Continuing Odors and PFOS Contamination

Continuing Odors and PFOS Contamination

The Conservancy Initiative is convinced that as long as the Arbor Hills Landfill is operational, Northville Township will continue to experience odors, traffic concerns from landfill-bound heavy trucks, and contamination to Johnson Creek. This year may be pivotal in our fight to end landfill operations in Salem Township. At the current operational levels, Arbor Hills has less than 6 years of capacity.  We expect Green for Life (GFL) will approach Washtenaw County and EGLE later this year to request additional landfill capacity at the site.  

The Conservancy Initiative Supports Increased Landfill Tipping Fees

Governor Whitmer has proposed increasing Michigan’s landfill tipping fees, from $0.36 per ton to $5.00 per ton of waste. While this may sound drastic, this adjustment merely aligns Michigan's tipping fees with those of other midwestern states. The proposed increase is projected to generate $80 million in ongoing revenue, which will be allocated towards crucial environmental initiatives such as remediation efforts, brownfield development, and promoting recycling initiatives. 

New Landfill Regulations May Trigger GFL to Request Expansion

In a press release and a letter sent to county executives today, EGLE announced the start of the Material Management Planning (MMP) process. The MMP process is required by Michigan’s waste regulations (mcl-324.115) which were amended in December 2022. The amended regulations require each county to develop Material Management Plans for the waste generated in their county with a focus on improving Michigan's recycling from <20% to 45%. This improvement will greatly reduce the demand for landfill capacity in Michigan.  

Arbor HIlls Excess Emissions and Odors Grow

Arbor HIlls Excess Emissions and Odors Grow

In July 2023, Green for Life initiated operations in Cell 6 at the Arbor Hills Landfill, situated dangerously close to Northville Township neighborhoods, near the intersection of Napier and Six Mile Roads. The Conservancy Initiative immediately raised a red flag, expressing concerns about the poor environmental compliance record of Arbor Hills and the potential impact of Cell 6 on the community. Unfortunately, our fears have proven valid.

EGLE Issues a Second Violation Notice and Questions GFL’s response to the First Violation

EGLE Issues a Second Violation Notice and Questions GFL’s response to the First Violation

EGLE’s comments questioned GFL's assertion that “The combined efforts of all the remedial construction conducted by the Arbor Hills staff appears to have eliminated the odor source.” EGLE acknowledged it appeared the odor problem may have been solved when there was only 1 odor complaint related to Arbor Hills from October 13th – 16th but when over 30 odor complaints were received between October 17th – 20th, EGLE returned to the landfill area to make an assessment. Noxious odors were observed in Northville Township neighborhoods on October 20th and a second Violation Notice. 

Noxious Odors from Arbor Hills Landfill Cell 6

As the weather has started to change, the odors from the Arbor Hills Landfill have become much stronger, and more noxious. The weather has predictably made a seasonal shift. Temperatures have begun to drop, and the wind started blowing out of the Southwest (i.e. towards Northville Township neighborhoods). On October 5th and 6th, more than 50 odor complaints were received. The odor is a very strong, noxious, garbage odor emanating from the newly opened Cell 6.

Arbor Hills Continues to Discharge PFOS into Johnson Creek

The Conservancy Initiative is reporting another result from our random sampling of the Johson Creek Tributary directly downstream of the landfill. Our samples are as representative of the landfill’s stormwater runoff as we can obtain without gaining access to the landfill’s property. The sample contained PFOS at a concentration of 54 ng/l which is more than 4x higher than Michigan’s Water Quality Standards (12 ng/l). This result is consistent with our previous results.  

PFAS Chemicals Can be Confusing but we Should Pay Attention

PFAS Chemicals Can be Confusing but we Should Pay Attention

The PFAS acronym refers to a large family of chemicals, Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances which are man-made chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products worldwide since the 1940s. They have been used to make nonstick cookware, water-repellent clothing, stain-resistant fabrics and carpets, some cosmetics, some firefighting foams, and products that resist grease, water, and oil.  

August 2023 Update - Johnson Creek, PFOS, and Increased Odors

In late July, The Conservancy Initiative found Arbor Hills’ stormwater runoff was extremely turbid (cloudy) and contain significant suspend solids as it entered Johnson Creek. The Conservancy Initiative has learned a team from the Washtenaw County Drain Commissioner’s office responded (Thank You) to the landfill immediately following our post and together with EGLE is requiring Arbor Hills to take corrective actions. Unfortunately, the corrective actions will take some time to complete and the turdid (cloudy) water discharges are continuing.

Sediment and Turbidity from Arbor Hills Impacts Johnson Creek

While investigating Johnson Creek, The Conservancy Initiative has learned more disturbing news. (See the picture below of the Trout Stream). Based on the turbidity (i.e. - the quality of being cloudy, opaque, or thick with suspended matter) and level of suspended solids observed in the runoff from the landfill, the soil erosion and sediment control efforts of the landfill are not effective. A sampling team from EGLE confirmed that the level of turbidity observed on July 24th is likely an issue for aquatic life.

Toxic ‘forever chemicals’ found in stream near Washtenaw County landfill by citizen group

The PFAS issues at the Arbor Hills Landfill (AHL) are complex issues. The Conservancy Initiative has been trying to draw more attention to the impacts AHL is having on Johnson Creek and received some unexpected help from MLIVE. MLIVE did a very nice job simplifying the issues in an article he published on MLIVE on June 30, 2022. Please take a moment to review this article.

If you want to understand what the big fuss is over PFAS chemicals or forever chemicals, stream the movie Dark Waters (Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, and Tim Robbins) this weekend. We don’t want to endorse the movie, but it does tell a frightening story.

The MLIVE article and the sampling recently completed by The Conservancy Initiative highlight that the stormwater runoff from AHL is being discharged into Johnson Creek with PFOS, a regulated “forever chemical” with concentrations higher than Michigan Water Quality Standards for Lakes and Streams. The landfill owner, Green for Life, and EGLE are aware of the issues but we have been unable to force periodic sampling of the discharges. The problem is not going to be corrected until it is at least measured.

We hope to have much more discussion on this issue.

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