PFAS Sites and Areas of Interest
There are two major classes of firefighting foam: Class A and Class B. Class B is also called Aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) and is usually created using PFAS. It is a highly effective foam used for fighting high-hazard flammable liquid fires, like gasoline, oil, and jet fuel.
Wastewater Treatment Plants / Industrial Pretreatment Program
Laboratories Offering Home Testing
PFAS MCLs and Drinking Water
Statewide Testing Initiative
Official Correspondence
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Please contact the Site Lead for the most up-to-date status of this site.
Joe Rogers, RogersJ5@Michigan.gov or 517-599-5312.
The former BASF Muskegon facility is located at 1740 Whitehall Road. The site has historically been used to manufacture agricultural chemicals. The property was undeveloped with the exception of oil production infrastructure until 1976, when construction of the first manufacturing building began. In 2018, BASF purchased the property, and Cytiva purchased the property from BASF in 2022.
The property is covered by undeveloped woodland, except for a chemical manufacturing plant on 12.5 acres near the center. Various pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides have been manufactured at the facility since its construction.
PFAS was discovered when Cytiva performed due diligence environmental sampling prior to purchasing the property. Of 18 temporary groundwater wells sampled, three were above criteria. The highest result was 290 ppt PFOS.
Split samples of groundwater from an additional 11 temporary groundwater monitoring well locations were collected by Barr Engineering Co. (Barr), in May 2022, and analyzed for PFAS compounds. PFAS compounds were detected at low concentrations (below criteria) at the western (upgradient) temporary monitoring wells and in the southern portion of the developed part of the property. The remainder of the sample locations were non-detect for PFAS.
The site is led by the EGLE, Materials Management Division (MMD), under the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended (RCRA). RCRA Corrective Action is being implemented via a corrective action consent order with BASF, the former property owners. After RCRA Corrective Action is completed through the work outlined in the consent order, Cytiva will take over environmental liability.
Little Bear Creek is located approximately 1900 feet due east of the manufacturing portion of the site. Groundwater flow is in a steady, eastern direction across the entirety of the site based on historic and current groundwater monitoring data.
Content posted February 2023.
See an aerial view of the location of the site.
EGLE is working with Department of Health, and Human Services (DHHS) to determine if residential well sampling is necessary.
Additional assessment will be required to provide a general delineation of the nature and extent of PFAS in groundwater at the site.