January, 2023: PFAS in fish — MDHHS releases “Eat Safe Fish” guides annually in the Spring and emergency advisories as needed. Michigan’s Areas of Concern has identified 43 places in our Great Lakes Region that had severe, long-term environmental problems. Get to know more here.

Have questions about the recent advisory and the ongoing investigation by EGLE? Please contact Erica Bays, EGLE Site Lead, Environmental Quality Analyst — [email protected]

Check your mail! Ross Township neighbors in the Delmar/Littlefield/Merrimac/Sherbrook area will soon be receiving letters from the State of Michigan (MDHHS) to request access to sample their residential wells. The letters were mailed out January 13, 2023. This is not due to any new threat; it is the next step required from the last update on PFAS groundwater monitoring in November 2022 by EGLE, regarding the North 34th Street Production Plated Plastics site. The Ross Township Board is following this matter closely and I am routinely meeting with our EGLE and DHHS contacts assigned to this PPP site sampling project.

Any residents living in this area please be sure to take advantage of free filters offered. Residents should be changing their filter cartridges every 6 months. If you would like to get a new filter, contact:

Health & Community Services Department

311 East Alcott Street | Kalamazoo, MI 49001

Phone: 269-373-5336 | Fax: 269-373-5333

Website: www.kalcounty.com/eh

It is important that when residents receive their letter asking for access to test their private well, please quickly take advantage of this free testing service. It is our goal to hold informational meetings after EGLE’s quarterly results are in PLUS after the test results are known from private well testing. Once we hear back on all test results, we will host a meeting with EGLE and DHHS at the Ross Township offices for the water project experts to answer questions and concerns of residents.

*** Once we hear from EGLE on all residential and groundwater monitoring test results, Ross Township residents will be notified of informational meeting dates to be held at the township office. ***