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Former MGP Site

St. Marys River Area of Concern

The sediment cleanup at the former manufactured gas plant (MGP) site is complete!

The sediment cleanup at the former manufactured gas plant (MGP) is complete! A Great Lakes Legacy Act (GLLA) project in 2010-2011 removed contaminated sediment from the St. Marys River and placed a 9-inch sand cover to contain any residual contamination. The cover was also intended to limit direct exposure by aquatic life and provide clean habitat for plants and organisms. 

The former MGP site was identified as the last remaining area of significant contamination in the St. Marys River Area of Concern on the United States side. The cleanup was part of a bi-national effort to restore the St. Marys River Area of Concern. 

Location

The cleanup of the former manufactured gas plant took place along the south shoreline of ​the St. Marys River. The dredged material was staged at the MCM Marine property to remove and treat before being taken to the disposal site.
The St. Marys River is located near Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. The St. Marys River is a bi-national Area of Concern, bordering the U. S. and Canada. 

Cleanup Process

Sediment remediated: 26,000 cubic yards
Contaminants: PAHs
Method: Mechanical dredging and sand cover
When: 2010-2011
Partners: U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and Consumers Energy
Cost: $8.5 million
Notes: The dredging took place in two phases. Phase 1 removed 6,500 cubic yards of contaminated sediment from commercial marine slips in May and June of 2010. Phase 2 removed 19,500 cubic yards of contaminated sediment from the river next to the shoreline and in the federal navigation channel. A sand cover was placed over the dredged areas in during both phases. 

Long-term Benefits

  • ​Long-term, the risk to human health and aquatic habitat is reduced by minimizing direct and indirect contact with contaminated sediment.

More Information

Documents
St. Marys River fact sheet (PDF, 2p, 256KB) January 2012
St. Marys River fact sheet (PDF, 2p, 331KB) February 2010
Stakeholders
Bi-National Public Advisory Council for the St. Marys River Area of Concern
Consumers Energy
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
IISG and GLR logos
Picture
Picture
Picture

Contact Us

Great Lakes Mud c/o Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant
Purdue University
195 Marsteller Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2033

​Email: abelle@illinois.edu
© 2019 Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, All Rights Reserved.
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant strives to ensure equal access and an
​inclusive environment.
Website last updated December 14, 2022
  • Home
  • Pollution
    • Dioxins
    • Heavy Metals
    • NAPL
    • Oil and Grease
    • PAHs
    • PCBs
    • TBT
    • TPH
  • Partnership
    • Great Lakes Legacy Act
    • Cost-Sharing
  • Cleanup Process
    • Project Stages
    • Dredging
    • Dry Excavation
    • Caps and Covers
    • Habitat Restoration
  • Waterbody
    • Indiana >
      • East Branch - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • East Branch Phase II - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • East Chicago Waterways - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • Indiana Harbor Canal TSCA - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • Lake George Canal Middle & East - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • Roxana Marsh - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • Stateline - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • West Branch - Grand Calumet River AOC
    • Michigan >
      • Black Lagoon - Detroit River AOC
      • Centennial Park - Detroit River AOC
      • Division Street Outfall - Muskegon Lake AOC
      • Former MGP Site - St. Marys River AOC
      • Lower Rouge River Old Channel - Rouge River AOC
      • River Raisin - River Raisin AOC
      • Riverwalk - Detroit River AOC
      • Ruddiman Creek - Muskegon Lake AOC
      • Ryerson Creek Outfall - Muskegon Lake AOC
      • Tannery Bay - St. Marys River AOC
      • Torch Lake - Torch Lake AOC
      • Upper Trenton Channel - Detroit River AOC
      • Zephyr Site - Muskegon Lake AOC
    • Minnesota >
      • Azcon/DSPA Slip - St. Louis River AOC
      • Minnesota Slip - St. Louis River AOC
      • Munger Landing - St. Louis River AOC
      • Scanlon Reservoir - St. Louis River AOC
      • Slip 3 and Slip C - St. Louis River AOC
      • SLR Interlake/Duluth Tar - St. Louis River AOC
      • Spirit Lake Site - St. Louis River AOC
    • New York >
      • Buffalo River - Buffalo River AOC
    • Ohio >
      • Ashtabula River - Ashtabula River AOC
      • Cuyahoga River Old Channel - Cuyahoga River AOC
      • Gorge Dam - Cuyahoga River AOC
      • Jack's Marine North Slip - Ashtabula River AOC
      • Ottawa River - Maumee AOC
      • Otter Creek - Maumee AOC
    • Wisconsin >
      • Greater Milwaukee Estuary - Milwaukee Estuary AOC
      • Hog Island Inlet - St. Louis River AOC
      • Howards Bay - St. Louis River AOC
      • Kinnickinnic River - Milwaukee Estuary AOC
      • Lincoln Park - Milwaukee Estuary AOC
      • Sheboygan River - Sheboygan River AOC
      • Tyco - Menominee River AOC
    • More coming soon...
  • Education
    • Grade School Curriculum
    • High School Curriculum
    • More Resources >
      • Indiana
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Ohio
      • Wisconsin
  • Contact