Marc Messina at MessinaM@Michigan.gov or 517-219-2394.
The New Era Properties site is the location of the former Fenske Landfill and Closed Hazardous Waste Pile (Waste Pile) located at 2637 Wilson SW, in Kent County, adjacent to the Grand River. This landfill accepted liquid industrial waste, solid industrial waste, and solid municipal waste, from 1967 until the 1970s, when solid waste regulations were passed. Additionally, metal hydroxide plating sludges were stored on-site, in a waste pile. The hazardous waste pile was eventually removed and closure of that feature was completed in June 2008.
Due to the previous acceptance of industrial and municipal wastes, and the management of metal hydroxide plating sludges, EGLE sampled the groundwater near the former Waste Pile location in July 2021, to determine if PFAS were present. The highest result in groundwater was 91 ppt for PFOS (compared to 16 ppt). Liquid within the landfill was indirectly sampled through a gas vent well in August 2021, and the highest result was 860 ppt for PFOS.
Landfill operations were also conducted on the adjacent property in Ottawa County under a separate investigation summarized in the following MPART site investigation webpage: Fenske Landfills, Inc. (Tallmadge Township, Ottawa County).
Shallow groundwater flows toward the Grand River. The groundwater between the landfill and the Grand River was sampled at the monitoring well locations shown on the map in November 2025. EGLE is awaiting a final report from New Era Properties, which is expected in the first quarter of 2026.
Content posted February 2026.
EGLE, DHHS, and local health have evaluated nearby drinking water wells and have determined that sampling is not necessary based on the hydrogeologic conditions.
EGLE will evaluate the groundwater sampling results from the November 2025 event and determine appropriate next steps.
