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Thermofil (Green Oaks Township, Livingston County)

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

EGLE site lead

Emily Peabody, PeabodyE@Michigan.gov or 517-388-5719.

Background

The property was developed in 1955 by Haigh Manufacturing Company as a metal stamping operation. From 1977-1982 the site was occupied by ITT-United Plastics, which molded and painted plastics. Thermofil purchased the facility from ITT in 1982 and operated a custom reinforced plastic compounding business. During process operations, a resin was blended on site with agents such as fiberglass, talc, mica and flame-retardants. This blended material was then transformed into pellets. The plastic creation process included the addition of flame-retardants. PFAS is used during the creation of plastics to keep the plastic from sticking to the mold. In 1997 a large fire occurred, and plastics stored at the facility burned. It is reported only water was used to control the fire. There are no reports of fire-fighting foam being used.

EGLE has conducted previous investigations at the facility and downgradient within a residential area associated with a trichloroethylene (TCE) groundwater contaminant plume extending approximately 2,000 feet in a southeast direction towards the Huron River watershed.

On January 31, 2023, the Attorney General on behalf of the State of Michigan and Asahi Kasei Plastics North America, Inc., former operator of Thermofil, reached a settlement agreement to conduct response activities related to PFAS releases from the site property. A copy of the Consent Decree can be found here: PFAS Asahi Consent Decree (michigan.gov).

Content posted September 2023.

Site map

See an aerial view of the location of the site.

Expand the map

Drinking water

This site is located within Starlight Mobile Home Park's wellhead protection area. The majority of the area surrounding the facility is on municipal water supplied by the city of Brighton. As a requirement of the settlement agreement, any private well identified in proximity to the contaminant plume will be scheduled to sample for PFAS analysis.

Anticipated activities

Asahi Kasei has hired GeoSyntec Consultants to perform remedial investigation and response actions scheduled to begin in Spring 2023. EGLE will continue to coordinate findings of any investigation work with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Livingston County Health Department, Green Oak Township and the impacted community.

Historical timeline

    • On April 16, 2019, EGLE's contractor collected 11 groundwater samples from monitoring wells.
    • On May 13, 2019, EGLE received the results. The highest values were 163 ppt PFOS+PFOA and 294 ppt Total Tested PFAS.
    • On August 27 to September 3, 2019 EGLE's contractor collected 26 groundwater samples from monitoring wells.
    • On October 15, 2019, EGLE received the results. The highest values were 198 ppt PFOS+PFOA and 475 ppt Total Tested PFAS.

      Historical Sampling Chart: Data is reflective of criteria prior to August 3, 2020,  PFOS and PFOA Only

      This chart reflects data received prior to August 3, 2020.

      Type of Sample

      Date Sampled (or Range)

      Number of Samples

      Number of Results Received

      Number of Non-Detects  Number Between Non-detect and Standard*  Number Greater Than or Equal to Standard 

      Groundwater

      April 2019 - Present 37 37 13 19 5
       Cumulative   37 37 13 19 5

       

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

    • In September 2020, a new map was generated showing detections of PFAS in groundwater.
    • On October 13, 2020, EGLE approved a work plan to have their contractor, DLZ, conduct PFAS sampling of the storm water detention basin.
    • On December 10-11, 2020, PFAS sampling of the storm water detention basin area was conducted by EGLE's contractor, DLZ. 12 groundwater samples and 24 soil samples were collected and submitted to Fibertec for analysis.
    • On January 5, 2021, EGLE received the analytical results from the December 2020 sampling.Results indicate soil and groundwater impacts both on and off site.The highest values detected in groundwater were 790 ppt PFOA, 330 ppt PFOS, and 61 ppt PFHxS at sample point B3 located on the west side of the detention basin.