Michigan environmental regulators on Wednesday sued footwear company Wolverine World Wild over widely used industrial chemical contaminants that were dumped into the ground decades ago and have seeped into drinking water, saying the lawsuit is necessary to lock into place response efforts and to reimburse the government for past and future costs.
The complaint , filed in federal court, seeks an order declaring that the Rockford, Michigan-based business’ past disposal of hazardous waste poses or may pose an imminent and substantial endangerment to human health.
Of nearly 1,200 private residential wells tested in an area north of Grand Rapids, 78 have levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, above the lifetime federal advisory level of 70 parts per trillion.
PFAS were commonplace in industrial applications, including Scotchgard, which Wolverine used in its operations.
Scientists are uncertain about how they affect human health at exposure levels typically found in food and water, but some studies suggest the chemicals might affect fetal development, disrupt hormonal functions, damage fertility and immune systems, and boost the risk of cancer.
State officials said while Wolverine has been responsive, the suit is the next step in formalizing timelines and expectations for cleanup, sampling and other actions.
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"The state of Michigan is committed to holding responsible parties responsible.
Wolverine said it has voluntarily complied with requirements outlined by regulators.

Michigan environmental regulators on Wednesday sued footwear company Wolverine World Wild over widely used industrial chemical contaminants that were dumped into the ground decades ago and have seeped into drinking water, saying the lawsuit is necessary to lock into place response efforts and to reimburse the government for past and future costs.
The complaint , filed in federal court, seeks an order declaring that the Rockford, Michigan-based business’ past disposal of hazardous waste poses or may pose an imminent and substantial endangerment to human health.
Of nearly 1,200 private residential wells tested in an area north of Grand Rapids, 78 have levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, above the lifetime federal advisory level of 70 parts per trillion.
PFAS were commonplace in industrial applications, including Scotchgard, which Wolverine used in its operations.
Scientists are uncertain about how they affect human health at exposure levels typically found in food and water, but some studies suggest the chemicals might affect fetal development, disrupt hormonal functions, damage fertility and immune systems, and boost the risk of cancer.
State officials said while Wolverine has been responsive, the suit is the next step in formalizing timelines and expectations for cleanup, sampling and other actions.
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Sign up today for unlimited digital access to our website, apps, the digital newspaper and more.
"The state of Michigan is committed to holding responsible parties responsible.
Wolverine said it has voluntarily complied with requirements outlined by regulators.

Smith, The Water Council announce BREW Corporate technology challenge winner.
Municipal water sensors.
Nanolytix is a pioneer in artificial intelligence and sensor technologies for water quality detection applications.
"We’re excited about the prospective opportunities to partner with the Nanolytix team alongside A. O. Smith engineers at the Corporate Technology Center and the Global Water Center," notes Dr. Robert Heideman, chief technology officer at A. O. Smith Corporation.
The Business, Research, Entrepreneurship in Wisconsin (BREW) Corporate challenge focused on four areas of interest to A. O. Smith: water purification, water heating, sensors, and innovative technologies.
"We felt Nanolytix and their unique sensor technology would be a good investment for both A. O. Smith and The Water Council," Heideman continued.
In addition to the investment, the winning entrepreneurs receive: A suite in the Global Water Center for up to 12 months; Business model and operations training through The Water Council and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Institute for Water Business; access to the Global Water Center’s Flow Lab and A. O. Smith product engineering labs; mentorship from A. O. Smith corporate development and senior engineering staff, as well as direct access to BREW Preferred Partners; attendance to conferences and pitch sessions with The Water Council; and a one-year membership to The Water Council providing access to an extensive water technology network.
About BREW Accelerator Launched in 2013 by The Water Council, the BREW (Business – Research – Entrepreneurship – In Wisconsin) Accelerator unleashes water innovation by funding water technology startups from around the world with commercialization potential.
About Nanolytix Nanolytix is a global leader in rapid testing technology in the areas of water and air.
About A. O. Smith A. O. Smith Corporation, with headquarters in Milwaukee, Wis., is a global leader applying innovative technology and energy-efficient solutions to products manufactured and marketed worldwide.

Water-related business risks are becoming more and more apparent.
That’s why CDP, the UN Global Compact CEO Water Mandate, Nature Conservancy, World Resources Institute and WWF are calling for a new approach to setting corporate water targets.
Local context matters—a lot.
As such, water targets at each company facility need not only account for company circumstance, but also for the larger watershed conditions and risks.
Aligning company performance with the local river basin context is increasingly considered a requirement for meaningful water targets.
Science, instead of individual interests, informs what needs to change and when.
That means corporate targets for water use must be based on science and understanding at the basin level, and not set arbitrarily.” Mars is using the latest science on the global carbon budget, water stress and other ecological limits to set meaningful sustainability targets for greenhouse gas emissions, water and land.
Governments and local basin initiatives are at the forefront of water management.
Because of this, companies have a lot to gain by aligning their water goals with local, national and global water priorities, such as the Sustainable Development Goals.
The California Water Action Collaborative is a unique platform that links companies to state water goals.