Next CAG Meeting May 15, 2024, 7 p.m.
We will meet in person at St. Louis City Hall on Mill Street. For those unable to attend in person, please consider joining the meeting via Zoom* (invitation follows).
Additions to agenda
Approval of April minutes
Treasurer’s report – Gary Smith, Treasurer
• Dues are $5 and can be paid either in-person at general membership meetings, by check mailed to P.O. Box 172, St. Louis, MI 48880, or via the “donate” button at the following link <https://www.pinerivercag.org/take-action>
Correspondence and Communication - Brittany Fremion, Chairperson
· Gary Smith and Brittany Fremion submitted the FPS TAG Report for Quarter 1 2024 to EPA Region 5 in late April.
· Report on the PBB Disaster at 50 Book and Film Celebration, held at the Wright Leppien Opera House in Alma on Friday, April 26, 2024. The event was promoted on social media, announced at CMU and Alma College, and The Morning Sun.
· Updated PBB Disaster at 50 Conference website (now a digital archive for program materials from the past year): https://arcg.is/1LeHHP
· Former CAG chair and current secretary Jane Jelenek and Brittany participated in Velsicol Sites tour and met with EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore on Tuesday, April 30th to mark the VBP in situ thermal treatment (ISTT) startup, which began the second week of May.
· Press coverage of the tours and VBP ISTT startup in The Morning Sun and Michigan Public Radio.
· Last month the CAG asked Ed Lorenz, Vice Chair, to prepare official comments on behalf of the group for the US government’s Public Participation and Community Engagement request for information (appended). Voting members should prepare to discuss and act on the letter. (Note: Individuals are able to submit their own comments at the following link: https://www.performance.gov/participation/)
· Update on CAG website and traffic – Ed Lorenz
· Update on documentary film project featuring CAG – Colin Gray
Program: Screening of “The PBB Disaster at 50 Conference” highlight film (5:50 minutes) featuring the field trip to St. Louis and the Velsicol Sites.
EGLE Report - Erik Martinson, Project Manager
· Residential bird/nest study
· Impoundment fish sampling
· PFAS monitoring
· Questions
EPA Report Velsicol Burn Pit Site - Diane Russell, Community Involvement Coordinator, filling in for Jennifer Knopefle, RPM 1, and Anna Nguyen, RPM 2
· Community Involvement and Outreach
· Ephemeral channel sampling west of the VBP (ditch sampling)
· Phase I (ISTT) – Scott Pratt, Jacobs
· Questions
EPA Report Velsicol Former Plant Site - Diane Russell, Community Involvement Coordinator, filling in for Jennifer Knopefle, RPM 1, and Anna Nguyen, RPM 2
· Downgradient Vertical Barrier Wall
· Upgradient Slurry Wall ESD (Explanation of Significant Differences)
· PSA 3
· PSA 1 & 2 - Ethan Nordstrom, US ACE
· OU3 & OU4 (downstream) - Tom Hutchinson, Jacobs
· Questions
Ongoing Business
· PBB Leadership Team update – Norm Keon, Jane Jelenek, Ed Lorenz
· June CAG Meeting
Technical Advisor Report
· The CAG is in the process of finding a new TA and awaits a response about a TASC consultant.
New Business
Adjournment
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.
To Join Zoom Meeting go to:
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Meeting ID: 876 6548 5719
Passcode: 957306
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