General Membership Meeting Minutes: August 19, 2020

Written By Stephen Lorenz

The meeting began at 7:00 pm via Zoom with Secretary Brittany Fremion as host, with 20-23 participants.

Chairperson Jane Keon called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm.

  1. Addition/Revisions to Agenda

  2. Minutes for July were approved with changes (Ed/Doug).

  3. Treasurer’s Report [00:04:00]: Report delivered by Gary Smith, Treasurer.

    1. Gary reported that the General Fund Checking balance stands at $4,853.48 following payment to Technical Advisor (May invoice). The Money Market Account (Oxford Automotive settlement) has $65,031.85, TAG grant money available for the Former Plant Site (FPS) stands at $24,415.51. The Velsicol Burn Pit (VBS) has $48,744.28. Velsicol Burn Pit (VBP) Fund Checking $80.62. The complete reports will be attached to the permanent minutes.

  4. Correspondence and Communication [00:14:15]: Report delivered by Jane Keon, Chair.

    1. EPA Newsletter

    1. Letters to EPA requesting Emergency Removal Action (ERA) and follow-up on underestimation of DNAPL recovery from thermal treatment in Area 2, Phase 1.

    1. Press coverage

    1. Request for extension of Technical Assistance Grants (TAG) for Velsicol Burn Pit site. No expenses because of limitations in available electricity for treatment.

  5. EPA Report [00:19:25]: Report delivered by Tom Alcamo, EPA Project Manager.

    1. Update on heating and DNAPL collection in Area 2, Phase 1.

      1. Site is still on lockdown because of covid-19, but continue to run thermal system. No additional recovery of DNAPL in last 3.5 weeks. Most DNAPL recovered between early May and July. DNAPL recovered in Area 2, Phase 1 is heavier in nature (approximately 17 pounds per gallon) with around 179,000 pounds (revised) recovered and removed by a total of 12 tankers with the last on site July 2. Contractors remain vigilant with weir tanks. There have been no changes with the collection trenches. Already reached diminishing returns in vapor phase; will start looking for diminishing returns in liquid phase (just started analysis). EPA did six borings in worst areas recently and waiting on report, but visually it looks good. EPA also awarded a new contract for operation of collection trench due to changes to contracting mechanism/conclusion of previous award. Contract awarded to United Total Integrated Systems, which is a joint venture with [CH2M current firm?][1] and a Native American firm out of Wisconsin on August 1.

    1. Plans for Area 2, Phase 2. [00:25:25]

      1. EPA is using different procedures for construction firms and with changes to contract process, expect to begin thermal treatment in Area 2, Phase 2 next spring or summer, which would run until end of 2021 or early 2022. In summer of 2021 EPA will begin procurements for excavation of PSAs 1 and 2, which will be very laborious. Goal to begin excavation of PSA 1 and 2 in March 2022. This fall EPA will focus on design of groundwater system and vertical barrier wall, as well as in situ chemical oxidation areas that need addressed. EPA will also do bench studies on HBB and DDT. Those studies are dependent on funding, but EPA confident. Groundwater treatment is a more complicated design with need for more treatability studies, especially with perimeter drain (to lower elevation of water in site below that of river), so much modeling needs to be done in order to begin.

    1. Report on slurry wall investigation. [00:28:30]

      1. Finishing up review of data and anticipates release of report very soon. Preliminarily can say that there is a breach in the wall up gradient, which will be in the report.

    1. Carbon amendment study update. [00:29:00]

      1. Amanda Harwood made some changes, so EPA just received data. Will release report in next 30 days.

    1. Discussion of ERA request. [00:29:40]

      1. Report on EPA response to CAG letter requesting ERA with clarification provided by EPA in discussion with CAG and TA, Scott Cornelius. EPA hopeful treatment in Area 1 took care of any migrating NAPL. EPA sees no change in data from 2008-2016, with additional sampling to be done. Site doesn’t meet requirements for ERA because not “imminent or substantial danger,” but being addressed as part of ongoing remedial program.[2]

      1. EPA believes thermal treatment has improved quality of groundwater in area, even if leaking, with additional sampling to be done this fall. If EPA finds evidence of NAPL flowing into river from site, then may trigger ERA Program.

    1. Discussion of underestimation response letter. [00:45:10]

      1. CAG again asked why so much more DNAPL than expected in Area 2, Phase 1. EPA provides detailed information in letter, as well as argues cause linked to the location of treatment; based upon significant amount of DNAPL recovered, EPA argues that the treatment is in the right spot, especially with density of DNAPL, and that the technology is working and will reduce costs to state.[3]

      1. Discussion of public participation, especially CAG involvement, in EPA design processes and reporting.

      1. PBB production facility located on Area 2, Phase 1 site.

  6. EGLE Report [01:03:00]: Report delivered by Erik Martinson

    1. Railroad Spur Contamination Site

      1. Weston is done with historical review of railroad spur contamination site. EGLE waiting to approve study after requesting a few changes. There are some issues with access to a few parcels which has delayed work, but EGLE hopes to resolve them soon (i.e. unclear ownership/parcel designation). Weston also needs to issue RFP for drilling contractor and set up lab. EGLE hopes to get into field mid-September.

      1. Residents can expect to see driller and driller helper, with level D suits. Drilling will consist of 30 borings from sidecar rail by former creamery site and 30 borings along main line from M46 to Crawford and Watson (dead end). EGLE may move to Phase 2 where there is evidence of contamination moving south. There currently are no plans to investigate to the east along Crawford.

      1. CAG/TA requested copy of scope.

  7. Old Business [01:11:00]: Report by Jane Keon.

    1. Updates on PBB clinical trial. Trial is ongoing, thanks to support of PBB Leadership Team member and study participants.

  8. New Business [01:15:00]: Report by Ed Lorenz, Vice Chair.

    1. Notification of online PBB community meetings scheduled for September 22 (Tuesday) 6:30-8:30 pm and September 26 (Saturday) 9:30-11:30 am. Additional information about the event will be distributed by CAG leadership as it becomes available.

    1. Website improvements discussed. Request for Executive Committee members to submit short biographical statements, photos, and contact information.

    1. Ed presented research on possible PFAS contamination from chromium plating at closed Lobdell/Oxford Factory. [1:20:10]

      1. History of site and relationship to CAG, new investigation, and concerns.

      1. [4]

      1. Liz Braddock, Environmental Health Director at Mid-Michigan District Health Department, provided additional insight, offering the following resources after the meeting:

        1. Information on previous PFAS testing completed at Alma Total Refinery: https://www.michigan.gov/pfasresponse/0,9038,7-365-86511_82704-489608–,00.html

        1. Information on previous PFAS testing completed at Ithaca Sanitary Landfill: https://www.michigan.gov/pfasresponse/0,9038,7-365-86511_82704-482361–,00.html

        1. Upcoming PFAS Public Webinar Announcements on PFAS changes: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIDEQ/bulletins/29b0c95

        1. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announcement regarding State Wide testing initiative: MiChem https://www.michigan.gov/som/0,4669,7-192-26847-506387–,00.html

Meeting adjourned at 8:52 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Brittany Fremion, Secretary

Stephen Lorenz
Previous

Quarterly Progress Report
Next

General Membership Meeting Minutes: July 15, 2020