Whirlpool responds to ADEQ issues with Fort Smith pollution-mitigation efforts

Whirlpool has agreed to some of the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) requests to do more to monitor and mitigate cancer-causing pollutants around the former Whirlpool Fort Smith plant.

Whirlpool closed its refrigerator manufacturing plant at 6400 Jenny Lind Road in June 2012, moving most production jobs to Mexico. In 2013, and after public pressure, Whirlpool officials admitted to leaking trichloroethylene (TCE), a cancer-causing chemical, into properties around the Fort Smith plant, which sat on 153 acres.

Copenhagen, Denmark-based Ramboll was hired by Benton Harbor, Mich.-based Whirlpool to monitor pollution and provide remediation plans and information to the ADEQ. The company began remediation in October 2015 with injection wells around what were then the known plumes. Other dangerous chemicals monitored include vinyl chloride and a cDCE, a form of dichloroethene.

ADEQ engineer Clay McDaniel wrote in an Aug. 15 letter to Rambolli Senior Lead Consultant David Meyer that more testing is needed. McDaniel outlined concerns in several underground plumes, and pointed out conclusions that conflicted with data from the numerous injection wells in the testing areas. For example, McDaniel noted a discrepancy in the monitoring of COCs (chemicals of concern) in the indoor air screening testing. In the Ramboll report, it was noted that “no COCs exceeded” screening levels, but in another area the numbers suggested otherwise.

In a letter dated Sept. 12 from Ramboll to McDaniel, the company repeatedly noted that it agreed that more testing and more injection wells are needed in certain areas to better manage and test for pollution levels and flows.

In one example, the ADEQ asked Ramboll to submit a plan to reduce “chlorinated ethene concentrations” in parts of the east plume. Whirlpool responded by asking for more time to conduct remediation under the existing plan before providing a new plan.

“As discussed during our in-person meeting on July 23, 2025, Whirlpool proposes to conduct additional post remedy performance monitoring before committing to additional remedy actions,” noted Will Campbell, Ramboll senior managing consultant.

In another example, Ramboll said Whirlpool agreed to install a temporary well in an area of the south plume that shows TCE concentrations above the “remedial action level.”

However, Ramboll pushed back on an ADEQ request to add more monitoring wells in part of the east plume that show higher TCE concentration levels. Ramboll said other wells along the plume flow show low or non-detectable TCE levels.

“Based on the known hydraulic flow gradient of the East Plume and analytical results of existing downgradient and cross-gradient monitoring wells, installation of additional downgradient monitoring wells is not warranted at this time,” Ramboll noted.

Whirlpool’s website about pollution-remediation efforts in Fort Smith has not been updated to reflect recent ADEQ input.

The Sept. 12 response letter from Ramboll was made available through an Arkansas Freedom of Information Act request. Talk Business & Politics also has asked, via the AFOIA, for any ADEQ response to the Sept. 12 letter.

Link here for a PDF of the Ramboll response letter.