BAY CITY MIDDLEGROUNDS
BAY CITY, BAY COUNTY, MICHIGAN
CONCLUSIONS
The Bay City Middlegrounds Landfill site poses a public health hazard. Surface soil,
groundwater, and river sediment at and near the site are contaminated with metals, trace levels of
pesticides, and volatile and semi-volatile organic chemicals. Access to the site is not sufficiently
restricted, and trespass has occurred, possibly resulting in contact with contaminated surface
materials. The concentrations of contaminants in the surface soil are not likely to result in adverse
health effects except upon frequent or prolonged exposure, which is not likely to occur. Trash is
also exposed where older trenches were never properly covered.
Groundwater contaminated with PCBs discharges from the site into the Saginaw River. PCBs
have been found in the water and sediment from the river, with concentrations higher downstream
of the BCM site than upstream. At the concentrations found in the water and sediment, the PCBs
are only of human health concern from direct exposure if the exposure continues over a long time,
but such direct exposure is not likely. However, PCBs are readily passed up the food chain by
aquatic biota. Residents of the area use the Saginaw River near the site for recreation, including
fishing. Fish from the river are contaminated with PCBs, from the site and many other potential
sources in the river basin for these chemicals. The MDCH has issued an advisory that carp and
catfish from the river are not to be eaten and that consumption of other species should be
restricted.
There are residences close to the site and the landfill is not adequately covered to prevent
migration of contaminated surface material as fugitive dust. Methylene chloride has been detected
in samples of the ambient air at the site, including samples collected upwind of the site, at
concentrations of human health concern for long-term exposure.
Groundwater is not used as a household water supply on the island, and the contaminated
groundwater probably discharges directly to the Saginaw River.
Contaminated leachate from the landfill discharges from surface seeps into ditches along the
landfill perimeter.
RECOMMENDATIONS
MDCH and ATSDR make the following recommendations:
Access to the site should be better restricted. For example, warning signs should be posted
along the shoreline in the site area to inform boaters of the potential hazards from the chemical
contamination in the surface soil and from the trash exposed through the cover over the old
trenches. According to a representative of the Potentially Responsible Parties for the site, they
are planning to construct a fence along the river bank within the site in the summer of 1996
(5).
Remediation to eliminate the flow of contaminated groundwater from the site to the Saginaw
River should be implemented as soon as possible. The MDCH will implement additional channels
for publication of the fish consumption advisory in the Saginaw River area to increase anglers'
awareness of and compliance with the advisories.
Include in the design of the remediation for the site appropriate precautions to minimize the
transport of contaminants from the site as volatile organic chemicals, fugitive dust, or runoff to
the river during the remediation.
Investigate the groundwater in the vicinity of the BCM site to determine whether the shallow
aquifer is intercepted by the Saginaw River and to identify any actions necessary to ensure that
site-related contamination does not reach potable water supplies on the other side of the river. A
draft Work Plan submitted to the MDEQ includes an investigation of the groundwater in the
vicinity of MW-8 (5).
The remediation for the site should improve controls on leachate seeping into the site ditches.
Access to the ditches should be restricted or the ditches should be posted with signs warning of
the potential hazard.
HEALTH ACTIVITIES RECOMMENDATION PANEL STATEMENT
A Health Activities Recommendation Panel convened by ATSDR and MDCH has evaluated the
data and information developed for the Bay City Middlegrounds Landfill Public Health
Assessment for appropriate follow-up health actions. The panel determined that although there is
evidence of human exposure to contaminated soil and leachate at the site, the available evidence
does not indicate that sufficient exposure for adverse health effects has occurred. Fish in the
Saginaw River are contaminated with PCBs from the BCM site and other sites in the watershed.
The MDCH has issued an advisory to limit consumption of fish from the river because of this
contamination, but there are questions about the effectiveness of the advisory. There have been
community concerns regarding potential health effects from exposure to contaminated media
(water in the ditches) at the site reported to ATSDR and MDCH. The panel does not recommend
any follow-up health actions at this time, beyond the health education activities that are part of the
Health Assessment process. The education activities should include advice about the potential
health hazards to children playing on the site or in the ditches around the site.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS
Public Health Action Plans (PHAP) are developed to describe actions to be taken by ATSDR
and/or the Michigan Department of Public Health (MDCH) at and in the vicinity of sites
subsequent to the completion of Public Health Assessments. The purpose of the PHAP is to
ensure that Public Health Assessments not only identify public health hazards, but also provide a
plan of action designed to mitigate and prevent adverse human health effects resulting from
exposure to hazardous substances in the environment. No public health actions have been
identified as necessary at this site at this time except for the health education activities that are
part of the Health Assessment process.
Health Actions Undertaken
MDCH has offered to provide to the MDEQ and U.S. EPA warning signs for posting along the
river bank and along the ditches in the site area.
Health Actions Planned
MDCH is investigating alternative methods for publicizing and improving compliance with the fish
consumption advisory on the Saginaw River.
MDCH and ATSDR will coordinate with the local health department to conduct health education
activities as appropriate during the Health Assessment process.
ATSDR and MDCH will coordinate with federal and state environmental agencies to carry out
the recommendations made in this assessment.
ATSDR will reevaluate and expand the Public Health Action Plan when needed. New
environmental, toxicological, or health outcome data, or the results of implementing the above
proposed actions and recommendations may determine the need for additional actions at this site.
PREPARERS OF REPORT
Michigan Department of Community Health
John Filpus, Environmental Engineer
James Bedford, Environmental Toxicologist
Robin Freer, GIS Specialist
Brendan Boyle, Health Assessment Coordinator
John Hesse, Principal Investigator
ATSDR Regional Representative
Louise Fabinski
Regional Services, Region V
Office of the Assistant Administrator
ATSDR Technical Project Officer
William Greim
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
Superfund Site Assessment Branch
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CERTIFICATION
The Bay City Middlegrounds Landfill Public Health Assessment was prepared by the Michigan Department of Community Health under a cooperative agreement with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). It is in accordance with approved methodology and procedures existing at the time the Health Consultation was initiated.
Technical Project Officer, SPS, SSAB, DHAC
The Division of Health Assessment and Consultation, ATSDR, has reviewed this Health Consultation and concurs with its findings.
