ROCKFORD, Mich. -The Wolverine Worldwide tannery in Rockford released potentially hazardous PFAS compounds into the environment. Now tests are underway to find out if any other pollution was left behind.
“The stuff you would find on a superfund site,” says Environmental Protection Agency site coordinator Jeff Kimble. “Heavy metals, volatile organic and semi-organic volatile compounds.”
A chain link fence now surrounds the 15-acre site of the former tannery while crews collect soil and water samples. After 100 years of operation, Wolverine closed the tannery in 2009.
Potentially hazardous PFAS waterproofing chemicals from tannery waste have shown up in the nearby Rogue River and residential wells.
Wolverine also used arsenic, lead, chrome and other compounds at the Rockford facility to tan and treat leather for shoes. The Environmental Protection Agency wants to know how much of those or other pollutants may be on the property.
“To look and see if there is contamination. And if there is contamination, is it at high enough level that it's a risk to the public or the environment,” says Kimble. “And if so, what are we going to do about it.”
“I think it is responsible for them to finally investigate to see what harmful chemicals could be in the soil,” says Amanda Williams who was on a bicycle ride with her daughter around the site. “All we can do is move forward from here and try to remedy the problem.”
The EPA already has some clues about what they may find on the site. After the tannery was demolished, tests detected arsenic, chromium and other contaminants. They are also taking samples on the House Street property in Belmont where Wolverine Worldwide dumped waste for decades.
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