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5312 11 Mile Road NE (Rockford, Kent 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 2023.
EGLE Site Lead
Leah Gies, GiesL1@Michigan.gov or 616-215-4781.
Background
5312 11 Mile Road NE consists of approximately 100 acres of vacant residential land. In 2023, EGLE received a Baseline Environmental Assessment (BEA) associated with a property transaction for the site. The BEA included sampling data from a 139 feet deep onsite test well, as well as two shallow temporary monitoring wells installed on the western portion of the site adjacent to groundwater seeps entering a creek that borders the site. The deeper test well was non-detect for PFAS. The two shallow groundwater samples had PFOA and PFOS at levels above criteria, with the highest result for PFOA at 23 ppt (compared to 8 ppt) and PFOS at 100 ppt (compared to 16 ppt).
In 2018, as part of the state’s investigation into over 100 alleged Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (Wolverine) waste disposal areas in Northern Kent County, EGLE investigated 5312 11 Mile Road NE, and found no drums or evidence of solid waste or disposal activities during the site reconnaissance.
Groundwater in the area likely flows to the west toward the Rogue River.
Drinking Water Information
Municipal water is available to residents to the west of the site in the City of Rockford; however several drinking water wells remain. Areas north, east, and south of the property are also serviced by private wells.
In 2017-2019, two residential wells in the area were independently sampled as part of development activities on the eastern adjoining parcel and were non-detect for PFAS compounds. EGLE has selected additional drinking water wells to sample in the surrounding area.
As of August 10, 2023, 45 drinking water wells in the area have been sampled. Eight homes exceeded drinking water criteria. The highest result was 110 ppt for PFOS (compared to 16 ppt) and 50 ppt for PFOA (compared to 8 ppt), and five homes have detections of PFAS below criteria. Thirty-six (36) wells were non-detect for PFAS.
Anticipated Activities
Residential well sampling will continue to the north and south/southeast in the directions of wells with identified detections and exceedances. Investigations into the source of the contamination are ongoing.
A public meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM at the Courtland Township Offices – 7450 14 Mile Road NE, Rockford, Michigan 49341. Community members will have the opportunity to ask questions after the presentations.
Additional information regarding the public meeting is available at Michigan.gov/MPARTevents.