Shelby Township Wants Greater Access to Meetings About Ford Plant Contamination

Shelby Township officials stated Wednesday that they want additional access to meetings between the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and Ford Motor Co. regarding contamination at the former Ford-Visteon Plant on Mound Road.

But state officials said that the meetings were part of an ongoing cleanup process and the township could be briefed afterward.

Township Supervisor Rick Stathakis stated that the township, its attorney and environmental science experts would be able unable to attend a meeting Tuesday between the DEQ and Ford to discuss the cleanup of the environmental contamination at the former plant site and neighboring property.

“Ford has known about this contamination for at least seven years and has not taken any action whatsoever to remove it,” Stathakis said in a release. “And, knowing that, I don’t know if I trust the authenticity of what transpires at these secret meetings.”

The meeting comes nearly three weeks after the release of an 8,064-page report that found a carcinogenic degreasing chemical is spreading east across the site in groundwater. (You also can read the township's blog post about the topic on Patch.)

The proposed cleanup could take one year and cost $150 million. 

DEQ spokesman Brad Wurfel said the meeting between the state agency and Ford is part of regular meetings that are held with individuals conducting cleanups around the state. 

He added that while these meetings are not open meetings, the DEQ has offered to meet with Shelby Township officials about meeting and cleanup.

"This was not a public meeting that the public was barred from," said Wurfel. "We absolutely want Shelby Township to be part of the process and engage in dialogue about this."  

Stathakis added that he is seeking full transparency of its meetings with Ford and Ford’s submissions to the MDEQ

“We want Ford to clean this mess up immediately, and we want full disclosure,” Stathakis said. “Our residents are concerned about their health, safety, welfare, and property values and they deserve full access and information."

Ford released a statement Wednesday stating that the auto maker will continue to work with the state and the community regarding the former plant.

“We take this issue seriously and remain committed to doing what is right for the community and the environment. Ford is working with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to determine what actions, if any, need to be taken, and have kept local residents apprised of our activities.”