Environmental investigation, PCB site characterization, and remediation services supporting redevelopment of a former industrial and landfill site in Michigan.
The Water Street Redevelopment Area (WSRA) in Ypsilanti, Michigan encompasses approximately 37 acres resulting from the consolidation of nearly 40 retired parcels acquired by the City beginning in 1998. By 2011, the City had demolished all remaining structures and completed multiple soil remediation projects to address historical contaminant releases, including petroleum, chlorinated solvents, and metals, associated with past land uses such as gasoline stations, bulk petroleum storage, dry cleaners, and industrial operations.
Beginning in 2020, AKT Peerless worked with the City to address two remaining targeted areas: a “lead removal area” and a “PCB removal area,” corresponding to a former electric railway storage yard/metal junk yard and an adjacent landfill. PCBs in the “lead removal area” approached 50 parts per million (ppm), prompting a detailed site characterization program, which included advancement of more than 1,500 soil borings, collection of over 6,000 soil samples for PCB analysis, and an electromagnetic induction (EMI) survey to evaluate the presence of buried rail lines.
AKT Peerless developed a new conceptual site model (CSM) integrating site characterization data and historical records, determining that PCB contamination at both areas resulted from a single release. Our investigation clarified that PCBs were initially released at the metal junk yard and later relocated to the adjacent landfill to accommodate expansion of a nearby manufacturing facility.
Using this information, AKT Peerless prepared a Notification and Certification of Self-Implementing Cleanup & Disposal of PCB Remediation Waste for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) approval and conducted waste characterization for landfill approvals. Between September and November 2025, over 4,750 tons of TSCA- and/or RCRA-qualifying hazardous soil and more than 8,300 tons of non-hazardous soil were excavated for off-site disposal. PCB cleanup activities were completed to achieve primary cleanup goals (residual PCBs ≤1 ppm) and secondary goals (total lead ≤400 ppm). AKT Peerless also provided comprehensive services including environmental drilling, GPR and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) field screening, Phase I/II/Baseline Environmental Assessments, and oversight of remediation system design, construction, and decommissioning.
Results
AKT Peerless’ PCB site characterization and remediation work clarified the extent of contamination, enabled regulatory approvals, and successfully removed hazardous soils from the WSRA. The cleanup significantly improves the marketability of the site for private acquisition and redevelopment, supporting the City of Ypsilanti’s long-term revitalization goals.
To date, the City has committed over $4 million to PCB site characterization and cleanup efforts, and additional remediation in the former landfill is planned as funding becomes available. AKT Peerless’ work ensures the WSRA is safe, compliant, and positioned for sustainable redevelopment.
