GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The state has taken legal action to make sure Wolverine Worldwide keeps complying with orders in and funding the response to the toxic tap water crisis in Kent County.
It also lays the groundwork for possible civil fines.
Also Wednesday, the EPA announced it is ordering Wolverine to conduct more tests of the soil, groundwater and river sediment at the site of its former tannery in Rockford and the House Street dump for hazardous substances including arsenic, chromium, mercury and ammonia.
>>PDF: Cleanup order from EPA In a Wednesday release, Wolverine said it remained committed to working with the DEQ and Environmental Protection Agency on contamination response.
“We have been working collaboratively with the MDEQ and EPA to address their concerns and implement solutions to give the community confidence in its water.
The anticipated actions by the MDEQ and EPA stem from efforts already underway and formalize the work and testing already being done by Wolverine,” ‎Chris Hufnagel, the company’s senior vice president and head of strategy, said in a statement.
“This is our hometown and these are our friends, families and neighbors.
Also Tuesday, Target 8 learned tests found PFAS levels much higher than that in the blood of a woman who has lived across from Wolverine’s main waste disposal site on House Street in Belmont for more than two decades, as well as the blood of a 20-month-old boy who lives in the area.
It wasn’t until last year that contamination was discovered in residential wells, 78 of which have since tested above 70 ppt.
If you are eligible for a whole-house water filtration system from Wolverine Worldwide, you can call 616.866.5627 or email HouseStreet@wwwinc.com.