I’d say HOT but don’t want to cause any unnecessary drama.
Had a little time so thought I’d put together an environmental warm spot map for Manchester, Michigan. This map goes back about 65 years and calls out four types of potential contamination. This isn’t so shame anyone it’s just for information, after all, dumping chemicals into the ground was what they did back then. If you don’t know something exists because of… lets say marketing, finding it would be a surprise you may not want.
For example:
Area 1 is Manchester’s Auto Junk Yard, for at least 20 years it accepted crashed cars dripping oil, battery acid and other chemicals. I’m guessing the waste went into the ground too.
Area 12 is the Wool Barn and siding area where Train Cars and Engines sat dripping lubricants, chemicals and clinkers. One chemical in abundance was creosote. It was everywhere and I had trouble when I came home with it on my clothes.
Area 23 is a landfill that contains mixed spoil that may or may not have been processed or is of questionable source. I saw dirt taken from a gravel driveway after years of oil, gas, chemical and salt contamination that was trucked into one of these areas. I also remember a story about a dog that had rebar punch through it’s neck because of unprocessed concrete in the site.
Area 30 is a manufacturing company where chemicals and oils used seeped into the concrete and dirt around the site. Though this particular site has a clean facade, Manchester historically has been a “sweep it under the rug” community. Hey, proper abatement is expensive and considering where money goes in this community, I’d expect little finds it’s way to proper abatement.
Anyway, the sites are on a sliding sale, for example site 25 is probably far cleaner than 26 but their both are tool and die companies and a 100% clean environment is not in evidence. Site 31 on the other hand, contains a considerable amount of chemicals, petrochemical and plastics that were difficult to get rid of at the time plus household waste. It was the village trash heap.
If you can think of any other sites let me know and I’ll add them to the page. Or, if your wondering what any of these sites are let me know. Maybe seeing the map will bring back fond memories of watching the road salt and grime eat through the ice at 19 a few years ago.
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