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Partz Corporation (Owosso, Shiawassee County)

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

EGLE site lead

Jessica Tashman, TashmanJ@Michigan.gov or 517-245-3931

Background

The Partz Corporation property is located at 1232 West Main Street, the location of a former plating operation that was destroyed by fire in December 1992. The fire resulted in fluids from approximately 24 plating tanks used in operations released to the basement floor and/or environment. In 1993, EGLE (formerly the DEQ) removed and disposed of non-hazardous debris from the fire and stabilized the property. The U.S. EPA followed EGLE's actions with the removal of all hazardous waste containers, liquids, and sludge. The property has been vacant since the 1992 fire and was purchased in 2018 by a local resident.

The Shiawassee River is located approximately 850 feet northeast of the property. The Chipman Drain, a closed storm water drainage system, crosses the property and discharges to the Shiawassee River. The city of Owosso sanitary sewer system also crosses the property. Groundwater flows to the northeast towards the Shiawassee River.

Content posted January 2021.

Site map

See an aerial view of the location of the site.

Expand the map

Drinking water

The property and surrounding area are serviced by municipal water. The closest water supply well is located approximately ½ mile west of the property. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has sampled all municipal water supplies for PFAS. View the results for the city of Owosso.

Anticipated activities

EGLE is working with The Mannik Smith Group to complete a final investigation report that details the results of the work that has been ongoing since 2019. EGLE will be working with The Mannik Smith Group to complete state-funded response actions.

Historical timeline

    • On September 5, 2019, EGLE’s contractor, The Mannik Smith Group, collected 3 groundwater samples from recently installed on-site monitoring wells.
    • On September 27, 2019, EGLE received the results for the 3 samples collected.  Two of the samples collected were above Part 201 Criteria; the highest PFOS+PFOA groundwater result was 449 ppt. EGLE notified Shiawassee County Health Department.
    • On October 4, 2019, the city of Owosso was notified of the sampling results.
    • October 25, 2019, the Shiawassee County Drain Commission and Friends of the Shiawassee River were notified of the sampling results.
    • On December 17-19, 2019, eight (8) additional monitoring wells were installed on the Partz Corporation property. 
    • On January 7-9, 2020, sampling occurred of the existing monitoring wells, newly installed monitoring wells, sanitary sewer system, and storm water samples from Chipman Drain. 
    • On January 29, 2020, PFAS results received from monitoring wells, sanitary sewer system, and Chipman Drain.  The results showed PFAS in three monitoring wells above the Part 201 Criteria; the highest PFOS + PFOA was 522 ppt.  No PFAS compounds were detected in the sanitary or Chipman Drain samples.   
    • On March 31, 2020, a second round of sampling of the eleven (11) monitoring wells, the Chipman Drain, and sanitary sewer was conducted.   In addition, a sample was collected from the outfall of the Chipman Drain to the Shiawassee River. 
    • On April 14, 2020, EGLE received the results from samples collected in March 2020.  The results showed PFOS and/or PFOA contamination in three of the monitoring wells above the Part 201 Cleanup Criteria.  The highest PFOA + PFOS detected was 560 ppt.  The results also showed contaminated groundwater at the property boundary suggesting contamination has migrated off the property. 
    • On June 17-18, 2020, a third round of sampling of the eleven (11) monitoring wells, the Chipman Drain, and sanitary sewer was conducted.
    • On July 3, 2020, a work plan for the installation of off-site monitoring wells was to determine off-site migration of contaminants was approved.
    • On July 15, 2020, the PFAS analytical results from the June 17-18, 2020 were received.  The results showed PFOS and/or PFOA contamination in three of the monitoring wells above the Part 201 Cleanup Criteria.  The highest PFOA + PFOS detected was 528 ppt.  No PFAS compounds were detected in the sanitary or Chipman Drain samples.  
    • 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 

      Monitoring Wells

      September 5, 2018 - Present 34 34 23 0 11
      Storm Water/Surface Water January, March, June 2020 11 11 11 0 0
      Sanitary Sewer January, March, June 2020 6 6 6 0 0
      Cumulative   51 51 40 0 11
      *Groundwater results are compared to EGLE Part 201 Criteria of 70 ppt PFOS+PFOA.
    • In August 2020, seven off-site monitoring wells were installed to investigate off-site migration of contaminants.  Three of the wells were installed on the adjoining property to the north and four wells were installed on the adjoining property to the east.
    • During the week of September 14, 2020, the newly installed wells were sampled the week of September 14, 2020 and the results were received on October 12, 2020. PFAS compounds were not detected in any off-site wells.  
    • On September 15-16, 2020, samples were collected from the newly installed  off-site monitoring wells along with some existing monitoring wells, the Chipman Drain, and the sanitary sewer system.
    • On October 12, 2020, the results from the September 2020 sampling event were received. PFAS compounds were not detected in any off-site wells.  
    • In December 2020, another round of samples were collected from all accessible monitoring wells, the Chipman Drain, and the sanitary sewer. 
    • On January 8, 2021, EGLE received the and confirmed previous sampling results which indicate contamination appears to be isolated to the immediate vicinity of the site and not migrating to the Chipman Drain/Shiawassee River or the sanitary sewer system.

    Sampling Results Summary

    This table was updated to include all seven PFAS criteria effective December 21, 2020.

    Type of Sample

    Date Sampled (or Range)

    Numberof Sample Results Received

    Number of Samples above Criteria*

    Groundwater Monitoring Wells

    September 2019 - Present 62 14
    Surface Water January 2020 - Present 17 0
    Sanitary January 2020 - Present 9 0
    *Residential well and groundwater monitoring well results are compared to EGLE Part 201 criteria for 7 PFAS compounds:  PFOS (16 ppt), PFOA (8 ppt), PFNA (6 ppt), PFHxS (51 ppt), PFHxA (400,000 ppt), PFBS (420 ppt), and HFPO-DA (370 ppt).
    *Surface water samples are compared to Rule 57 non-drinking water values of 12 ppt for PFOS and 12,000 ppt for PFOA. 

    Sampling Notes

    • On August 3, 2020, new Part 201 Criteria went into effect.  Historical sampling data compared to Part 201 Criteria >70 is captured in the historical timeline below.