Monthly Meeting Minutes, Sept. 15, 2021
PINE RIVER SUPERFUND CITIZEN TASK FORCE
General Membership Meeting Minutes
September 15, 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/3v9ZRIFK3S2OIECMffLOY8rGHUj2PHHDfuNEnZyRQ1UKSsQ1EarpGO47ZeDHK_95.lgEnQINzp_nvaY45
Access Passcode: 0mD5dF$q
The meeting began at 6:48 pm via Zoom with Secretary Brittany Fremion as host, with 12-15 participants.
Chairperson Jane Keon called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. This meeting was Zoom bombed and so a new invitation was sent to known participants and resumed at 7:22 pm.
I. Additions to Agenda: Health Department Update and Clarke Historical Library Exhibit
II. Approval of March minutes. (Liz Braddock/Nikki Brabaw)
III. Treasurer’s Report: Gary Smith, Treasurer
A. August 2021
1. The General Fund Checking balance stands at $5,463.14. The Money Market Account (Oxford Automotive settlement) has $64,927.40. TAG grant money available for the Former Plant Site (FPS) stands at $7,204.76. Additional TAG funding approved. 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.
2. Memberships are $5/year and t-shirts $12-13 each (new pricing TBD). Send check to PO Box 172, St. Louis, MI 48880.
IV. Correspondence and Communication: Jane Keon, Chair
A. Meeting with St. Louis City Manager and Mayor
B. Meeting with Technical Advisor to prioritize review of documents
V. Program [4:00]: Erik Martinson, EGLE Remedial Project Manager, has prepared a PowerPoint slideshow for the thermal treatment in Area 2, Phases 1 & 2; on the Carbon Amendment study area; and on PSA (Potential Source Areas) 1 & 2.
A. The CAG watched the drone flyover footage, which EGLE agreed to share for use in presentations and/or our website (Diane said EPA is working with a videographer to piece together a video that contains all the information we want in a manageable file size). Discussion throughout clarified questions about remedies, which were addressed by EGLE and EPA. For instance, PSA 1 has rancid oil so EPA will plan to excavate during colder months to reduce odor.
VI. EGLE Report [23:00]: Erik Martinson, Project Manager
A. Railroad spur investigation: Erik met with EGLE Compliance and Enforcement to see how likely court ordered access would be, which put the issue before the Attorney General, who recommended EGLE press forward with the Access Agreement. A warrant for court ordered access was unlikely to be granted at this point, in part because the threat of substantial danger is unclear. Erik redrafted and removed clauses from the prior Agreements and returned it to the railroad last week (September 7th). He hasn’t had an official response yet. He also sent an email with questions about property ownership in the area (especially area west of W. Tyrell and S. Watson, which extends to the Pine River and EGLE believes is city property). The adjacent property (by 202 S. Watson) along the river might also be city or private property. In consultation with Weston, EGLE will survey the properties to determine ownership and thereby access. Given this information, EGLE is also considering sampling to the south instead of north first.
B. Discussion: EGLE and/or Weston will connect with city management to determine ownership. The CAG also requested to see the new work plan for the spur, which EGLE plans to share with EPA, too. It is standard protocol for agencies to communicate on this issue.
VII. EPA Report [0:33:58]: Tom Alcamo, Remedial Project Manager
A. Updates on heating in Area 2 Phase 2 - EPA has recovered about 65,000 pounds, not as much as Area 2, Phase 1, but still a good amount. Reached 100ºC on August 7th and will operate for 90 days (early November). Everything continues to operate well. The NAPL itself is different in substance and will be sampled by lab.
B. Downstream investigation - OU-4 floodplain sampling should begin soon with access agreements near complete.
C. RD investigation on hold at this point as EPA awaits approvals.
D. OU-3 : RI expected to be released around end of October, with proposed plan ready for public comment next spring.
E. Level of NAPL in MW 48 (99’ well) was 5.5 feet, consistent with past several years.
F. FS expected end of November at the earliest, more likely December. RI will include additional floodplains further downstream that won’t be affected by OU-3 work.
G. Video of the (different) DNAPL found in Area 2, Phase 2 - Reached 102ºC (39 days at target) with DNAPL and LNAPL removed. Twice a month the team on site walks the well fields and take sample from each wellhead to ensure the system is functioning and alerts them to the presence of DNAPL. MPE 71 and MPE 72 weren't functioning during these tests and the investigation revealed that it is because of the type of DNAPL. In MPE 71, they discovered that with exposure to air, the contaminants quickly re-densify (within 15-20 minutes). It moves at 100ºC, but with cooling, solidifies into a waxy substance (not hard or brittle, more like stale taffy in texture). The team will be removing the well and removing the NAPL. EPA is unsure of what the exact chemical composition of the DNAPL is, but believe it is very likely to be some kind of DDT. They are continually surprised by what’s coming out of the ground, observing that, “It's the Velsicol site, it keeps on giving.” MPE 72 contaminant is also different in substance, like syrup, fudge, or taffy when it cools. It is clearly more volatile based on odors, but those two wellheads are very close to each other, on river side of DDT building, so it’s not surprising. You can’t pump this NAPL out because it can’t run through system, so they are working on a second containment system to get NAPL from these wells at the wellhead and take it up the site in a different way. They have also checked every other well in the field and usually find dirty water with flakes or ganglia of NAPL that floats at the top and then eventually sinks, which is typical of NAPL. But this new denser form of NAPL is different.
