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SAND POINT
The Sand Point site is KBIC Tribal Trust property, wholly
owned by KBIC and located entirely within the KBIC L'Anse Reservation
boundaries. Sand Point totals several hundred acres in size. The Site itself
consists of an extensive beach area, approximately 45 acres in size, with
approximately 2.5 miles of lakefront, located on the Keweenaw Bay of Lake
Superior. This property has great potential for recreational development,
but prior to cleanup consisted of a bare, sparsely vegetated wasteland.
The Sand Point site is impacted by industrial copper mining
processing waste (stamp sands) from the Mass Mill, an early 20th century
copper ore processing plant that was located approximately 4 miles north of
Sand Point. During copper ore processing at the Mass Mill, billions of
pounds of stamp sand waste was deposited into Keweenaw Bay. Lake currents
have since carried these stamp sands southward and deposited them onto the
2.5 miles of the Community's property at Sand Point. Some of the problems
created by the stamp sand deposits include high concentrations of heavy
metals; copper, mercury, and arsenic contamination in the groundwater,
surface water, and sediments; deficiencies of major nutrients and near toxic
levels of copper and iron concentration exist in the plant vegetation. High
concentrations of copper, mercury and arsenic have also been found in fish
samples.
With help from the U.S. EPA, the Great Lakes Commission -
Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Program, USDA - Natural Resource
Conservation Service, and Upper Peninsula Resource Conservation and
Development Council, a soil cover was constructed over approximately 35
acres of stamp sands at Sand Point, a tribally owned beach area along the
western shore of Lake Superior's Keweenaw Bay. The soil cover will serve to
decrease contaminant loading into Keweenaw Bay by reducing stamp sand
erosion, increase biodiversity, and allow for vegetation growth on a
previously barren landscape.
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Before |
After |
Sand Point Documents:
Record of Decision for Sand Point Cleanup
Analysis of Brownfield Cleanup Alternatives
Sand Point
Master Plan
MUD LAKES
The property is a typical non-tidal marsh commonly found it
the northern U.S. It is low-lying and is likely close in elevation to Lake
Superior. Approximately two-thirds of the property is marsh with
interconnecting bodies of open water comprising the remaining third. A small
stream that enters from the southwest supplies the marshes and ponds with
water and discharges to Lake Superior near the northeast border of the
property adjacent to the metal fabricating shop. KBIC was involved in a
Wetlands Reserve Program (administered by the Natural Resources Conservation
Service) in the late 1990's that provided for the construction of a water
control structure in order to stabilize water levels. There is an unpaved
road on the northern portion of the Lakes that leads to a wildlife-viewing
platform.
Illegal dumping has occurred along the northeastern and
eastern boundaries of the property. Refuse includes petroleum products,
building debris, household wastes and may include industrial wastes as well.
NR staff has also observed stained soils and an oily sheen on surface
waters.
Mud Lakes Documents:
Phase I Environmental
Assessment
DRAPER LAKESHORE
Following an All Appropriate Inquiry, KBIC purchased the
property from the previous owners, Audrey Draper Chapman and Marion Draper
Braem (the Drapers). The Drapers used the lakeside property as a lot
on which they parked and resided in a RV during the summer. Standard Oil,
Grand Rapids Trust Company, Rubicon Lumber Company, and numerous other
private individuals have previously owned the property. According to the
Drapers, a knowledgeable person, and historic air photos, a gas station was
formerly located on the property.
The property is currently vacant. The portion where the
former gas station is suspected to have been is gravel-covered, level, and
appears to consist of fill soils. This area is slightly higher in elevation
than the rest of the property. The remaining portion of the property is low
lying and ranges from flat to rolling terrain covered in grasses, small
shrubs, and trees ranging in various sizes. There are vehicle remnants (a
car frame with engine block) partially buried and covered with vegetation,
suggesting the possibility that there may be more refuse buried on the
property. Two pipes that extend vertically out of the ground may indicate
the presence of underground storage tanks (USTs) that remain on the
premises.
Draper Lakeshore Documents:
Phase I Site
Investigation/All Appropriate Inquiry
SOUTH JOHNSON ROAD DUMP
The Property is KBIC trust land. The land currently consists
of vacant forestland, with the Zeba Creek running through the property and
eventually emptying into Lake Superior. Illegal dumping of household wastes,
white goods, automobile parts, garbage burning, and possible dumping of
light industrial wastes and waste oils has occurred, potentially
contaminating the property. |
