Agenda for Oct. 16 Monthly Meeting
We will meet in person at St. Louis City Hall on Mill Street at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 16. For those unable to attend in person, please join the meeting via Zoom* (invitation follows).
1. Additions to agenda
2. Approval of September minutes
3. Treasurer’s report – Gary Smith, Treasurer
4. Correspondence and Communication - Brittany Fremion, Chairperson
· On August 26th CAG officers met with SKEO consultants to discuss TASC contract for US EPA. We are waiting on a final contract.
· The CAG continues its search for historical, federal documentation about radioactive waste at the FPS. Officers have been in contact with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission and urge US EPA and EGLE to follow up on their end to ensure that if there is any radioactive waste present it can be remediated to protect contractors working on site as well as the community. Another long-term goal is to ensure future development of the site following decades of work and a second cleanup.
· Gary and Brittany are preparing the TAG quarterly reports for EPA.
· The CAG is still waiting for EPA’s approval of a three-year extension request for the FPS TAG, submitted in August.
· CAG officers hosted a table for Gratiot Day Out at the Alma Artisan and Farmers Market on Saturday, September 28th - Ed Lorenz/Jim Hall
· The Morning Sun published an article about the CAG table for Gratiot Day Out at the Alma Artisan and Farmers Market in late September, which included a birthday card for former President Jimmy Carter, who signed Superfund/CERCLA into law.
· Doug Brecht shared several articles from national and local press outlets linking the Velsicol Sites, PBB, and St. Louis to other environmental and human health issues, demonstrating their ongoing and broader significance.
· Brittany has met with Public Health students at CMU who are interested in collaborating with Michigan PBB Registry partners, including the CAG, to help raise awareness about the long-term health impacts.
· WCMU’s David Nicholas interviewed Brittany about The PBB Disaster at 50 essay collection for its new program, “Central Focus," which highlights CMU faculty and student research.
· Ed donated his personal papers related to his work with the CAG and research on Velsicol to the Clarke Historical Library at CMU. Jane Jelenek recently added to her collection, already archived, too. CAG officers are working to figure out how to get the group’s materials at Alma College there as well.
· Update on documentary film project about PBB that will feature the CAG – Colin Gray (TBD)
· Update on CAG website and traffic – Ed Lorenz
5. Looking Back: In 1992/1993, Channel 9&10 News marked the 20th anniversary of the PBB disaster with a special five-part series, which included an interview with Ed Lorenz and a research article on environmental policy, St. Louis and Velsicol. (“PBB: A Look Back” link, episode 4 at the 00:09:40 mark)
6. EGLE Report - Erik Martinson, Project Manager
· Residential bird/nest study
· Impoundment fish sampling
· PFAS
· Radioactive waste
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 Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD) Update
o Downgradient Vertical Barrier Wall
o PSA 1 & 2 Update
o PSA 3 Update
o PFAS Groundwater Sampling Update
o Radioactive waste
· OU3 & OU4 (downstream) Updates
9. Technical Advisor/TASC Report
· The CAG still seeks a TA and welcomes recommendations
· TASC Team Report - Dave Will/Brian Younkin, SKEO (TBD)
10. Ongoing Business
· PBB Leadership Team update – Norm Keon, Ed Lorenz, Brittany Fremion
11. New Business
· Concerns about radioactive waste at the FPS
12. Adjournment
October Zoom Meeting Invitation
*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.
Topic: CAG Oct. 2024 Gen. Membership Meeting
Time: Oct 16, 2024 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86752653164?pwd=aIDDsBVbOoribqmlafJDjxm7bbCc03.1
Meeting ID: 867 5265 3164
Passcode: 564115
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