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<\/div>\nROCKFORD, Mich. (AP) \u2013 Tests show toxic chemicals in wells near the headquarters of a western Michigan shoe manufacturer, years after the company dredged and transferred river sediment from a leather-processing tannery.<\/p>\n
There is no dispute Wolverine Worldwide used a 3M Co. waterproofing product that contained PFAS, known as \u201cforever chemicals,\u201d and has settled lawsuits over land and well contamination in the Rockford area, north of Grand Rapids.<\/p>\n
But now there`s a new development: at least 27 properties have contaminated wells in Courtland Township near company headquarters in Rockford, MLive.com reported.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s early on and we\u2019re still kind of waiting to figure out what the extent is and what the best action to take is,\u201d said Matt McCannon, the township`s elected supervisor. \u201cWe have avoided it up until now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wolverine posted a statement online last week, saying it had state approval to \u201coccasionally dredge sediment from the Rogue River in front of our former tannery to ensure proper operation of the water intake pipes.\u201d<\/p>\n
The sediment was then placed at headquarters property in the 1980s and early 2000s, Wolverine said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are actively working to identify and delineate the sediment, and will coordinate with EGLE to determine any next steps,\u201d Wolverine said, referring to state regulators.<\/p>\n
The well at Janet Washburn`s home greatly exceeds the state\u2019s threshold for risky chemicals. She said she has had kidney cancer and other health problems.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve always eaten right. We don\u2019t drink, we don\u2019t smoke, and I used to say to my husband, \u2018How can we be so medically challenged when we take good care of ourselves?’\u201d said Washburn, who is in her 70s and has lived in her home for 46 years.<\/p>\n
The Kent County health department is giving affected residents a kitchen water filter.<\/p>\n
PFAS were used to make Scotchgard, a 3M waterproofing product used by Wolverine, which has a number of brands, including Hush Puppies, Merrell, Keds, Saucony and Chaco.<\/p>\n
In 2019, Michigan authorities announced a $69.5 million deal with Wolverine that included an extension of public water to areas in northern Kent County where PFAS-laced sludge was dumped. Wolverine said Minnesota-based 3M was covering much of that agreement.<\/p>\n
Three years later, in 2022, there was a separate $54 million settlement involving 3M, Wolverine and owners of 1,700 properties in the county.<\/p>\n
A water researcher tests a sample of water for PFAS, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Center For Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response in Cincinnati. (AP Photo\/Joshua A. Bickel)<\/p>\n
Topics<\/span> Michigan<\/a> Manufacturing<\/a> Chemicals<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Was this article valuable?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n