Lacks PFAS Remediation Project
Visit the
Lacks Industries MPART site for the most up-to-date information.
Nicole Sanabria is the EGLE Lead for this MPART site and can be contacted at
sanabrian@michigan.gov or by calling 517.281.7726.
What started this investigation?
(EGLE) proactively tested this plating facility for PFAS due to the company's historical groundwater contamination. Lacks has been conducting groundwater clean-up for metals and boron at this site for more than 20 years, however, at the time of use at the former Cascade site, PFAS was not a recognized groundwater contaminant.
How has EGLE decided which water wells to test?
This investigation pertains to 1601 Galbraith S.E. only – it does not include or impact any current manufacturing sites being operated by Lacks Enterprises today. The majority of residents in the investigation area are on municipal water and therefore not affected by this contamination. This investigation focuses on people with their own drinking water wells that may be in the path of groundwater contamination from the former Lacks facility.
The target sampling area for residential wells considered the location of the residential wells
relative to the known locations where PFAS and other historic contamination has been detected in groundwater.
What have tests shown so far?
In October 2020, EGLE said that 22 residential wells had been tested; all were non-detects compared to the USEPA Lifetime Health Advisory (LHA) of 70 ppt.
Based on residential well and monitoring well results received to date, there have not been any exceedances of the LHA at or near the initial investigation area boundary. EGLE will continue to evaluate the need for further residential well sampling as the investigation proceeds and may conduct another round of confirmatory sampling. To date, a decision on future residential well sampling has not been made.
The amount of PFOS & PFOA found in the monitoring and purge wells is between non-detect and 270 ppt. Three of the monitoring wells and the purge well had levels above the EPA LHA, of 70 ppt. One monitoring well did not have detectable levels of PFAS. PFAS was detected in groundwater above the LHA nearly a mile downgradient of the former Lacks facility. The extent of the PFAS contamination has not yet been determined.
Archived Updates
December 10, 2018 -The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality released an update on Dec. 10 regarding the former Lacks facility.
Specifically, the update reads, “So far, we have preliminary results from 19 drinking water wells that have been tested. All drinking water results were below EPA’s Lifetime Health Advisory (LTHA) level of 70 parts per trillion (ppt) for combined PFOA and PFOS. PFAS was detected at 10 of these drinking water wells, with total PFAS ranging from 2 to 54 ppt. The quality control process is still being completed for some of these results, and will not be final until that time.”
Site Details and Sign Up for Future Updates from EGLE
Future Lacks Updates from the MI PFAS Action Response Team
November 15, 2018 - The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has created an email listserv for individuals wishing to receive updates on the Lacks PFAS investigation. If you wish to be included on the listserv, please send an email to:
DEQ-LacksCascadePFAS@michigan.gov.
October 29, 2018 - The MDEQ will be holding a meeting Tuesday, October 30 regarding the Lacks Industries PFAS concerns. The meeting will be held at the Cascade Library Wisner Center (2870 Jacksmith Dr. SE) from 6-8 p.m, with a presentation beginning at 6:30 p.m.
October 19, 2018 - PFAS Investigation at Lacks Industries in Cascade Township
Lacks FAQ
Lack's PFAS Sampling Site Map
September 7, 2018 - Cascade/Thornapple PFAS Presentation