Shelby Twp. Demands Ford Clean Up 'Contaminated' Land

SHELBY TWP. (WWJ) - Attorneys for Shelby Township are requesting that Ford Motor Company immediately take several steps to clean up contaminated land at a former plant along Mound Road near 23 Mile Road. The two sides met Thursday afternoon.

Shelby Township is asking the automaker to remove tanks, trenches and other potential sources of contamination and dig up and take the soil to a landfill.

In addition, the township is asking Ford to install barriers to stop contaminated water from getting into the water system.

"Ford received this letter yesterday while taking the initiative to meet with Shelby Township on the issue," said a Ford spokesperson in a statement Friday.

"We are in the process of gathering environmental data to determine what actions, if any, need to be taken at the site, and have met with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and local residents to keep them apprised of our activities.

We have not seen any data to support that anything is leaving the former plant site and moving into the neighboring community. Ford remains committed to doing what is right for the community and the environment."