Wolverine Worldwide Submits Revised Tannery Work Plan

Last week we submitted to EGLE a revised Response Activity Plan seeking approval to install a substantially larger and more robust groundwater interceptor system at our former tannery property than the system that EGLE originally approved last year.  This system is designed to intercept groundwater and prevent it from flowing into the Rogue River and Rum Creek.  You can review our submission at this link , and we understand that EGLE will be accepting public comment in the near future.

Our revised plan submitted last week builds off the original plan that EGLE approved last year.  During initial fieldwork to implement the original plan last summer, however, we found that due to previously unknown conditions the system would not likely intercept as much groundwater as intended.  So, on December 1, 2022, we sought EGLE’s approval to revise the original plan and install a substantially larger, more robust groundwater interceptor system.

On March 10, 2023, EGLE denied our request to revise and expand the groundwater interceptor system.  EGLE did not express concerns about our overall proposal to expand our system, but they asked us to provide more detail about it.

We began assembling that information immediately, and also reached out to EGLE to set up a series of technical meetings.  We then met with EGLE many times to discuss and understand their comments, so that we could be as responsive as possible with our revised submission that we provided to EGLE last week. 

The plan EGLE originally approved called for the installation of 22 extraction wells to capture groundwater migrating to surface water at the Tannery.  If we receive approval for our proposed expansion, the revised and expanded system we will use both extraction wells plus 2,000 feet of trenches.  That combination is roughly equivalent to installing a network of approximately 2,000 wells along the entire length of the property.  These wells and trenches will capture groundwater from the property and stop it from flowing into Rum Creek or the Rogue River.  We have confidence in this proposal and are not aware of any technology with a better chance of success in the circumstances. 

Determining where to place the components of a system like this on the property is a complex and delicate balance.  The wells and trenches must be located in such a way as to stop groundwater from flowing to surface water, but at the same time prevent too much river water from being captured and drawn into the system.  To achieve that balance, the locations for the 2,000 feet of trenches were identified based on aquifer testing and modeling on the north and south sides of Rum Creek over a period of years.  The trenches are intentionally and strategically located to capture groundwater without pulling excessive surface water from Rum Creek or the Rogue River.

Because the primary purpose of the system is to prevent the flow of groundwater from the property into the Rogue River and Rum Creek, we will measure and demonstrate effectiveness by measuring groundwater elevations.  These readings, taken both on the property and in the surface waters, will confirm that groundwater is not entering Rum Creek or the Rogue River.  If performance monitoring indicates that all or part of the system is either drawing too much water from the river or creek, or not controlling groundwater to a level below observed surface water elevations, then operational modifications will be carried out as appropriate.

Just like last year’s EGLE-approved plan, our revised and expanded plan also provides for collecting groundwater samples and analyzing them for PFAS.  We will evaluate that data and propose any adjustments to the system or monitoring frequency that are warranted by the findings.  But, as with last year’s EGLE-approved plan, this data will supplement the groundwater elevation readings mentioned above, and will not be how we will know the system is working. 

We have already begun designing our proposed collection and temporary treatment systems, and we are ready to proceed further as soon as EGLE review, approval, and permitting allows.  Under the schedule in this week’s submission on page 64 , we will begin field work within sixty days of EGLE approval and will proceed in three phases. 

After completion of final design work and receipt of all necessary permits, phase one will commence with construction of the trenches, offsite disposal of excavated soil, backfill of granular material, installation of six extraction wells, placement of pumps in each trench and extraction well, and routing of electrical conduit and piping. 

Phase two consists of starting the groundwater interceptor system.  To allow capture of groundwater as soon as possible, phase two will use a temporary, modular treatment system while the permanent treatment system design and operation is optimized and finalized.  Upon completion of phase one, phase two will begin as soon as regulatory approvals allow.

Phase three consists of design and construction of the permanent treatment system and transition from the temporary treatment system.  The final schedule is dependent on regulatory approvals and contractor bids, but we currently expect permanent treatment system operation within approximately three years from EGLE approval of yesterday’s Response Activity Plan.

We will continue keeping the community informed about progress on our remediation plan and other matters through 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 or feedback are encouraged to contact Wolverine Worldwide directly at HouseStreet@wwwinc.com or (616) 866-5627.


House Street Tree Clearing Complete

Following approval late last year of our Work Plan to install engineered caps at our House Street property, we began clearing trees in February and completed the process last week, ahead of schedule.

The trees have been stockpiled on-site and will remain there (along with the stumps in the ground) until cap construction this Fall, at which time they will be chipped and placed under the constructed caps.  In addition, soil erosion controls have been installed.

The next step in the process is to receive contractor bids, which are due on May 1, 2023.  Then, we anticipate awarding the contract by July 30, 2023, with a construction start date no later than October 28, 2023.  A detailed schedule will be determined as part of the bidding process, but the overall project is still expected to take at least three years to complete.

As a reminder, we performed routine on-site air monitoring during the tree clearing in accordance with the Air Monitoring Plan we shared with EGLE.  Results of this monitoring have consistently been below threshold limits, with no yellow or red level alerts.  This includes the most recent data for April 16-19, 2023.

You can view all air monitoring data to-date here, along with a guide showing how to interpret the results, and a map showing the locations of the air monitoring stations on the property.

We will continue keeping the community informed about this work, 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 or feedback are encouraged to contact Wolverine Worldwide directly at HouseStreet@wwwinc.com or (616) 866-5627.


House Street Update – March 30, 2023

Following approval late last year of our Work Plan to install engineered caps at our House Street property, we began on-site activities last month with tree clearing and are proceeding ahead of schedule.

We have been performing routine on-site air monitoring during the tree clearing in accordance with the Air Monitoring Plan we shared with EGLE.  Results of this monitoring have consistently been below threshold limits, with no yellow or red level alerts.  This includes the most recent data  for March 19-25, 2023.

You can view all air monitoring data to-date here, along with a guide showing how to interpret the results, and a map showing the locations of the air monitoring stations on the property.

We will continue keeping the community informed about this work, 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 or feedback are encouraged to contact Wolverine Worldwide directly at HouseStreet@wwwinc.com or (616) 866-5627.


House Street Update – March 24, 2023

Following approval late last year of our Work Plan to install engineered caps at our House Street property, we began on-site activities last month with tree clearing.  This phase continues to progress ahead of schedule, and will likely take 5-6 weeks rather than the initially anticipated 3 months.  We don’t anticipate a change in the amount of truck traffic to and from the property during this period.

In addition, we have been performing routine on-site air monitoring during the tree clearing in accordance with the Air Monitoring Plan we shared with EGLE and made available at this link.  Prior results reported here and here were good, with all readings below threshold limits and no yellow or red level alerts.  The most recent weekly results from this month also showed no alerts, with all readings well below threshold limits.  Please click here to review these recent results, click here for a guide showing how to interpret the results, and click here  for a map showing the locations of the air monitoring stations on the property.

We will continue keeping the community informed about this work, 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 or feedback are encouraged to contact Wolverine Worldwide directly at HouseStreet@wwwinc.com or (616) 866-5627.