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Health officer: EGLE sampling finds PFAS in Fortieth Street (William Thompson) Pond; do-not-eat fish advisory posted
Summary
EGLE sampling found elevated PFAS concentrations in surface waters that feed Fortieth Street (William Thompson) Pond, prompting a do-not-eat advisory for fish, county health officials said.
St. Clair County health officials told the Board of Commissioners that the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has detected elevated PFAS in surface waters feeding the Fortieth Street Pond (also called William Thompson Pond) and that a do-not-eat advisory for fish at that pond has been posted.
Health Officer Dr. Nevin summarized EGLE’s April sampling results and said the county health department received notice in mid-May. “This has led, most recently to a do not eat order being posted at the Fortieth Street pond, due to the potential, for significant quantities of PFAS in the fish,” he said. EGLE expanded sampling to tributary drains north of the pond and found elevated PFAS along multiple drains and road intersections; the sampling pattern suggests surface-water contamination coming from upstream.
Dr. Nevin said the pond receives water from an area north of the I-94/I-69 interchange and that sampled drains feed Stocks Creek and eventually the Black River. EGLE is investigating a possible widely distributed product or source that could explain the pattern of contamination. Dr. Nevin said it would be premature to assign a single cause but noted EGLE is exploring hypotheses and asked residents with long-term local knowledge to share observations that might help narrow potential sources.
On the question of groundwater, Dr. Nevin said tests of wells and groundwater samples were either planned or underway but had not yet been received by the county health department. He added the health department and EGLE judged the likelihood of groundwater contamination to be “exceedingly low” because local clay soils tend to limit infiltration, but he emphasized that testing is needed to be certain.
Dr. Nevin also clarified this finding is separate from a recent consent agreement involving the Domtar pulp/composting site; EGLE has cited that site for localized contamination and filed a consent decree June 20, but county staff said the newly reported surface-water results appear to involve different watersheds and sources. County officials said they will continue to work with EGLE and hold public meetings to share additional sampling results.
