Southwest Ottawa County Landfill Superfund Site (Park Township, Ottawa County)

Jake Emmendorfer, EmmendorferJ2@Michigan.gov or 517-245-5274.

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

The 43-acre Southwest Ottawa County Landfill located at 2901 North 160^th Avenue operated as a state licensed landfill, until its closure in 1981. The landfill was constructed and began operation by Ottawa County in 1968 and received solvents, heavy metals, sludge, oils, municipal refuse, and drums containing unspecified wastes. Major contaminants in the groundwater included: volatile organic compounds and iron. All of the contaminants were present at levels above the state's criteria. The site was added to the Superfund National Priorities List in September 1983.

Groundwater contamination occurs in an unconfined sand aquifer. The Ottawa County Road Commission (OCRC) has been operating a groundwater treatment system since 1987. Groundwater monitoring and methane gas monitoring continue to document the conditions of groundwater and methane gas downgradient and around the landfill property.

In 2020, EGLE requested that OCRC conduct PFAS sampling to help assess proposed modifications to the treatment system.

Despite a groundwater use restriction ordinance that covers the Site and the downgradient groundwater plume, private wells exist downgradient of the Site. EGLE is working with local health and MDHHS to determine if there are any residential wells that need to be sampled.

Since the Site is located upgradient of Lake Michigan, the Site's groundwater is monitored for compliance with the Part 201 Groundwater Surface Water Interface (GSI) Criteria for discharging to a drinking water source. The 2020 PFAS sampling results indicated groundwater concentrations above GSI criteria. However, the nature and extent of the PFAS groundwater plume has not yet been fully characterized. Additionally, OCRC has a permit to discharge treated groundwater to Lake Michigan. At this time, the treatment system meets all requirements for discharge water quality standards. EGLE staff are evaluating appropriate monitoring frequencies and discharge limits of the treatment system for PFAS.

Content posted May 2022.

Municipal water has been provided to residents within the Groundwater Use Restriction Ordinance Area. EGLE is working with local health and MDHHS to determine if there are any residential wells that need to be sampled.

EGLE staff will continue discussions with OCRC regarding PFAS sampling locations and frequency for the permanent groundwater monitoring well network. OCRC will develop a work plan for EGLE staff review and approval. Recommendations for additional PFAS sampling are pending.