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Plans move ahead for cleanup around former Michigan tannery

Wolverine World Wide Rockford tannery photo
Wikimedia Commons

Federal officials say excavators will soon be used to remove contaminated soil and buried leather from the former Wolverine World Wide tannery site in western Michigan.

A stretch of the White Pine Trail, popular with walkers, runners and cyclists, will be closed in Rockford for excavations. Similar work is planned in Belmont to remove soil and waste. Contractors also plan to remove contaminated sediments at two spots in the Rogue River.

Wolverine World Wide is paying for the cleanup work that's being completed this fall.

The Environmental Protection Agency earlier ordered contaminated sediment and soil be excavated after finding high pollution levels where the shoemaker once operated.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, were discovered at Wolverine's former Rockford factory grounds and its nearby waste dump in Belmont.