ONGOING ASSESSMENT AT BELANGER PARK, GREAT LAKES ATHLETIC FIELDS AND JOHN JAKUBOWSKI PARK IN RIVER ROUGE Update August 15, 2023

Updated as of August 2023 - The City completed a limited environmental testing program to assess certain public properties potentially susceptible to impact from airborne deposition of particulate or other pollutants generated by planned demolition activities at DTE's nearby coal-fired power plant as well as surrounding heavy industry. The properties consisted of Belanger Park, John Jakubowski Park, and the Great Lakes Athletic Fields (GLAFs).

In working cooperatively with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), the U.S. EPA funded and completed additional sampling and testing at Belanger Park and GLAFs in May 2023. This sample size was more than double of the original number samples originally taken. The U.S. EPA findings at Belanger Park were consistent with the initial preliminary assessment completed by the City, however some additional areas had finding above the level of 400 ppm in the 0 – 6 inch range. The City included the additional areas in the fenced off area and continued to limit use of the park to boat launching and fishing along the wharf. Similarly, the U.S. EPA findings at the GLAFs indicate that the surface soils do not pose an unacceptable risk to human health; however, the soils at a depth of greater than six inches within a limited area represent a potential health risk associated with direct contact or ingestion of Lead contaminated soils. Therefore, in an abundance of caution, the City has installed fencing at the GLAFs restricting access to the affected subsurface area.

As for John Jakubowski Park, there was only one initial sample location which exceeded the applicable regulatory threshold requiring address by the City and that location was remediated by the City. EGLE conducted additional samplings at John Jakubowski Park but the results of additional testing were not available at this time.

As of August 8th, according to Brian Kelly from the U. S. EPA, Belanger Park falls within the EPA cleanup levels. The projected cost to clean up the park will be approximately $1 - $2 Million dollars and the U. S. EPA will fund the project.

As for Great Lakes Athletic Fields (GLAFs), the results of the additional sample testing showed that the areas that were greater than 400ppm were at the level greater than 6 inches. Since this is not in the EPA cleanup levels, the process to address GLAF will be determined by EGLE and the City of River Rouge.

EPA has assigned a community involvement coordinator (CIC) to the project to work with the city on updating the community once the sampling results are available and the next steps are known.

The MDHHS hasn't provided any updates since the May update.

The City has and continues to work with the U.S. EPA, EGLE, and MDHHS in pursuit of funding for further evaluation so that a final remedy can be designed and implemented as deemed appropriate at each of the sites.