General Membership Meeting Minutes – January 20, 2021
The meeting recording is available at the following web link with the password below, with timestamps included in minutes:
Meeting Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/QMcVWLN-RQeSwIgMpIgjklslZ4ktLdeSUH2ITVU652ldp6O2FVuCZ-weenzoNguU.xrrAmncBadMsxlEq?startTime=1611187376000
The meeting began at 6:48 pm via Zoom with Secretary Brittany Fremion as host, with 38-40 participants.
Chairperson Jane Keon called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
Approval of November minutes (no December meeting), with corrections. (Doug Brecht/Liz Braddock)
Treasurer’s Report [00:03:00]: Gary Smith, Treasurer
November 2020
The General Fund Checking balance stands at $7,160.16. The Money Market Account (Oxford Automotive settlement) has $65,053.59. TAG grant money available for the Former Plant Site (FPS) stands at $19,996.76. The Velsicol Burn Pit (VBS) has $48,744.28. Velsicol Burn Pit (VBP) Fund Checking $85.62. The complete reports will be attached to the permanent minutes.
December 2020
The General Fund Checking balance stands at $15,180.23. The Money Market Account (Oxford Automotive settlement) has $65,059.12. TAG grant money available for the Former Plant Site (FPS) stands at $9,619.26. The Velsicol Burn Pit (VBS) has $48,744.28. Velsicol Burn Pit (VBP) Fund Checking $85.62. The complete reports will be attached to the permanent minutes.
Reminder about annual dues ($5/year). Send check to PO Box 172, St. Louis, MI 48880.
Follow-up since November
Outstanding billing approved by EPA.
EPA’s new grant system went live in December.
VBP TAG extension still pending.
Gary followed up with Tom on downriver study.
Correspondence and Communication [00:12:15]: Jane Keon, Chair
Articles about the CAG Hall of Fame recipients in the Morning Sun and Gratiot County Herald
Year End Report for 2020.
Articles about the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services launching a webpage on their website devoted to the PBB studies, with information about how to get involved.
Quarterly Progress/Performance Report for the EPA Technical Assistance Grant for the Velsicol Superfund Site.
Phone calls and written correspondence with the author of the Rise and Fall of the Michigan Chemical Corporation. (See New Business below)
Letter to EPA about the slurry wall investigation (See EPA Report below)
Emails regarding the status of the Technical Assistance Grant for the Velsicol Burn Pit Superfund site. (See New Business below)
Letter to NIH to support Emory University request for extension of grant funding.
Program [00:13:00]: Highlights of the 2020 Year End Report and completion of 22 years of volunteer efforts by the Pine River Superfund Citizen Task Force, Jane Keon
Quarterly reports to EPA provide an overview of our efforts and inform the Year End Report delivered by the CAG Chair at December meeting, which normally includes a potluck. Because of ongoing challenges related to the pandemic, we cancelled the December meeting. The report is attached to the minutes.
Technical Report [00:21:55]: Scott Cornelius, CEC
Due to connectivity issues, Scott joined by phone. December was a low-key month, so nothing to report tonight. CAG just received responses from EPA about slurry wall comments, which will be discussed at next meeting.
EPA Report [00:22:55]: Tom Alcamo, EPA Project Manager
Update on Area 2, Phase 2: Construction continues, with about 65% of construction done. Still expect to begin heating in March. Changes with EPA contracting and funding of projects has presented some challenges. Scott Pratt is finishing report on groundwater monitoring (i.e. approximately 65 wells, water level measurements), should be available soon.
Carbon Amendment Study: EPA awarded new contract to Otie/Jacobs. Planning stages for second phase of carbon amendment study, with goal of late spring or early summer startup.
OU-3: RI still being reviewed, delayed because of end of contract period for EPA.
Response to Gary’s comments about downriver residents. Tom confirms there has been contact and that EPA does not need assistance with outreach.
Discussion
There was concern about how the new contracting process at EPA might affect the VBP site. Tom doesn’t anticipate challenges because the project has separable service, which will allow work to proceed in phases. The benefit of the new contracting mechanism is that it makes bidding more competitive, but has added a layer of bureaucracy and requires more paperwork.
CAG can expect groundwater monitoring report by the end of the month.
There was also discussion about possible shifts in funding with new federal administration. Tom is unsure, but pointed out that there are a number of sites that remain unfunded, so there’s a big backlog. Jane pointed out the significance of the Superfund tax being reinstated, mentioning that the CAG has written letters to federal lawmakers about why it’s important. (Superfund taxed chemical companies at low rate to sponsor funds for sites like Velsicol, which are orphan sites. But since that money has run out, all the orphaned sites around the country don’t have a company funding cleanup and have been suffering.)
EGLE Report [00:33:00]: Erik Martinson
Railroad Spur Investigation: Work is ongoing, but slowed because of covid and holidays. EGLE had to submit a different application with environmental review. Erik spoke with Weston, who completed and submitted the application this week. Still waiting to hear back, but Erik is hopeful we will have an update by the next CAG meeting. EGLE hopes to start drilling in the early part of spring, but it will depend on when the application process is complete. Nonetheless, this is more progress than we’ve had in 8 years.
