YEAR END REPORT-2020
First Quarter:
A CAG member contacted our state senator who chairs the EGLE committee, about the need for a bird study
Six CAG members made presentations or served on panels at a PBB to PFAS conference at the University of Michigan
CAG member Norm Keon received a special tribute from the Michigan governor for his 50 years of service in public health
CAG member Ed Lorenz presented research on Superfund for the national NPR program “Here and Now”
CAG member Jane Keon was interviewed by WCMU radio
The CAG chair met with the local health officer and epidemiologist regarding PBB originating at plant site
A CAG member wrote an account of CAG/TAG events in 2019
Documents on Velsicol dumping were provided to the Gratiot County Administrator
Bid invitation letters were sent to three potential contractors to give technical advice on the slurry wall investigation
A technical consultant was hired to review past and present studies and documents on the slurry wall surrounding the chemical plant site in St. Louis
A dispute was filed with EPA regarding the technical consultant invoice from which payment was withheld
Our technical advisor presented a program on the carbon amendment pilot study incorporated with CAG questions and concerns
Heating is underway in Area 2, Phase 1 of the Velsicol Plant Site
The carbon amendment experiment is ongoing in OU-3
The slurry wall investigation is ongoing
About 75% of the extraction wells in Area 2, Phase 2 have been bored
Second Quarter:
April, May, and June CAG membership, Technical Committee, and Executive Committee meetings cancelled due to COVID-19
CAG leadership communication during Michigan “stay at home, stay safe order” via email and phone
CAG Chair communicates with new EGLE project manager, Erik Martinson
Concerns about potential COVID-19 interruptions of heating at Area 2, Phase 1 were alleviated by EPA project manager, Tom Alcamo
Four CAG officers (J. Keon, N. Keon, Lorenz, Fremion) took part in monthly PBB Leadership Team conference calls with researchers from Emory University on April 10, May 8, and June 12
CAG submits letter in response to decision over dispute with EPA regarding the technical consultant invoice from which payment was withheld
CAG submits additional letter following EPA response to carbon amendment pilot study
CAG submits letter of support for research team at Emory University pursuing PBB/COVID-19 NIEHS grant
CAG member Ed Lorenz compiled Velsicol dumpsite documents for researchers from Emory University
CAG member Jane Keon helps researchers at Emory University, Central Michigan University, and the University of Michigan develop a timeline for publication on PBB mix-up
CAG sends letter to EPA requesting reports promised about past projects and outlining concerns
CAG leadership investigates the possibility of meeting remotely in July.
Third Quarter:
Heating concluded for Area 2, Phase 1 at the former chemical plant site on September 14, 2020
Almost 183,000 pounds of DNAPL recovered from Area 2, Phase 1 of chemical plant site, more than double the amount expected
The carbon amendment pilot study is complete in OU-3 with report expected in October
The slurry wall investigation is complete, report expected in October
Progress in Area 2, Phase 2 continues, with construction beginning in October 2020 and operations projected for April to November 2020
Erik Martinson from EGLE has begun the railroad spur investigation
The Executive Committee met remotely twice, once in July and again in September
General Membership meetings were held via Zoom in July, August, and September
CAG leadership communication outside remote meetings continued via email and phone
CAG membership received monthly updates from Chair, Jane Keon, via email and at remote meeting.
CAG Chair communicated with EGLE project manager, Erik Martinson, regarding several studies (i.e. bird/nest study and railroad spur)
CAG Chair interviewed by WCMU and Morning Sun about thermal treatment at former plant site CAG submitted a follow-up letter in response to EPA decision over technical consultant invoice
CAG Chair communicated with hydrologist, former chemical plant worker, technical consultant, and executive committee about underestimation of DNAPL and potential migration of chemicals at former plant site
CAG sends letter to EPA requesting Emergency Removal Action (ERA) following discussion at July general membership meeting
CAG submitted additional letters following EPA response to underestimation of DNAPL collected in Area 2, Phase 1
CAG member (Lorenz) attended an EGLE webinar about PFAS contamination sites in Michigan in August
CAG member (Lorenz) compiled research connected to possible PFAS contamination from Lobdell plant site, which he shared at the August and September general membership meetings.
CAG executive board members discuss archival collection at Alma College and consider transfer of materials to Central Michigan University’s Clarke Historical Library
Erik Martinson of EGLE is assisting with the location of CAG documents copied in 2011
Additional CAG records donated to Clarke Historical Library at CMU
CAG member (Smith) distributes digital document for in-kind reporting
CAG member (Brabaw) develops Google spreadsheet to compile data for quarterly reporting, following EPA feedback on last TAG extension request
Multiple press releases sent to local and national outlets about progress of Area 2, Phase 1 project at chemical plant site, virtual PBB community meetings, DNAPL quality, and slurry wall investigation.
Four CAG officers (J. Keon, N. Keon, Lorenz, Fremion) took part in monthly PBB Leadership Team conference calls with researchers from Emory University on July 10, August 14th, and September 11th.
CAG members(Lorenz, J. Keon, Fremion) present at the PBB Registry virtual community meetings on September 22 and 26th (Hoyt, Brabaw).
CAG continues work to revise and produce new narratives for the organizational website in preparation for a major update, as led by the Vice Chair Ed Lorenz.
Fourth Quarter:
A newly located breach in the 1980s slurry wall is reported by EPA
A letter is sent to EPA from the CAG advocating the old wall not be used. Included with the letter are the formal comments on the slurry wall investigation written by the CAG’s paid Technical Advisor, Scott Cornelius
The CAG requests EPA sample in basements located in the ANP now that it is known contaminated groundwater has leaked into the neighborhood for decades
EPA plans to conduct a second phase of the slurry wall investigation
EGLE reports railroad spur investigation has stalled due to the Mid-Michigan Railroad owners’ misconceptions about the project
Work will continue through the winter to ready Area 2, Phase 2 of the plant site, with a start-up of the heating in March, 2021
Predesign work has begun for the perimeter drain
The TAG extension request for the Velsicol Burn Pit is still pending
Former CAG member Murray Borrello was appointed to the state’s Environmental Permit Review Commission
The CAG wrote a letter to our state senators about the Michigan Public Health Institute contract language that adds barriers to PBB research
CAG member Ed Lorenz is working with IT helped Matt Ogle to design a new website
The CAG Technical Advisor has compiled comments from the CAG in response to the report on the first phase of the carbon amendment study. The Executive Committee is reviewing the comments before submission to EPA
EPA reported that the Remedial Investigation report for OU-3 is due for release in early 202. Both Velsicol Site Operative Units 3 and 4 are located downstream from the dam in St. Louis
Drilling is underway for the final new drinking water well located in Arcada Township with piping to St. Louis