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RACER Plants 2, 3, & 6 (Lansing, Ingham County)

RACER Plants 2, 3, & 6 (Lansing, Ingham County)

Disclaimer: Web content may not be routinely updated on this page.

Please contact the Site Lead for the most up-to-date status of this site.

EGLE site lead

Christine Matlock, MatlockC2@Michigan.gov or 517-290-4612.

Background

Revitalizing Auto Communities Environmental Response Trust, also known as RACER Trust or just RACER, was created in March 2011 by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, to clean up and position for redevelopment properties and other facilities owned by the former General Motors Corporation before its 2009 bankruptcy. The RACER Trust is one of the largest holders of industrial property in the United States and is the largest environmental response and remediation trust in U.S. history.

RACER Lansing Plant 2 is a 72-acre site directly adjacent to two other former General Motors (GM) manufacturing properties owned by RACER Lansing Plant 3, consisting of 105.25 acres, and RACER Lansing Plant 6, consisting of 57 acres. All three sites are zoned as heavy industrial, and have remedial investigations are underway. The neighborhoods surrounding all three plants are on a municipal water supply.

RACER has been providing regular project updates to residents through mailings, community meetings and meetings with city of Lansing and Lansing Township officials as well as the Lansing Board of Water and Light.

Content posted November 2019.

MAP RACER Lansing Plants

Site map

See an aerial view of the location of the site.

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Drinking water

Not applicable; the neighborhoods surrounding all three plants are on a municipal water supply. EGLE has sampled all municipal water supplies for PFAS. View the results for the city of Lansing.

Anticipated activities

On September 5, 2019 RACER submitted a PFAS report for Plant 6. EGLE is currently reviewing it. On October 28, 2019, EGLE received the revised Interim Groundwater Monitoring Plan, which includes PFAS monitoring. EGLE is currently reviewing the plan.

Historical timeline

    • In December 2016, EGLE requested and RACER conducted initial sampling at Plant 3, which is a former GM facility. Data confirmed PFOA/PFOS was released from a formerly housed chrome plating area.
    • In April 2017, EGLE requested and RACER conducted a second sampling event to determine the size of the area impacted.Additional follow-up delineation sampling has been conducted since then to better define the footprint.
    • Between August 2017 and December 2018, RACER conducted (under EGLE oversight) a series of sampling events to define PFAS extent at all three plants as well as Dunnebacke Park off-site near Plant 3. PFAS was detected at all three Plants over 70 ppt PFOS+PFOA in groundwater monitoring well samples. PFAS was detected off-site in the park below 70 ppt PFOA+PFOS.
    • In October 2018, RACER blocked sewers at Plant 3 to prevent off-site contamination.
    • On October 26, 2018, EGLE sampled the soil in the Dunnebacke Park community garden. EGLE is working with The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) to determine appropriate actions.
    • In December 2018, RACER began, sampling at Plants 2 and 6 will continue into Spring 2019. No new results have yet been received by EGLE.
    • On October 26, 2018, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (EGLE) conducted soil sampling in Dunnebacke Park.
    • On October 31, 2018, RACER completed construction at Plant 3 to block sewers to prevent off-site contamination.
    • On October 26, 2018, RACER submitted a workplan for Plant 2, which was approved by EGLE on November 20, 2018.
    • In December 2018, Phase 1 of step out sampling for PFAS at Plant 6 completed.RACER and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) are currently awaiting results.
    • In November 2018, the results from the soil sampling at Dunnebacke Park were received; MDARD provided recommendations to the city for gardening.
    • In March 2019, RACER sampled outfalls at Plant 3 to ensure integrity of bulkheaded sewers. Results have not yet been received.
    • In May 2019, EGLE reviewed Plant 6 Phase 1 sampling data to determine if and where additional data collection is necessary. 
    • On June 18, 2019, RACER submitted a Work Plan for additional PFAS delineation at Plant 2.EGLE proposed revisions and a revised Work Plan was submitted on July 29, 2019, which was approved by EGLE.
    • On July 16, 2019, RACER submitted a Plant 2 and 3 Sewer Modification Work Plan to evaluate and further reduce contaminated groundwater flow to and through site outfalls.  EGLE expects to approve this Work Plan shortly.
    • On July 24, 2019, RACER submitted a Plant 3 PFAS Summary Addendum (incorporating data from newly installed monitoring wells) and proposed additional perched and deep monitoring wells.  EGLE is reviewing this Addendum and proposals for next steps.
    • On August 16, 2019, EGLE approved the Plant 3 PFAS Summary Addendum (incorporating data from new installed monitoring wells).   EGLE also approved the Plant 2 PFAS Work Plan to further delineate the extent of PFAS contamination.
    • On October 31, 2019, EGLE approved RACER’s plan to replace a compromised monitoring well on-site. The well is believed to be producing inaccurate results.

    Sampling: PFOS and PFOA Only

    Type of Sample

    Date Sampled

    # of Samples

    # of Results Received

    # of Non-detects

    # Between Non-detect and standard*

    # > Standard

    Groundwater

    		 Dec 2016 -
    Jun 2018    		 202 202 59 90 53

    *Groundwater results are compared to EGLE Part 201 Criteria of 70 ppt PFOS+PFOA.

    Sampling Notes

    • Other PFAS analytes were detected in samples. There are no federal or state standards for these analytes.
    • Eighteen soil samples and 29 storm sewer effluent samples are not included in the table.