American Anodco has operated an 8-acre aluminum parts cleaning and treating facility in Ionia, Michigan since 1962, serving the automotive industry. Wastewater disposal to an on-site lagoon contaminated soil and groundwater with hazardous chemicals. The site was added to the EPA's National Priorities List (NPL) in 1989, which flags sites needing serious cleanup attention.
A remedial investigation began in October 1987. By September 1993, EPA issued a Record of Decision (ROD), a formal document explaining the chosen cleanup method, concluding no unacceptable risk existed and selecting no-action monitoring for the site. The cleanup construction was marked complete on that same date, and the site reached "sitewide ready for anticipated reuse" status in September 2016. One business currently operates on site, employing 1,100 people and generating an estimated $327 million in annual sales.
The situation changed in 2019 when EPA and Michigan learned the facility was using per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly called PFAS. These are industrial chemicals used in many consumer and industrial products. The facility was identified as the primary contributor of PFAS to the Ionia wastewater treatment plant. PFAS has also been detected in private drinking water wells near the site, with some residential wells showing levels above applicable standards. Residents with affected wells received letters offering water filters while the source is investigated. State cleanup actions have included tank cleaning and pre-discharge PFAS treatment. EPA is still assessing whether this contamination is tied to the site's operations. An amendment to the original ROD is estimated between August and October 2026, and additional investigation work is expected to run from mid-2027 into early 2028.
Two sources present different pictures of the site's overall status. The health and environment section states human exposure is under control and groundwater migration is stabilized. The cleanup section describes ongoing PFAS sampling of stormwater outfalls and active work with health departments to check private wells, suggesting the full scope of exposure is still being determined.
Community members can get involved by reviewing the administrative record, which contains 84 documents, at the Ionia Public Library at 126 E. Main Street. A community meeting was held on September 19, 2023, where agency representatives discussed PFAS findings in residential wells, and a presentation from that meeting is available. Residents with questions about PFAS health effects can call Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services toxicologist line at 1-800-648-6947.
