Organic Chemicals, Inc.

Overview

Organic Chemicals, Inc. sits on a 5-acre property in Grandville, Michigan. The facility ran from the early 1940s through 1991, handling solvent recovery and chemical manufacturing. Hazardous waste discharged into an on-site seepage lagoon left behind widespread contamination. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List in September 1983, triggering a formal Superfund cleanup process.

The site holds 24 contaminants of concern spread across soil and groundwater. Groundwater contaminants include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene, trichloroethene, vinyl chloride, 1,1-dichloroethene, toluene, xylene, and chlorobenzene, along with lead. Soil contaminants include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), dieldrin, chromium(VI), beryllium, aroclor 1248, and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. Arsenic, bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, and vinyl chloride appear in both soil and groundwater. Before cleanup, total organic compounds in soil near the former seepage lagoon reached 2.7 million parts per billion, and groundwater benzene concentrations hit 54,000 ppb.

Cleanup work has moved through several phases. EPA finalized the selected remedy in February 1997. Soil excavation removed about 2,500 cubic yards of contaminated material, with construction work finishing in September 2003. Groundwater extraction, air stripping, and carbon adsorption treat contaminated water. Contaminated water and sludge were cleared from on-site concrete tanks in 2006. An enhanced bioremediation pilot study launched in 2010 to help naturally occurring bacteria break down remaining groundwater contamination. The site is divided into two active operable units (OUs). OU 01 focuses on groundwater remediation and OU 02 covers both groundwater and soil using containment, capping, excavation, stabilization, and institutional controls.

A Grandville trucking company bought the property in 2006 and operates it as a truck parking facility. The business employed 20 people as of December 2024 and generated roughly $920,000 in annual sales. Institutional controls remain in place, preventing residential development and other incompatible land uses. EPA's October 2024 five-year review found that cleanup actions continue to protect public health and the environment. Human exposure is under control, and groundwater migration has been stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. Groundwater remediation for both OUs is estimated to wrap up between late 2027 and spring 2028. Future groundwater sampling should also test for emerging contaminants including 1,4-dioxane and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The next five-year review is scheduled for 2029.

Community members who want to learn more or ask questions can contact EPA remedial project manager John Fagiolo directly by email or phone. Site records are also available for public review at the Kent Public Library Grandville Branch at 4055 Maple Street SW in Grandville.