Kunnens Landfill (Fremont, Newaygo County)

Kent Walters, WaltersK7@Michigan.gov or 616-278-4350. 

Please note that this landfill is CLOSED and does not accept waste. 

Kunnen's Landfill, located at 3897 Ramshorn Drive, was a landfill that accepted general municipal solid waste and operated from the mid-1950's through the mid-1980's. The oldest and largest portion of the landfill is unlined and is located on the western-most part of the property. Two smaller areas east of the unlined area were constructed with a landfill liner and installed with a leachate collection system. Historical groundwater contamination was detected in the early 1980's, which prompted a series of groundwater investigations to delineate groundwater contamination. Due to continued improper landfill management, the landfill was issued a cease-and-desist order. The landfill was never properly closed, and the operator went out of business. EGLE has monitored groundwater quality since the landfill was closed. Because of historical groundwater contamination and evidence that landfills are a source of PFAS, EGLE determined it necessary to sample the groundwater for PFAS.

Groundwater on the site flows to the southeast towards a wetland that is connected to Second Lake. Groundwater also exists in a perched aquifer which flows to the west/southwest towards a small unnamed seasonal stream, where water is likely to be most prevalent in the springtime or during times of increased precipitation. Residential drinking water wells exist downgradient and side gradient of the landfill. The city of Fremont's public water supply wells also exist further downgradient of the site, was sampled for PFAS on August 1, 2018; no detections were found.

Content posted September 2021.

EGLE will collect additional groundwater samples from monitoring wells and nearby lakes and streams.

EGLE will collect additional groundwater samples from monitoring wells and nearby lakes and streams. EGLE will work with MDHHS and the local health department on a residential well sampling plan.