Downtown Grand Rapids Vapor Intrusion Site
On this page:
- Announcements and Key Topics
- Background
- What Is Being Done to Clean Up the Site?
- What Is the Current Site Status?
- Featured Documents
Announcements and Key Topics
EPA has EPA has also completed the Community Involvement Plan (CIP) for the Trex Property Grand Rapids Site. The CIP is a communication strategy guide the Agency uses to enable meaningful community involvement throughout the cleanup process.
Community Involvement Plan (PDF) (12 pp, 378.27 KB)
Background
The source of contamination at the Trex Property Site is at 312 Ellsworth Ave. SW. From the 1960's to the 1990's the facility was used as a solvent sale, equipment cleaning and solvent waste collection facility by Detrex Company.
In 2016, EPA was contacted by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services in 2016 after receiving a report that documented elevated TCE levels in soil gas at the former facility. Trex Properties, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, or EGLE, and EPA collected numerous indoor air samples at the source building and other nearby buildings to ensure that indoor air was not being impacted by the contamination from the facility at levels that might affect human health. Results from the samples at 312 Ellsworth Ave. SW showed contamination levels were well above EPA's human health benchmark. Results from other buildings were below this action level.
What Is Being Done to Clean Up the Site?
On June 14, 2016, an evacuation order was issued by the Kent County Health Department for 312 Ellsworth Ave. SW. To minimize the duration of the evacuation order at the source property, EPA directed the PRP to immediately install a sub-slab vapor mitigation system. The PRP installed a sub-slab depressurization system comprised of eight extraction wells installed below the basement slab. The PRP also installed numerous air purification units in the building to help filter the air. After this mitigation and follow up testing, the Kent County Health Department lifted their no-occupancy order on August 11, 2016.
On June 30, 2017, EPA and Trex Properties entered an Administrative Order of Consent requiring Trex to investigate and cleanup the contamination at the site under EPA oversight. Trex is continuing regular indoor air sampling at 312 Ellsworth Ave. SW to ensure that indoor air levels of TCE do not become too high.
What Is the Current Site Status?
EPA will expand the investigation at the Trex site to identify additional contamination in soil gas, indoor air, and groundwater beyond the current site boundaries. Further mitigation of contamination including evaluating additional methods to clean up the soil and groundwater, and further protective measures as modification to building ventilation and installation of vapor mitigation systems, where necessary.
Featured Documents
- Community Involvement Plan (PDF) (12 pp, 378.27 KB)
- EPA Fact Sheet – EPA Continues Monitoring For Vapor Intrusion (PDF)