Agenda for March 19 Monthly Meeting
We will meet in person at St. Louis City Hall on Mill Street. For those unable to attend in person, please join the meeting via Zoom* (Zoom Directions below).
1. Additions to agenda
2. Approval of February minutes
3. Treasurer’s report – Gary Smith, Treasurer
4. Correspondence and Communication - Brittany Fremion, Chairperson
· Update on documentary film project about PBB that will feature the CAG – Colin Gray (TBD)
· The Morning Sun published an article on Margaret Hoyt’s induction to the CAG Hall of Fame (appended).
· CAG officers and members participated in the online Michigan PBB Registry community meeting at the beginning of March. A recording of the meeting will be posted to the Registry website (Emory University).
· Doug Brecht shared news articles about changes implemented and proposed at the federal level that could impact the Velsicol Sites cleanup and Pine River.
· The CAG Executive Committee met remotely the evening of Thursday, March 13th, to discuss downstream work, a possible TA candidate, a gift membership program proposal and donation, and collaboration with Alma community organizations for an Earth Day event.
· The CAG is still waiting on a response to our FOIA for the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission records related to radioactive waste at the FPS (submitted in October 2024).
· The CAG wrote an official letter to RFK, Jr., new Secretary of US DHHS, to remind him of the Michigan PBB Disaster and prior visit to St. Louis and the Velsicol Sites in the early 2000s.
· The CAG also wrote and sent an official letter to US Senators Gary Peters and Elissa Slotkin and Congressman John Moolenaar inviting them to participate in CAG meetings, as well as underscoring the difference the federal/US EPA cleanup of the Velsicol Chemical Corporation Superfund Sites has made to the City of St. Louis and residents of the Pine River watershed.
· Several CAG members participated in EPA community interviews in early March, providing feedback on communication and engagement with the Region 5 team.
· Gary and Brittany will prepare and submit the first TAG quarterly report to EPA at the end of the month.
· Update on CAG website and traffic — Ed Lorenz
5. EPA Community Involvement - Diane Russell, Site Community Involvement Coordinator
6. EGLE Report - Erik Martinson, Project Manager
· Residential bird/nest study
· Impoundment fish sampling
· Aging fish study
7. EPA Report: Velsicol Burn Pit Site – Jennifer Knoepfle, RPM 1, and Anna Nguyen, RPM 2
• OU1 ISTT Operations Update – Jennifer
• Ephemeral Channel Sampling West of VBP (ditch sampling) Update – Anna
• OU2 Update
8. EPA Report: Velsicol Former Plant Site - Jennifer Knoepfle, RPM 1, and Anna Nguyen, RPM 2
· OU1
o Downgradient Vertical Barrier Wall
o Upgradient Vertical Barrier Wall Repair
o PSA 1 & 2
o PSA 3 (ISCO)
o PFAS Groundwater Sampling
· OU3 & OU4 (downstream)
9. Technical Advisor/TASC Report
· The CAG still seeks a TA.
· TASC Team Report - Gary Smith
10. Ongoing Business
· PBB Leadership Team update – Ed Lorenz, Norm Keon, Jane Jelenek
· CAG Hall of Fame Induction Celebration — The 18th inductee is Margaret Hoyt, celebrated earlier this evening for her decades of service to the CAG. The Hall of Fame “recognizes individuals who have an exemplary record of giving time and talent to the restoration of the Pine River” watershed.
· Update on CMU Class Site Reuse Ideas - Dr. Richard Hayes
· Update on collaboration with Alma College AmeriCorps VISTA team
11. New Business
12. Adjournment
March Zoom Meeting Directions
*Zoom meetings are primarily for streaming purposes, although Doug Brecht, CAG Zoom czar, will monitor the chat and look for raised hands so remote participants can ask questions/lend insights. Please note that the meeting ID and password change each month.
Brittany Fremion is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: March 2025 Task Force/CAG Gen. Mem. Meeting
Time: Mar 19, 2025 07:00 PM America/Detroit
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87017650374?pwd=msD7Rveq8mYCXsDZyBzGQYQs7gHpTR.1
Meeting ID: 870 1765 0374
Passcode: 954263
---
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,87017650374#,,,,*954263# US (Washington DC)
+13052241968,,87017650374#,,,,*954263# US
---
Dial by your location
• +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
• +1 305 224 1968 US
• +1 309 205 3325 US
• +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
• +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
• +1 646 931 3860 US
• +1 507 473 4847 US
• +1 564 217 2000 US
• +1 669 444 9171 US
• +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
• +1 689 278 1000 US
• +1 719 359 4580 US
• +1 253 205 0468 US
• +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
• +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
• +1 360 209 5623 US
• +1 386 347 5053 US
Meeting ID: 870 1765 0374
Passcode: 954263
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kwO1oU1Qs