Update on Tannery Work Plan

We want to provide some additional information about our plan to install a remediation system to prevent groundwater from impacting the Rogue River at our former Tannery property in Rockford.  Our initial plan was approved by EGLE on March 31, 2022, but after fieldwork indicated that it would not be as effective as intended we sought approval from EGLE in December 2022 to implement a substantially larger, more robust, and more effective system.  Unfortunately, EGLE denied our proposed expansion last week.  We would like to provide further background on our proposal, our next steps, and the delay that will result from EGLE’s decision.  

Our Remediation Plan

Our initial, EGLE-approved tannery remediation plan was submitted on March 31, 2022, and called for installing 22 extraction wells intended to capture groundwater before it migrated to surface waters.  We then performed additional pump testing, which indicated that due to previously unknown underground site conditions, our initial design would not be as effective as intended and would allow some groundwater to continue impacting Rogue River.

Rather than proceed with installing an approved but potentially underperforming system, we notified EGLE and proposed expanding and improving the system to make it substantially larger, more robust, and more effective.  We submitted this proposal on time on December 1, 2022, and the key features are:

  • Rather than rely solely on groundwater extraction wells as in the initial plan, we proposed pairing extraction wells with over 2,000 feet of groundwater collection trenches (similar to French drains).
  • There would be a sump and pump at each of the trench runs to pump groundwater from the trenches to the treatment system.
  • There would also be additional extraction wells to pump deeper groundwater, and several shallow wells to contain groundwater at the south end of the property. 
  • The initial plan with 22 extraction wells included 100 feet-spacing between wells.  The proposed expansion using extraction wells plus trenches, however, is much more effective and essentially equivalent to installing extraction wells at a spacing of 1-foot, continuously along the entire property. 
  • The use of wells plus trenches would achieve a much more uniform collection of groundwater, while actively inducing an inward hydraulic gradient, dictated by the control of the pump rates.  As a result, our anticipated groundwater collection volumes are nearly double what was expected with the initial plan that contained extraction wells alone.

Impacts of EGLE Decision

We are disappointed that EGLE denied our proposal to install a much larger remediation system that will be more effective at preventing groundwater from impacting the Rogue River.  EGLE did not express concerns about our plan to pair extraction wells and trenches to increase system performance, but asked that we submit more information and details about it.

We have already begun to assemble this information and look forward to working with EGLE to obtain quick approval of our expanded system.   EGLE’s denial will unfortunately result in a delay in preventing groundwater from reaching the Rogue River, but we are committed to implementing our expanded system and are moving forward with design and permit applications so we can begin construction as soon as regulatory approvals allow.

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 Update – March 2, 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.  Our initial results were good, with no yellow or red level alerts.  The most recent weekly results also showed no red or yellow level 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.

House Street Update – February 27, 2023

Following approval late last year of our Work Plan to install engineered caps at our House Street property, we began on-site activities earlier this month with tree clearing.  This phase is moving along ahead of schedule, and next the crew will be cutting along portions of the House Street roadway (i.e., the southern end of the property).  Because the crew is moving so quickly, the work 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.  The results of this monitoring are good, with no yellow or red level alerts.  The air monitoring data to-date is available by clicking here, and it shows the measured particulate matter on the property is primarily background and has stayed well below threshold limits during the tree clearing.  For a guide showing how to read the air monitoring data referenced above, please click here.

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.

Wolverine Worldwide To Begin Implementing House Street Work Plan

Following approval late last year, on-site activities to implement the EGLE-approved Work Plan will be starting at Wolverine’s House Street property this month. The first phase of work will be tree cutting, which we anticipate will begin on February 13.  Prior to that, GZA will be on-site working on background air monitoring sampling and collecting groundwater well samples. 

The tree cutting is expected to last up to three months.  The trees will be cut above-grade, leaving the stumps in place, then stockpiled on the property.  These stockpiles will remain until the cap construction begins, which is anticipated to be late-summer into fall.  At that time, the construction contractor will grind the trees and remove the stumps for placement under the engineered cap(s). 

Air monitoring will be performed during the tree cutting activities in accordance with the Air Monitoring Plan developed for this phase of work, which has been shared with EGLE and is available at this link.  The property will remain fenced during this phase of the work, with the exception of small areas which may be temporarily removed to allow for safe tree cutting. 

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.