The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has issued an Administrative Order requiring ZF Active Safety U.S. Inc. (ZF), a motor parts manufacturer, to install a treatment system that addresses contamination threatening the Village of Milford's drinking water.
EGLE has emphasized that the requirement is a pre-emptive measure, and that the Village of Milford's water supply remains safe to use and drink. The order comes after EGLE discovered that groundwater contamination has migrated from property formerly owned and operated by ZF's predecessor Kelsey-Hayes Company.
The contamination is composed of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs), which are harmful to human health, even at low levels. These CVOCs have migrated beyond the current groundwater treatment system that ZF has in place to treat the contamination. It now poses a threat to the Village of Milford's drinking water supply wells.
On June 4, 2021, EGLE was notified by ZF's Environmental Consultant of the presence of vinyl chloride, a notable type of CVOC. The vinyl chloride levels were beyond drinking water standards in a monitoring well close to the Village of Milford's drinking water wells. EGLE notified ZF of its responsibility to address the threat. EGLE says that it then issued the Administrative Order after ZF failed to take action in a timely manner.
The Administrative Order requires ZF to follow strict deadlines while working with the Village of Milford and EGLE to install a permanent treatment system that will protect the Village of Milford's water supply if the contamination reaches the wells. ZF will also need to provide financial assurance for the long-term operation of the treatment system. The Administrative Order provides for emergency response measures if the contamination reaches the Village of Milford's drinking water supply before the permanent treatment system is installed.