1. EPA is working with a waste hauler and incinerator in Arkansas to truck the materials, but the pandemic has complicated the transport because of the demand for truck drivers. They are hopeful they will be able to get the materials out of St. Louis soon, but this is a national issue for almost all sites.
2. Discussion
a) Q: How far away are these wells from other wells and when the new secondary system is installed, how will it affect the system?
(1) A: It will pump very slowly so as not to fracture NAPL flow pathways. They’re about 75-25 feet apart. If it's pulled away from another well, it will be okay, as we haven't noted this kind of NAPL anywhere else.
b) Q: The location is right by the interceptor trench at the shoreline, but there haven’t been any level changes or appearance of NAPL there?
(1) A: We’re monitoring and haven't noticed, but will pay attention to it. Heat will make the NAPL flow. But it may also never appear in a well or move.
c) Q: Could it be operating like a dam?
(1) A: Potentially, but we like to think the system is working. There is an upper limit to see how much we can get, which we need to determine first before commenting further.
H. Other
VIII. Old Business [00:57:50]:
A. CAG website update – Ed Lorenz
1. We are ready to migrate the website from WordPress to the new platform, Square Space, where we can do things like set up a store and donation portal. When we make the shift from WordPress to SquareSpace there will be some downtime, which is why we waited until after this meeting to initiate the transfer.
a) The new layout includes features like “Take Action” hot link to membership, meeting information, and other pertinent details that might grow recruitment on every page of the new website. We hope that these kinds of updates will make the site more attractive and user friendly.
B. Superfund Tax opposition – Ed Lorenz
1. Ed shared a report from the American Chemistry Council, a lobbying group for chemical industry, which is pretty biased in its interpretation of how the Superfund tax will lead to plant closures and job loss—a very one-directional economic narrative. The policy would double the tax on basic chemicals, like bromine, that are components of other compounds. What the lobby doesn’t account for is the fact that bromine-based products will go up in price to reflect changes, so impact will be in consumption and thereby on compounds we probably shouldn’t be using very often anyways. Their report also overlooks the environmental and human health costs associated with exposures. In addition, from the work of people like project managers and health professionals, economics isn’t just about chemical companies, it includes EPA and healthcare workers. Cleanups cost money too, which also generates jobs.
a) The Superfund tax is still part of the infrastructure bill inching its way to Congress. If it survives, it will generate much funding for Superfund sites.
b) Community members can contact their Representatives and Senators to indicate their support.
C. PBB Leadership Team update – Jane Keon, Brittany Fremion
1. There is a new grant opportunity, which supports a postdoc, Dr. Robert Hood, whose specialities are in cancer research and environmental exposures, specifically in Appalachia, who is starting to work with the Emory PBB Registry team. The methods for analyzing PBB have changed over time, so he will be working with disparate data to bring it up to date so PBB results can be compared exactly.
2. Emory has also purchased some new software for all the PBB data to be in one place and easily accessible.
3. Recruitment for clinical study is still limited to those with high blood levels and ongoing.
4. Information for Next of Kin Records is available through the Michigan PBB Registry and MDHHS websites.
D. Addition: Health Department Update — Liz Braddock
1. MMDHD met obligations for long-term water monitoring and drinking water sampling in St. Louis for properties that need connected to the city system. They are happy to have completed this important work.
2. MMDHD is still involved in PFAS monitoring for the state, at any point some spots can come up, but there are currently none in Gratiot county. There is one in Clinton County and at Capital Airport. There is also a biosolids site in Ionia County and at the Pearson Township (Republic Landfill Site), which accepted waste from Wolverine in Kent County. The city of Stanton also has some detections.
a) Q: Have there been PFAS studies in Gratiot County?
(1) A: Total in Alma and the Ithaca city landfill (another Wolverine connection). Suspects the airports to be next, following trends in state investigations and funding.
IX. New Business [01:15:30]
1. Begin to think about nominations for the CAG Hall of Fame, due next month. Awards are presented in a ceremony at the December meeting. Please email nominations to Jane Keon. Last year we also decided to choose one person per year moving forward.
2. Addition: The Clarke Historical Library at CMU is doing an exhibit in spring 2022 on water issues, which will engage Pine River and CAG Collection. Brittany will keep the CAG updated on plans and opportunities to collaborate.
3. Jane shared that Theo Von Wallmenich, CH2M Hill and Jacobs employee, accepted a new job. Tom said he is going to be one of the directors of Greenfield Trust. While it is a blow that he’s leaving, we’re all very happy for him. This is a fantastic opportunity, it’s a massive trust, billions of dollars and big cleanups. He’s still in the community and we’d love for him to maintain his membership to the CAG.
4. Gary asked if Scott Pratt/EPA if they could share the video of the NAPL from tonight, too, especially for those giving talks in the community.
Please remember to pay membership dues ($5/year). Send check to PO Box 172, St. Louis, MI 48880.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 via Zoom.
Meeting adjourned at 8:46 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Brittany Fremion, Secretary