GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Attorney General Dana Nessel announced a lawsuit against FKI Industries, a metal manufacturer with facilities in the U.S. and Canada, Thursday afternoon.
Formerly Keeler Brass, FKI Hardware, Inc., was named as part of a PFAS contamination lawsuit, alleging the company contaminated at least nine sites in West and Southwest Michigan.
Nessel was joined by Sandy Wynn-Steldt, co-chair of the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network for the announcement in Grand Rapids, who said citizens shouldn't have to pay to clean up a mess they didn't make.
“We need polluters and manufacturers to be the ones that foot the bill, not the taxpayers," said Wynn-Stelt.
“It’s unacceptable for companies like FKI Hardware to pollute Michigan’s environment, and to put the health and safety of Michigan families at risk and then leave without addressing the contamination they left behind," said Nessel. “For years, EGLE has attempted to work with FKI Hardware to obtain compliance with Michigan’s environmental laws at these sites. Despite these efforts FKI Hardware has not fully addressed the risks associated with its contamination.”
The lawsuit comes on the heels of several defendants in Michigan being awarded $54M after a class-action lawsuit after their properties were contaminated by the forever chemicals. Nessel said it gave her hope that the courts will provide an avenue to remediation for affected residents.
"We’re always hopeful," said Nessel, "and all we can do is to be as aggressive in litigating these cases as possible.”
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According to Nessel, the sites of known or suspected contamination include:
- 945 and 955 Godfrey Avenue SW, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503;
- 2929 32nd Street SE, Kentwood, Michigan 49512;
- 835 Hall Street SW, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503;
- 236 Stevens Street SW, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49507;
- 311 N. Centennial Street, Zeeland, Michigan 49464;
- 39 State Street, Middleville, Michigan 49333;
- 4300 Ferry Street SW, Grandville, Michigan 49418;
- 609 Tupper Lake Street, Lake Odessa, Michigan 48849; and
- 157 W. Beech Street NE, Cedar Springs, Michigan 49319.
"Michigan residents deserve to be safe from environmental contamination in their communities,” said Nessel. “Companies that do business in Michigan, pull up stakes and leave their communities with contaminated air and water will pay the price. This lawsuit is another demonstration of my department’s commitment to do what is necessary to hold companies that polluted our environment accountable.”
Nessel says the lawsuit seeks to require the company to properly investigate the risks posed by their contamination.
Hazardous substances Nessel says that were released into the environment include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as trichloroethylene (TCE), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and metals.
Read the full complaint below:
PFAS Complaint 2022-09-29 by WXMI on Scribd
