Chem Central

Overview

Chem Central sits on a 2-acre parcel in Wyoming Township, Kent County, Michigan. The site has distributed industrial chemicals since 1957. A pipe defect between 1957 and 1962 allowed hazardous waste to leak into soil and groundwater. EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in September 1983. The NPL is the federal government's list of contaminated sites that need detailed study and cleanup.

Thirteen chemical contaminants of concern have been identified in soil and groundwater. In groundwater, these include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, vinyl chloride, toluene, and various dichloroethene compounds. Soil contamination includes polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), phthalates, VOCs, naphthalene, pyrene, bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, arsenic, and zinc. Site runoff flows through Cole Drain into Plaster Creek.

The long-term remedy was selected in September 1991 and construction was completed in September 1995. Cleanup technologies include soil vapor extraction, groundwater pumping and treatment, free product recovery, off-gas treatment, and offsite disposal of oils. The site owner has added enhanced groundwater treatment methods to speed up cleanup. Operation and maintenance have continued under EPA oversight since 2000. Because all nearby residents use municipal water, exposure risk is limited to accidental ingestion of contaminated groundwater or direct contact with contaminated onsite soils. Zoning restrictions prevent residential and other incompatible land uses.

EPA completed its sixth five-year review on November 6, 2024. The review confirmed that the current remedy protects human health and the environment in the short term by preventing direct contact with contaminated materials. Human exposure is currently under control across the entire site. However, groundwater migration is not yet stabilized, and contamination continues to spread beyond the original area. Several actions are still needed, including completing environmental covenants for remaining parcels, defining the full extent of deeper aquifer contamination, updating the risk assessment for three additional compounds, installing monitoring wells, delineating secondary contamination plumes, sampling for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and 1,4-dioxane, and developing a remedial action contingency plan. The site has not yet been deleted from the NPL.

Community members can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager.