For Immediate Release:  May 24, 2022

Contact:  Erin Hatfield, (405) 437-8468, erin.hatfield@deq.ok.gov

Michelin North America, Inc. (Michelin) will soon begin installing and operating a ground water remediation system in its ongoing effort to reduce benzene concentrations in ground water at the former BFGoodrich tire manufacturing facility and residential area south of the facility.

The former BFGoodrich tire manufacturing plant was built in 1944 and decommissioned in 1986. During part of the tire manufacturing process a mineral spirit, which contained benzene, was used. The mineral spirit was stored in former underground storage tanks and is the source of the benzene ground water plume at the site. Michelin has never owned or operated the plant; however, it assumed certain contractual liabilities for the facility in 1990 when it acquired the Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Company.

During the spring of 2022, a multi-phase extraction/air sparging (MPE/AS) remediation system will be installed within and along a portion of the southern facility boundary. MPE involves the pumping, extraction, and treatment of both ground water and subsurface soil vapor which contain mineral spirits and benzene.  Air sparging, which is the injection of air, will provide oxygen to the subsurface to promote the removal of mineral spirits and benzene and enhance biodegradation of the ground water plume. Throughout 2022, technicians will periodically monitor and optimize operation of the MPE/AS system and network of MPE/AS wells. During the winter months of late 2022/early 2023, operation of the MPE/AS will be temporarily halted to prevent system damage due to freezing and to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment system. The system will continue to run in 2023 and beyond as necessary to meet the DEQ’s requirements to address health and safety risks.

Michelin and DEQ will continue to keep the public informed regarding activities at the Site.

For questions regarding the site, please contact:

For Michelin North America, Inc.
Connie M. Bryan
MCCORMICK & BRYAN, PLLC
The Bentree Plaza Building
11318 N May Ave, Suite C
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73120
Telephone (405) 562-6800

Media inquiries should be directed to: Erin Hatfield, DEQ Communications Director, (405) 437-8468 or erin.hatfield@deq.ok.gov.

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