Old Business [0036:00]
PBB Leadership Team Update: Ed and Jane represent the CAG, Brittany represents CMU and the Michigan PBB Oral History Project, and Norm MMDHD. The leadership team has monthly conference calls with researchers at Emory who run the Michigan PBB Registry, the long-term health study, along with members of the PBB Citizens Advisory Board, which includes farm families from across the state.
The latest call focused on MDHHS contracting with MPHI, which issues the grant of authority for PBB research and records. The latest grant of authority was going to make it even more difficult for Emory to continue to work on studies for the PBB Registry. So leadership team members have written letters to MDHHS and, most recently, Norm shared a document from the PBB era on this issue, which has led to a reworking of the grant of authority. This is a major accomplishment that will facilitate ongoing work to determine the long-term health outcomes from that disaster. Congratulations to Norm and the Leadership Team!
The CAG also sent a letter to NIH supporting extension of the clinical trial for another year or two.
Discussion: In the future, Norm hopes to share with the CAG his work to access the document. Ed emphasized the significance of these efforts, noting that this is a positive step, including MDHHS launching a PBB page on its website after pushing back on these issues for a long time. For example, families were previously unable to access records for deceased relatives and that information is important for their health history and care. Moreover, it allows descendants to be added to the Registry.
CAG Website (pinerivercag.org)
Ed continues to update and add information to the website, highlighting some of the ongoing challenges. He continues to welcome feedback.
Ed has received some additional help from his son, a tech guru, who recommended that we make a few upgrades, particularly with making payments online and secure (i.e. membership dues, donations, merchandise). He also recommended a new platform, which could cost up to $400/year, but would get us a really phenomenal site. He spoke about the importance of having a strong online presence. Tom said that it might be possible to use grant money to support work on the website.
New Business [00:54:00]
Dr. Corbett’s book, “The Rise and Fall of MCC,” provides new insight into the history of the company. Dr. Corbett shared two chapters, one on the Velsicol Site and another on the PBB mix-up. Jane shared her observations, highlighting new information to her, such as how cross-contamination in the facility likely altered PBB/Firemaster product and may help to explain why some livestock suffered more than others. MCC also made a lot of salt products for animals and Jane used to buy salt blocks for her animals there too, so it’s possible they were contaminated too.
Discussion:
Jane and Ed spoke about a 13-page EPA Report from 1980, which is new to CAG. It describes the pipes that come out of the plant site and into the river, and when they were put into use, starting in May 1936. There is also information about what was dumped at the burn pit, as well as old city landfill and Smith farm which is really disturbing. Even stuff about dredging of river and what was dumped on the plant site is discussed.
Tom Alcamo is not familiar with the report and would like a copy.
Dr. Corbett explained that as we approach the 50th anniversary, an updated history of MCC and what it has done to St. Louis is long overdue. His book starts with the geology of the region and significance of brine deposits, as well as early inhabitants and beauty of the river, which only took 150 years to wreck. He based his work on several sources, including MCC annual reports and Articles of Incorporation. He also spoke about the importance of the long-term health study, but also frustration about lack of follow-up by the state (before the PBB Registry was transferred to Emory). For instance, Dr. Hal Humphries who worked for MDPH (now MDHHS) worked on an early cancer study and was just starting to see increase in digestive cancers 20 years later. The obvious next step was to redo the cancer study every 5 years, with the expectation that there would continue to be an uptick. But the study stopped, which was shortsighted. The last chapter will focus on multigenerational research and what we’ve learned in the past 50 years to bring the history up to date, with the caveat that there’s still a lot more to do.
Dr. Corbett also spoke about his personal experience during the PBB mix-up. In early 1970s he was an anesthesiologist who had a lab to study effects of anesthetics, which e became interested in after his wife noticed that the gases he administered on patients had distinct smells. He was doing this work when he started reading about PBB in newspaper. He connected with leading environmental health scientists, who thought it was a likely carcinogen, but no one was studying it at the time, so Dr. Corbett started a mice study. He noted birth defects and tried to alert MDA and MDPH, as well as presented his findings at meetings, but no one would listen. Dr. Corbett also grew really concerned about breastfeeding, which he spoke about publicly in the 1970s. Dr. Corbett also played a very important role in getting leading environmental health expert Dr. Irving Selikoff to come to Michigan to study the early health impacts of PBB exposure.
Possible collaboration with CMU class on digital public history project [01:16:30]
Brittany is teaching a public history class at CMU that would like to work with the CAG to create a virtual project. Prior communication with the EC has pointed toward an educational focus, but Brittany wants more input from community on the topic. There is an interest in building a project that would focus on health. Jane, Ed, and Jim Hall will meet with her class next week to talk about some more details. Brittany will provide an update at the next meeting and welcomes community input and feedback over the next few months.
Status of TAG for VBP site [01:25:00]: Gary spoke about the ongoing challenges, especially with new project officer, new grant process, and merit review. Tom reported TAG approval as of January 6th, but that there is a glitch with the system and processing. The CAG has concerns about the merit reveiw process, however, as well as miscommunication about TAG approvals.
Please remember to pay membership dues. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 17, 2021.
Meeting adjourned at 8:35 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Brittany Fremion, Secretary
Pine River Superfund Citizen Task Force