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Ford Motor Company - Saline Plant (Saline, Washtenaw County)

Ford Motor Company - Saline Plant (Saline, Washtenaw County)

Disclaimer: Web content may not be routinely updated on this page.

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

EGLE site lead

Nicole Sanabria, SanabriaN@Michigan.gov.

Background

This site is located at 7700 Michigan Avenue in the city of Saline. The Ford Saline plant has been in operation since 1966 and continues to manufacture automotive components. Chrome plating occurred at the facility from 1966 through 1984. Ford Motor Company (Ford) owns the property, while another entity leases the property and operates the facility. This location was sampled due to its past history as a chrome plater; a known industry source of PFAS.

Note that on the map provided, "operable units" areas where hazardous waste is or was treated, stored, or disposed. These are areas the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) investigates for corrective action. The operable units on the map are the areas being focused on for the PFAS investigation.

Groundwater flow in the perched, or upper, aquifer varies, but generally flows to the north. Groundwater flow in the lower drift, or water table, aquifer is to the south/southwest.

Content posted July 2022.

Ford Motor Company Saline Plant MAP

Site map

See an aerial view of the location of the site.

Expand the map

Drinking water

EGLE and Ford will determine next steps for site investigation once review is completed.

Anticipated activities

EGLE will review the annual groundwater monitoring results when submitted to monitor if PFAS concentrations are changing over time. These results are not expected until summer of 2022.

Historical timeline

    • In February 2019, Ford's consultant collected 17 more groundwater samples.
    • On May 1, 2019, a third round of on-site groundwater sampling was conducted. Ford's consultant collected 8 samples. Four (4) results from the deeper drift aquifer were expedited.
    • On May 15, 2019, EGLE received Ford's groundwater results from the drift aquifer. Three (3) of the on-site wells were Non-Detect, one on-site well had 11 ppt. PFOA.
    • On June 26, 2019, EGLE met with Ford to discuss next round of sampling on-site.
    • On October 7-8, 2019 Ford conducted sampling of on-site monitoring wells and a drain that discharges to a small pond on-site.
    • In December 2019, EGLE received and is currently reviewing the sampling results from the October 2019 sampling event.  Review is expected to be completed in February 2020.  The sampling chart has been updated to reflect the sampling results.

  • Historical Sampling Table: 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

    Groundwater

    		 October 2018 - October 2019 41 41 14 19 8
    Cumulative 41 41 14 19 8

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

    • On July 7, 2021 EGLE sent a letter to Ford requesting a reevaluation of existing data to compare to the new cleanup criteria established on December 21, 2020 to determine if additional groundwater sampling is necessary. EGLE also requested an evaluation of storm and sanitary sewers on-site to determine if and where sampling needs to occur.
    • On September 2, 2021, Ford submitted a response to EGLE comments to address EGLE’s remaining concerns on the PFAS investigation, and to provide a plan to incorporate PFAS into the annual groundwater monitoring sampling for the site.
    • On November 29, 2021, Ford’s consultant collected a surface water sample of the pond located on the northern portion of the property.
    • On January 24, 2022, Ford submitted the results from the surface water sampling conducted in November. Results were below applicable surface water criteria.

    Sampling Results Summary

    This table reflects data received after August 3, 2020.  Data prior to August 3, 2020 is reflected in the timeline below. This table was updated to include all seven PFAS criteria effective December 21, 2020.


    Type of Sample

    Date Sampled
    (or range)

    Number of Sample Results Received

    Number of Samples above Criteria*

    Surface Water

    1

    1

    0

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