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City of Harrison Landfill Area (Harrison, Clare County)

Disclaimer
Web content may not routinely be updated on this page. Please contact the Site Lead for the most up-to-date status of the site.
Content posted September 2020.

EGLE Site Lead

Lori Babcock, BabcockL4@Michigan.gov or 989-460-7352.

Waste Disposal Questions

Please note that this landfill is CLOSED and does not accept waste. 

Background

The City of Harrison Landfill is a closed, unlined landfill located on Foote Drive in Harrison. Its final cover and clay cap were funded by the Protecting Michigan’s Future Bond 1989/90 Solid Waste Alternatives Program. Groundwater monitoring was required for a minimum of 30 years post closure. In May 2019, EGLE requested that the City of Harrison sample all six of the site’s groundwater monitoring wells for PFAS, due to past detections of iron, lead, and volatile organic compounds.

One of the six monitoring wells tested for PFAS had PFOS+PFOA over the State of Michigan’s criteria of 70 ppt, with PFOA at 37 ppt and PFOS at 410 ppt. This well (MW-3) is located upgradient and north of the landfill, meaning that the source of the PFAS could be the landfill, or the source may be located further to the north of the landfill. The City of Harrison is currently investigating other possible sources of PFAS in the vicinity of the landfill.

The groundwater flow on the City of Harrison Landfill property is predominately toward the south-southeast. There are at least four residential drinking water wells less than one mile downgradient of the closed landfill. The majority of Harrison residents use municipal water for drinking water, which was tested in November 2018 and was non-detect.

City of Harrison Landfill Map

Recent Accomplishments

  • On March 18, 2020, EGLE’s contractor sampled residential wells for PFAS. EGLE received the residential well PFAS results on March 20, 2020. PFAS were not detected in any of the residential well samples.

Next Steps

  • EGLE is working with the city of Harrison to determine the source of PFAS detected at monitoring wells of the City of Harrison Landfill.

Residential Well Testing/Alternate Water Information

  • See next steps.

Upcoming Community Engagement

  • None scheduled at this time.

Sampling Notes

  • On August 3, 2020, new Part 201 Criteria went into effect.  Historical sampling data compared to Part 201 Criteria >70 is captured in the historical timeline below.

Historical Timeline

    • On December 3, 2019, the City of Harrison’s consultant, Otwell Mawby Geotechnical, P.C., sampled all six monitoring wells at the City of Harrison Landfill for PFAS. EGLE received the results of this sampling event on January 22, 2020.
    • The March 16, 2020, City of Harrison council meeting (Harrison City Hall, 2105 Sullivan Drive), included a discussion of the ongoing PFAS investigation. Representatives from EGLE, DHHS, and the Central Michigan District Health Department were available to present information and answer questions.
    • On March 18, 2020, EGLE’s contractor sampled residential wells for PFAS. EGLE received the residential well PFAS results on March 20, 2020. PFAS were not detected in any of the residential well samples.
    • On February 25, 2020, EGLE and Central Michigan District Health Department staff distributed consent forms to four residents on well water located less than one mile downgradient of the City of Harrison Landfill. The signed forms provide consent for EGLE’s contractor to sample their water for PFAS.

    Type of Sample

    Date Sampled

    # of Samples

    # of Results Received

    # of Non-detects

    # Between Non-detect and standard*

    #>Standard

    Groundwater Dec 2019 6 6 4 1 1
    Residential Well Mar 2020 3 3 3 0 0

    Cumulative

    9 9 7 1 1
    *Groundwater results are compared to EGLE Part 201 Criteria of 70 ppt PFOS+PFOA.
    *Residential well results are compared to the EPA LHA of 70 ppt PFOS+PFOA.