Skip to main content
City of Flint Landfill at Bishop International Airport (Flint, Genesee County)

City of Flint Landfill at Bishop International Airport (Flint, Genesee County)

Disclaimer: Web content may not be routinely updated on this page.

Please contact the Site Lead for the most up-to-date status of this site.

EGLE site lead

Brian Kuberski, KuberskiB@Michigan.gov or 517-243-7574.

Waste Disposal Questions

Please note that this landfill is CLOSED and does not accept waste. 

Background

This site is located at G-3425 West Bristol Road in Flint. It is a landfill located on the Bishop Airport property. The city of Flint reportedly operated the landfill from 1966 to 1975. There are existing groundwater monitoring wells at the landfill that were installed by the city of Flint in September of 2011 as part of an environmental assessment conducted by the city. Due to the existence of the former landfill and its location on the Airport property, it was determined that groundwater samples should be collected and analyzed for PFAS.

The airport is located along Swartz Creek. Areas near the airport appear to be serviced by private wells. There is currently no indication of impact to the deeper regional drinking water aquifer, however, future investigations will evaluate this drinking water pathway to ensure it is protected.

Content posted March 2020.

Map Flint Bishop International Airport Landfill

Site map

See an aerial view of the location of the site.

Expand the map

Drinking water

Areas near the airport appear to be serviced by private wells. There is currently no indication of impact to the deeper regional drinking water aquifer, however, future investigations will evaluate this drinking water pathway to ensure it is protected. On March 8, 2019, EGLE did sample a shallow well of a homeowner near the airport. Results were Non-Detect for Total Tested PFAS. For additional information on residential well testing and results, visit the Frequently Asked Questions. EGLE has sampled all municipal water supplies for PFAS. The city of Flint purchases water from the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA).

Anticipated activities

EGLE is currently working to evaluate site liability and financial viability. Following completion of the financial viability analysis, work will include evaluating the new data and the risk posed by the site. EGLE will continue to coordinate with multiple local and state agency partners at the site as necessary.

Historical Timeline

    • On October 16, 2018, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) collected 6 groundwater samples on behalf of the city of Flint to analyze for PFAS. They were collected from the previously existing monitoring wells on the landfill.
    • On November 7, 2018, EGLE received the results from the groundwater sampling. The highest values were 810 ppt PFOS+PFOA, and 1,236 ppt total PFAS.
    • EGLE has started evaluating existing data to determine the nature of the regional groundwater aquifers.  Additionally, a more detailed evaluation of site liability is under review.  The Michigan Geological Survey submitted a report summarizing the existing regional geology and groundwater data for the Flint Bishop International Airport - Landfill location on February 8, 2019.
    • On February 27, 2019, a site meeting was held with BIAA and City of Flint officials to identify possible locations for monitor wells that will evaluate the deeper regional drinking water aquifer.
    • On March 4, 2019, EGLE presented information about the site at the Flint Twp., Board meeting.
    • On March 8, 2019, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and MDHHS presented at a Town Hall event held by Representatives John Cherry, Sheldon Neely, Sheryl Kennedy, and Tim Sneller at Mott Community College in Flint. View the presentation.
    • On March 8, 2019, EGLE sampled a shallow well of a homeowner.  Results were non-detect for PFAS compounds.
    • In a March 13, 2019 email, the BIAA concurred that the locations of the monitor wells proposed by EGLE to evaluate the bedrock aquifer were acceptable to their operations.
    • On May 10, 2019, EGLE has completed the installation of three deep aquifer monitor wells at the site.
    • On June 6, 2019, EGLE sampled the three wells that had been developed.
    • On July 1, 2019, EGLE received the analytical results for the three groundwater samples collected at the recently installed deep wells. All results were Non-Detect for all PFAS compounds.
    • On August 19, 2019 EGLE attended the Flint Township Board meeting to present the findings of the recent EGLE investigation.

    Sampling: PFOS and PFOA Only

    Type of Sample

    Date Sampled

    Number of Samples

    Number of Results Received

    Number of Non-detects

    Number of Detections Below Standard*

    Number of Detections Greater Than Standard*

    Groundwater

    		 Oct 2018 - Jun 2019 9 9 4 2 3
    Residential Drinking Wells Mar 8, 2019 1 1 1 0 0
    Cumulative
    		10 10 5 2 3

    *Groundwater results are compared to EGLE Part 201 Criteria of 70 ppt PFOS+PFOA. *Residential well results are compared to the USEPA Lifetime Health Advisory Level of 70 ppt PFOS+PFOA.

    Sampling Notes

    • Other PFAS analytes were detected in samples. There are no federal or state standards for these analytes.