Ford: Gas leak at Flat Rock Assembly Plant fixed, Mustang production to resume

After two weeks of downtime at the Flat Rock Assembly Plant following a fuel leak, Ford Motor Co. confirmed Monday that repairs are completed and the automaker is scheduled to resume Mustang production on Sept. 20.

The leak at the plant released an estimated 1,400 gallons of unleaded gasoline into the area’s sewer system and caused a massive evacuation of the area as city, state and federal officials assessed the potential danger and exposure. Ford was named as the source on Sept. 3 and has worked with officials since then to address the situation, potential flammability and contamination.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency for the city of Flat Rock, Wayne and Monroe counties because of  hazardous fumes.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, and Downriver, western Wayne and Washtenaw hazardous materials response teams converged on Flat Rock.

Residents of a portion of Flat Rock continue under a recommended evacuation from their homes, over concern for benzene and other vapors related to the fuel spill, which entered the city’s sanitary sewer system.

The city continues to flush the sewers with high volumes of water in an attempt to eliminate the vapors.

“Ford repaired the leaking pipe and removed the gasoline from the tank so no more gasoline can escape,” Kelli Felker, Ford global manufacturing and labor communications manager, told the Free Press. “In addition, we are decommissioning all underground gasoline piping and replacing with aboveground piping.”

The work is being reviewed and approved with Michigan’s Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Underground Storage Tank Division, and will be completed before any fuel-filling operations at the plant are restarted, Felker said. 

“We are also evaluating whether any additional changes are needed in our system and operations to remove the potential for this leak path from occurring again,” she said.

Factory operations are expected to restart on Sept. 20, Felker said.