Superfund record of decision (EPA Region 5): Torch Lake Site, Operable Units 1 and 3, Houghton County, MI. (First remedial action), September 1992
The 2,700-acre Torch Lake site is a copper milling and smelting facility in Houghton County, Michigan. The lake, a repository of milling wastes, served as the waterway for transportation to support the mining industry. In the late 1960's, copper milling ceased. In 1972, a discharge of 27,000 gallons of cupric ammonium carbonate leaching liquor occurred into the north end of Torch Lake from the storage vats at the Lake Linden Leaching Plant. The state investigated the spill and found no harmful effects associated with the spill; however, discoloration of several acres of lake bottom was noted. The ROD addresses removal of debris, surface tailings, and slag pile/beach, and disposal of drums on the western shore of the site, as OU1, and remediation of slag pile locations through the mid-Keweenaw Peninsula, as OU3. The primary contaminants of concern affecting the soil, debris, and slag pile/beach are organics, including PAHs; and metals, including arsenic, chromium, lead, and copper. The selected remedial action for the site are included.
- Research Organization:
- Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC (United States). Office of Emergency and Remedial Response
- OSTI ID:
- 6775721
- Report Number(s):
- PB-93-964120/XAB; EPA/ROD/R--05-92/215
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Assessment of the toxicity and mutagenic potential of water of Torch Lake, Houghton County, Michigan
Superfund record of decision (EPA Region 5): Torch Lake, operable unit 2, Houghton County, MI, March 31, 1994
Related Subjects
320305 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Industrial Waste Management
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540250* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (1990-)
540350 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (1990-)
AROMATICS
ARSENIC
CHEMICAL SPILLS
CHROMIUM
CONTAINERS
CONTAMINATION
CONTROL
COPPER
DECISION MAKING
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HYDROCARBONS
INDUSTRY
LAKES
LAND POLLUTION
LAWS
LEACHING
LEAD
MACHINING
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
METAL INDUSTRY
METALS
MICHIGAN
MILLING
MINING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION CONTROL
POLLUTION LAWS
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
REMEDIAL ACTION
REMOVAL
SEMIMETALS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SLAGS
SMELTING
SOILS
SOLID WASTES
STORAGE
SURFACE WATERS
TAILINGS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
TRANSPORTATION SECTOR
US EPA
US ORGANIZATIONS
US SUPERFUND
USA
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES