EPA Approves Groundwater Cleanup Plan for BASF North Works Site in Wyandotte, Michigan
CHICAGO (June 29, 2026) – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the approval of a comprehensive plan to address groundwater contamination at the BASF North Works site in Wyandotte, Michigan, preventing heavy metals, PFAS, and other harmful chemicals from entering the Detroit River.
The facility occupies about 230 acres along the Detroit River and has been used for various industrial operations since the 1800s. It is currently used to manufacture chemicals and other products. Prior investigations by the EPA and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy identified contaminants in groundwater surrounding the site that includes heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, and PFAS.
This milestone finalizes the design for a multi-component system to prevent contaminated groundwater flow, authorizing construction to begin in early 2027. The remedy will include:
- Perimeter barriers to limit groundwater movement across the site boundary and into the Detroit River.
- A groundwater collection and extraction system to capture contaminated groundwater.
- An on-site water treatment facility to treat collected groundwater.
EPA, EGLE and BASF worked closely together on this final plan, referred to as the “100% basis of design.” It was developed in a series of phased workplans and includes the detailed engineering drawings, specifications, and construction plans necessary to implement the cleanup.
For more information about the site and copies of the phased design plans for the groundwater remedy, visit EPA’s website.
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