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Toefco Engineered Coating Systems Inc. (Niles, Berrien County)
Please contact the Site Lead for the most up-to-date status of this site.
EGLE site lead
Kathleen Ekstrum, EkstrumK@Michigan.gov or 269-568-1373.
Background
Toefco Engineered Coating Systems Inc is located at 1220 North 14th Street and specializes in industrial spray coating. On March 3, 2022, EGLE received a Notice of Migration about the potential for groundwater contamination to migrate beyond property boundaries. The Notice of Migration indicates that groundwater sampled from the Toefco Engineering property exceeds groundwater clean-up criteria for PFOA and PFNA.
Based on EGLE's record review, groundwater is likely flowing in the westerly direction. The St. Joseph River is approximately one mile west of the Toefco Engineering property.
Content posted April 2022.
Site map
See an aerial view of the location of the site.
Drinking water
There are no known residential wells nearby, however EGLE is working with local health and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to confirm. Records show there is an irrigation well approximately 710 feet north of the Toefco property and an irrigation well south of the Toefco within property boundaries.
Anticipated activities
Toefco and their consultant are looking into whether the irrigation wells are being used. If the irrigation wells are still being used, EGLE will request Toefco to sample those wells.
Historical timeline
-
2022
- On March 3, 2022, EGLE received a Notice of Migration about the potential for groundwater contamination to migrate beyond property boundaries. The Notice of Migration report stated groundwater samples were collected from 13 on-site monitoring wells. All 13 monitoring wells exceeded groundwater clean-up criteria for PFOA and 7 exceeded criteria for PFNA. The highest results were 3,200 ppt for PFOA and 23 ppt for PFNA.
- On March 8, EGLE reached out to City of Niles and Berrien County Health Department to make them aware of the situation and inquire about any residential wells within the area. Based on record review, there doesn't appear to be any residential wells in use nearby.
- On March 18, 2022, EGLE met with Toefco and their consultants to discuss their obligations under Part 201 and use of irrigation wells on and near the property.
Sampling Results Summary
Type of Sample
Date Sampled
(or range)Number of Sample
Results ReceivedNumber of Samples
above Criteria*Groundwater
Monitoring WellsDecember 20 - 22, 2021 13 13 * Residential well and groundwater monitoring well results are compared to EGLE Part 201 criteria for 7 PFAS compounds effective 12/21/2020: PFOS (16 ppt), PFOA (8 ppt), PFNA (6 ppt), PFHxS (51 ppt), PFHxA (400,000 ppt), PFBS (420 ppt), and HFPO-DA (370 ppt).
Sampling Notes
- None at this time.