u.s. aviex

1056 HUNTLEY RD

The 6-acre U.S. Aviex Superfund site is located in Cass County, Michigan, just south of the city of Niles. The site is in a residential neighborhood that mostly consists of single family homes. The nearest home is within 100 feet of the facility. Minor agricultural and horticultural activities were performed in the general vicinity of the site. The U.S. Aviex Company produced non-lubricating automotive fluids at the site from the early 1960s until late 1978. The products were blends of diethyl ether (DEE) and volatile organic chemicals (VOCs). Large quantities of these chemicals were stored on site in tanks and the chemicals were piped to the process area. During operations in the 1960s and 1970s, releases of solvents, such as benzene, trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), and DEE, occurred. These compounds have contaminated the private residential wells near the site. In 1972, an underground pipeline containing DEE ruptured during excavation at the plant. In 1978, a large but unknown quantity of chemicals, including TCE, was also released during a fire at the plant. These releases impacted the drinking water aquifer in the area. Contaminants were detected in downgradient private residential wells southwest of the plant as far as one-half mile away. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) placed the U.S. Aviex site on the National Priorities List on September 8, 1983. Site Responsibility The U.S. Aviex site is being addressed through a combination of potentially responsible party (PRP) and state and federal actions.

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