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Rockford Tannery (Rockford, Kent County)
Please contact the Site Lead for the most up-to-date status of this site.
EGLE site lead
Leah Gies, GiesL1@Michigan.gov or 616-215-4781.
Background
The former Wolverine World Wide (Wolverine) tannery is located on the east bank of the Rogue River at the confluence of Rum Creek, in downtown Rockford. The tannery operated for over a hundred years before operations ceased in 2009. The tannery was demolished in 2010 and 2011. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) are coordinating their investigation of the tannery pollution found in the Rockford area.
On February 19, 2020, the Consent Decree between the State of Michigan (Plaintiff), Plainfield and Algoma Townships (Intervening Plaintiffs) and Wolverine (Defendant) became effective and serves as the framework for future PFAS response activities performed by Wolverine at the Tannery property and surrounding area identified as the “North Kent Study Area”. Wolverine will conduct these activities under EGLE oversight, and the Consent Decree includes tools that ensure that the required work is completed.
Content updated May 2025.
North Kent study area data summary web map
This map displays environmental sampling data that has been collected as part of Wolverine World Wide’s and EGLE’s PFAS assessment activities in the North Kent Study Area.
The data includes well, surface water, groundwater, and soil sampling results, as well as groundwater contours, parcels boundaries, and the extent of the municipal water hookups that were required under the 2020 Consent Decree.
Community engagement
The Wolverine Community Advisory Group (CAG) generally meets the third Thursday of each month from 6:00 to 8:00pm. Information regarding upcoming virtual meetings can be found at WolverineCAG.org.
Drinking water information
- The area surrounding the tannery in downtown Rockford is serviced by municipal water provided by the City of Rockford.
Anticipated activities
- Wolverine is implementing the work outlined in the February 19, 2020, Consent Decree. Response Activities required to be conducted at the Tannery property can be found in Section 7.7 of the Consent Decree.
- The Final Revised Tannery Interceptor System Response Activity Plan was submitted to EGLE on September 20, 2023.
- In 2024, Wolverine began implementation of the Final Revised Tannery Interceptor System Response Activity Plan, including the installation of nine groundwater interceptor trenches and six extraction wells along the Rogue River and Rum Creek.
- On March 19, 2025, the groundwater interceptor system began operation. Groundwater from the trenches and extraction wells is treated in an on-site intermediate water treatment system, consisting primarily of granular activated carbon (GAC), which removes the PFAS to levels below EGLE’s groundwater-surface water interface (GSI) criteria. The treated water is then discharged to the Rogue River under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.
Capturing and treating groundwater at the tannery site represents a major project milestone. Wolverine has two years from the start of treatment to collect performance monitoring data in order to demonstrate that they are not discharging groundwater to the Rogue River or Rum Creek above EGLE’s GSI criteria. Performance monitoring data is submitted to EGLE monthly. Data from the entirety of the performance monitoring period will be summarized in a Completion Report that is due in September 2027 and is subject to EGLE approval. The Completion Report must include a long-term operation and maintenance plan that provides for continued operation and maintenance of the interceptor system.
- For work required under the February 19, 2020, Consent Decree related to the House Street Disposal Site and the Wolven-Jewell source area investigations, visit Michigan.gov/Belmont.
Historical timeline
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2018 - earlier
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2019
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2020
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2021
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2022
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2023
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2024
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2025