A new requirement for testing PFAS in sediment has delayed dredging at Grand Haven’s harbor and raised concerns that more Michigan ports could face disruptions, driving up shipping costs and straining infrastructure.
Melissa Nann Burke reports for The Detroit News.
In short:
- Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy now requires PFAS testing for sediments removed during harbor dredging, delaying projects like the one in Grand Haven due to a lack of defined safety standards and disposal protocols.
- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers warns the policy could cut dredging operations from 24 to just 3–5 harbors annually due to surging costs — up to 200% higher when re-sampling is required — and unresolved guidance from the state.
- Business and political leaders say clogged harbors will force more freight onto roads, increasing transportation costs, damaging infrastructure, and possibly halting critical cargo flows such as road salt and construction materials.
Key quote:
“If the channel becomes completely unnavigable for these commercial vessels, almost 2 million tons of aggregate delivery could be lost. So it's a big deal, which is why we have been sounding the alarm and working with our partners on this.”
— U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Mich.
Why this matters:
Michigan sits at the crossroads of two urgent realities: the necessity of maintaining its Great Lakes shipping routes and the growing health threat posed by PFAS contamination. These "forever chemicals" have been detected in harbor sediments slated for dredging — a routine but vital process for keeping commercial waterways open. Yet PFAS’ persistence and toxicity, linked to cancers, liver and kidney damage, and developmental effects, turn what used to be relatively straightforward dredging projects into logistical and regulatory headaches. Historically, dredged material was often reused for construction or dumped in open water, but now, with PFAS in the mix, disposal requires costly trips to licensed landfills or long-term storage in confined disposal facilities. Michigan is now grappling with the lack of federally established cleanup thresholds for sediment, leaving local and state agencies to make high-stakes judgment calls.
Related: Long-banned toxics are still accumulating in Great Lakes birds—as new chemical threats emerge
