We are pleased to announce that Wolverine has completed the cleanup work it began last fall at the site of its former Tannery in Rockford. The White Pine Trail, which runs through the site and was re-routed during the work, will reopen on Friday, March 6. Please note this section of the trail is currently made of crushed limestone, and will be paved during the upcoming construction season.
Wolverine operated the tannery from the early 1890s until it closed in 2009. The tannery was then decommissioned and demolished, and Wolverine conducted environmental testing with EPA and MDEQ oversight. We completed additional testing in 2017 and 2018, setting the stage for the cleanup work we started in September 2019.
This work is described in more detail in blog posts here and here, and included the excavation and disposal of several areas of sediments, soils, leather scraps, and hides from the Tannery site, the adjacent White Pine Trail, and the banks of the Rogue River, as shown on this map. We ended up excavating approximately 23,000 tons of material (around 11,600 cubic yards) from the site, sending 835 truckloads to an approved off-site landfill.
Several recent pictures of the site are included below. Over the coming months we will be conducting site restoration activities. This includes removing equipment and replacing grass, trees, and other vegetation removed during the cleanup work. It also includes adjusting the fencelines and temporarily closing the White Pine Trail again for paving.
We are committed to limiting the impact of these restoration activities on neighboring residents, surrounding businesses, and the community as a whole, and will continue to keep the community informed through regular updates on this blog, www.WeAreWolverine.com, and through information posted at kiosks and in other locations accessible to the public.
As always, residents with questions are encouraged to contact Wolverine directly at HouseStreet@wwwinc.com or (616) 866-5627.
