Wash King Laundry

Overview

Wash King Laundry is a former commercial dry cleaner in Pleasant Plains Township, Lake County, Michigan, listed on the National Priorities List since September 1983. The site sits south of Baldwin near the Pere Marquette River. Dry cleaning operations began in 1962 and relied on perchloroethylene (PCE), a solvent that leaked from an underground storage tank into soil, groundwater, and lagoon sediments. The contaminated groundwater plume extends northward toward the river.

EPA has identified 40 contaminants of concern across groundwater, soil, sludge, and sediment. These include volatile organic compounds such as tetrachloroethene and trichloroethene, metals including arsenic, lead, mercury, and chromium, pesticides such as dieldrin and chlordane, and phthalates. Most contaminants are concentrated in the groundwater operable unit, though tetrachloroethene was also detected in soil.

Cleanup is organized into two operable units. Operable Unit 1 (OU1) addresses groundwater and included extraction wells, air stripping, carbon adsorption, chemical oxidation, soil vapor extraction, and demolition of the building and sumps. Construction ran from September 1998 to March 2001, and the system has been in operation and maintenance since April 2012. Operable Unit 2 (OU2) targets heavily contaminated glacial till soils beneath the former building, former piping run, and former seepage lagoon. A Record of Decision for OU2 was finalized in February 2021, selecting in-situ thermal remediation to achieve maximum contaminant mass reduction quickly. Remedial design for OU2 is estimated to finish between September and November 2026, with remedial action expected to begin in April 2027. In May 2025, EPA finalized an Explanation of Significant Difference adding institutional controls to OU2, including groundwater use restrictions and deed restrictions on contaminated soil.

A fifth five-year review is currently underway and will be completed by May 2026. The 2021 review found the remedy protective of human health in the short term, with no exposure to contaminated groundwater or soil. Human exposure is currently under control across the site, and groundwater migration is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. However, the site has not yet achieved sitewide readiness for anticipated reuse because cleanup goals and required land-use restrictions are not all fully in place.

Community members can share concerns about site conditions during the ongoing five-year review. Records are available at the Pathfinder Community Library in Baldwin, Michigan. Questions can be directed to the EPA Remedial Project Manager or Community Involvement Coordinator. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) also oversees the project. The EPA toll-free line is 800-621-8431 during weekday business hours.