Gelman Sciences Agrees to EPA-Mandated Measures for Groundwater Contamination
In a significant development concerning environmental safety in the Ann Arbor area, Gelman Sciences has reached a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address the ongoing issue of groundwater contamination. The agreement mandates the company to undertake specific actions to manage and mitigate the spread of contamination, commonly referred to as the “Gelman plume.”
The Gelman plume is an underground stretch of groundwater, approximately 3 to 4 square miles in size, contaminated by 1,4-dioxane—a chemical the EPA describes as “likely to be carcinogenic to humans” (source). Though the direct effects on human health are not entirely clear, animal studies suggest potential liver and kidney damage (source).
First detected in 1986, the contamination originated from Gelman’s medical filter manufacturing site, where disposal of contaminated wastewater had occurred for nearly two decades (source). As the plume continues to expand, fears have mounted that it could reach the Huron River and Barton Pond, the latter supplying 85% of Ann Arbor’s drinking water (source).
In March, the EPA classified the Gelman Plume as a Superfund site, a move that increases the agency’s oversight and led to the recent settlement. Under the terms of this agreement, Gelman Sciences is tasked with several critical actions:
- Enhancing groundwater extraction and treatment to slow contamination spread toward the Huron River
- Improving monitoring to better delineate the eastern boundary of the plume
- Removing contaminated soil from the former production facility
- Conducting a feasibility study to assess contamination and potential remediation strategies
- Funding an independent expert to clarify technical site details and potential actions to the community
Since 1992, Gelman has been under a court-supervised consent judgment with Michigan, requiring the company to control the site’s contamination. However, local advocates have argued that the measures are insufficient (source).
Rebecca Esselman, executive director of the Huron River Watershed Council, expressed cautious optimism regarding the federal settlement. While she has not reviewed the comprehensive agreement, she acknowledged, “what we know about groundwater contaminations like this is there’s no cleaning it up 100%. And that is a legacy that we’ll have to live with in perpetuity in the Huron River.”
Esselman emphasized the need for a robust cleanup effort, stating, “And residents and local governments have waited too long and the risks are too high for anything shy of that.”
Reporting by Michigan Public’s Tracy Samilton.
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