cleanup of the southern portion was completed in November 2021, with US EPA issuing a Notice of Completion in March 2022.
What's next?
US EPA is now in the preliminary phase of its remedial investigation/feasibility study, focused on collecting data to characterize site conditions, determine the nature and extent of contamination, assess risk to human health and the environment, and evaluate options for a remedy. EGLE is also in the process of developing a CACO for the 2nd phase of cleanup of the northern portion.
In 2018, US EPA and EGLE entered into a Memorandum of Understanding, under which EGLE will commit to ensuring that RTRR performs a cleanup in the northern portion of the site in accordance with federal Superfund guidelines. US EPA and EGLE are currently updating that MOU to account for developments since the last MOU was signed.
For more information about the Site and please read US EPA’s Frequently Asked Questions – McLouth Steel Cleanup. You may also visit US EPA’s website or EGLE’s website.
(This page was last updated on February 7, 2024.)