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Former ESCO (Muskegon, Muskegon County)

Former ESCO (Muskegon, Muskegon 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 December 2019.

EGLE Site Lead

Peter VanHeest, VanHeestP@Michigan.gov.

Background

This site is located at 1221 E. Barney and operated as a chemical manufacturer from 1967 to 2017. A fire occurred in the facility in 1977. The facility was equipped with an Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) fire suppression system, and a release of AFFF reportedly occurred in response to the 1977 fire. Groundwater was sampled on this property by the new property owner as part of a routine Baseline Environmental Assessment (BEA).

This site is located within the Little Black Creek watershed, and Little Black Creek runs through the Former ESCO property. The groundwater flow in the area is to the south and southeast towards Little Black Creek.

Former ESCO - 1221 E Barney Map

Recent Accomplishments

  • On June 19, 2019, the BEA was submitted to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). The BEA reported that a shallow, temporary monitoring well had a result of 350 ppt PFOS+PFOA and 940 ppt Total Tested PFAS.  One deep monitoring well had a result of 10 ppt PFOS+PFOA and 10 ppt Total Tested PFAS, and another deep monitoring well was Non-Detect for Total Tested PFAS. Because the Baseline Environmental Assessment was submitted to the state, the new property owner is not liable for the pre-existing contamination, although they do have to take measures to ensure that their use of the property doesn’t make the contamination worse.

Next Steps

  • Unless the state finds a viable liable party, a state-funded investigation may occur when EGLE Division and District priorities and resources allow. In the meantime, EGLE will continue to stay involved in any land use changes that may impact the site, and if human receptors are identified.

Residential Well Testing/Alternate Water Information

Upcoming Community Engagement

  • None scheduled at this time.

Sampling Results Summary: PFOS and PFOA Only 

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 Monitoring Wells

 December 12, 2018 3 3 1 1 1
Cumulative 3 3 1 1 1

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

Sampling Notes

  • Other PFAS analytes were detected in samples. There are no federal or state standards for these analytes.
     

 

Historical Timeline

    • On December 12, 2018, the new property owner of the former ESCO site had three groundwater samples collected as part of the Baseline Environmental Assessment (BEA) process. The samples were collected from one shallow, temporary monitoring well, and two deep monitoring wells. The shallow temporary monitoring well was located on the eastern portion of the property near the AFFF fire suppression system shed. The two deep wells were located between the AFFF fire suppression system shed and Little Black Creek.
    • On June 19, 2019, the BEA report was submitted to EGLE and showed the shallow, temporary monitoring well had a result of 350 ppt PFOS+PFOA and 940 ppt Total Tested PFAS.  One deep monitoring well had a result of 10 ppt PFOS+PFOA and 10 ppt Total Tested PFAS, and the other deep monitoring well was Non-Detect for Total Tested PFAS.