LANSING, Mich., Oct. 26, 2026 — Following decades of community advocacy, state Rep. Jason Morgan (D-Ann Arbor) today applauded a major breakthrough as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency secured a binding legal agreement requiring Gelman Sciences LLC to immediately begin targeted cleanup actions and complete a comprehensive study to remediate the toxic 1,4-dioxane groundwater plume threatening drinking water in Ann Arbor and Scio Township. 

“For decades, Gelman has poisoned our community’s groundwater and spent millions on high-priced lawyers fighting cleanup instead of cleaning up its mess,” Morgan said. “No family should have to question whether their water is safe, and no corporation should be able to poison a community and use its wealth to delay justice for decades. This agreement is a major victory for our community. It’s time for Gelman to stop fighting cleanup and start delivering results. Our residents deserve accountability, not more delays.” 

Morgan celebrated the achievement as the direct result of persistent grassroots organizing and years of close partnership with U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell. 

“Nobody has fought harder or longer for our community on this issue than Debbie Dingell,” Morgan said. “I worked alongside Debbie on this fight as a congressional staffer and as chair of the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners and partnered with her here in Lansing to demand federal intervention. She never took no for an answer or let Gelman off the hook. This agreement shows what’s possible when determined community advocates have a champion in Washington who refuses to give up on protecting our families and our drinking water.” 

Under the legally binding administrative agreement, the EPA requires Gelman Sciences to fund and execute five primary directives under direct federal oversight: 

  • ​​Remove contaminated soil: ​Excavate and safely remove soil contaminated with 1,4-dioxane from the former burn pit on Gelman’s property. 
  • Increase groundwater extraction and treatment: ​Substantially increase pumping and treatment in the eastern portion of the plume to help prevent contamination from spreading toward municipal and private drinking water wells. 
  • Expand groundwater monitoring: ​Install additional monitoring wells to better identify the eastern boundary of the contamination plume. 
  • Develop a long-term cleanup plan: ​Complete a formal remedial investigation and feasibility study to evaluate options for permanently addressing the groundwater contamination. 
  • Fund independent community oversight: ​Provide grant funding for local neighborhood organizations to retain an independent technical advisor who can review testing data, interpret technical reports and help residents understand EPA actions. 

The agreement builds on the March 2026 addition of the Gelman site to the federal Superfund National Priorities List, bringing the site under federal Superfund oversight and establishing an enforceable framework for further investigation and cleanup. Together, these actions mark a major step toward holding Gelman accountable and delivering the lasting progress residents have demanded for decades. 

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