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Wolverine Sole Plant (Former) (Rockford, Kent County)

Wolverine Sole Plant (Former) (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 January 2023.

EGLE Site Lead

Leah Gies, GiesL1@Michigan.gov or 616-215-4781.

Background

The former Wolverine Sole Plant, located at 485 Wolverine Drive NE, was historically used by Wolverine World Wide for shoe manufacturing operations, including shoe sole production. On December 1 and 2, 2021, EGLE staff and subcontractor, AECOM, collected groundwater samples from five monitoring wells installed at the property. The groundwater sample results identified PFOA and PFOS at concentrations exceeding Groundwater Cleanup Criteria in all five monitoring wells. PFNA was also detected in one monitoring well above Groundwater Cleanup Criteria. 

This property is not located within the boundaries of the “North Kent Study Area” and is, therefore, not subject to the requirements of the Consent Decree (Court Case. 1:18-cv-00039; effective February 19, 2020) between the State of Michigan, Algoma and Plainfield Townships, and Wolverine. EGLE considers the contamination identified at this property to be a new and separate Part 201 issue that Wolverine is responsible to manage.

Groundwater flow is in a westerly direction to the Rogue River west of the property. 

Wolverine Sole Plant (former), Rockford, Kent County map

Recent Accomplishments

  • On April 18, 2022, Wolverine submitted a work plan for proposed response activities at the Former Sole Plant.
  • On May 4, 2022, EGLE provided Wolverine with comments on the work plan and requested that a Response Activity Plan (ResAP) be submitted with the results of the work plan investigation.
  • On September 30, 2022, Wolverine submitted a ResAP summarizing the results of the investigation and proposing next steps.
  • On January 3, 2023, EGLE sent Wolverine comments on the ResAP via a Notice of Insufficient Information letter for the ResAP.

Next Steps

  • As part of the January 3, 2023, EGLE response letter, EGLE requested that Wolverine submit a revised ResAP within 60 calendar days.

Residential Well / Alternative Water Information

  • Surrounding area is serviced by municipal water in the City of Rockford.

Upcoming Community Engagement

  • The Wolverine Community Advisory Group (CAG) generally meets the third Thursday of each month from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Information regarding upcoming virtual meetings can be found at WolverineCAG.org.

Sampling Results Summary

Type of Sample

Date Sampled (or Range)

Number of Sample Results Received

Number of Samples above Criteria*

Groundwater Monitoring Wells

 December 2021 - June 2022 6 6

* Residential well and groundwater monitoring well results are compared to EGLE Part 201 criteria for 7 PFAS compounds effective 12/21/2020:  PFOS (16 ppt), PFOA (8 ppt), PFNA (6 ppt), PFHxS (51 ppt), PFHxA (400,000 ppt), PFBS (420 ppt), and HFPO-DA (370 ppt).

Sampling Notes

  • None at this time

Historical Timeline

    • On December 1 and 2, 2021, EGLE staff and subcontractor AECOM, collected groundwater samples for PFAS analysis from five onsite monitoring wells.
    • On January 5, 2022, EGLE received the results which identified PFOS, PFOA, and PFNA at concentrations exceeding Groundwater Cleanup Criteria. PFOS was identified at a maximum concentration of 1,250 ppt.
    • On March 3, 2022, EGLE sent a Compliance Communication Regarding the Release at the Former Wolverine Sole Plant and requested Wolverine conduct response activities.