£EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Informational meeting
EPA is holding a public meeting
Wednesday, Nov. 3, to update the
community about the Kalamazoo
River cleanup activities for 2010.
The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m.
at the Comfort Inn and Conference
Center, 622 Allegan St., Plainwell.
EPA representatives and other
officials will make a formal
presentation and then be available
to discuss the site activities with
you individually. If you need special
accommodations at the meeting,
contact EPA Community Involvement
Coordinator Don de Blasio (see
below) by Oct. 27.
Contact EPA
For more information or if you have
comments about the Kalamazoo River
cleanup, contact:
Don de Blasio
Community Involvement Coordinator
EPA Region 5 (SE-7J)
77 W. Jackson Blvd. Chicago, IL
60604-3590
312-886-4360 or 800-621-8431,
Ext. 4360, weekdays, 9:30 a.m. to
5:30 p.m., deblasio.don@epa.gov
You can read more information
about the Kalamazoo River cleanup
online at: www.epa.gov/region5/sites/
kalproject.
Plainwell #2 Dam Removal
Nears Completion
Allied Paper/Portage Creek/Kalamazoo River Superfund Site
Kalamazoo, Michigan November 2010
This fact sheet provides updates on the cleanup activities at the Allied
Paper/Portage Creek/Kalamazoo River Superfund site. U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency has made significant progress at the Plainwell #2 Dam.
The public is invited to attend the public meeting (see sidebar for details) to
learn more about the cleanup activities at the site.
Plainwell #2 Dam site background
In June 2009 Georgia-Pacific LLC, a party responsible for the pollution at
the site, and EPA entered into a legal agreement committing Georgia-Pacific
to conduct an emergency cleanup in the Plainwell #2 Dam area. During
the last two years, Georgia-Pacific performed significant soil and sediment
(mud) sampling in this location. Based on these samples, EPA determined
that a cleanup should occur near the #2 Dam to stop the continuing release
of PCBs. PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, are chemical compounds with
common industrial uses. At high concentrations and exposures they can cause
illness in people and wildlife.
In 2009 activities began to remove PCB-contaminated soil along the north
side of the Kalamazoo River as part of the Plainwell #2 Dam cleanup plan.
Approximately 4,900 feet of riverbank were cleared, excavated and restored.
Approximately 4,725 cubic yards of soil and debris were taken for disposal.
During the winter of 2010, cleanup activities began on the south side of the
Kalamazoo River, including excavation, dredging and disposal of PCB-
contaminated soil and sediment.
Completed Plainwell #2 Dam cleanup activities
EPA has removed a total of 12,400 cubic yards of contaminated soil and
sediment along 6,700 feet of riverbank in this area. During the 2009 and
2010 cleanup, 17,100 cubic yards of soil and sediment were removed from
11,000 linear feet of riverbank. More than 672,500 square feet of riverbank
have been restored, including replanting with native vegetation. The
Plainwell #2 Dam cleanup project will be completed at the end of 2010.
Additional cleanup studies
A February 2007 legal agreement required additional study of the Kalamazoo
River and Portage Creek. Planners divided the river and creek into seven
areas for closer examination. Area 1 consists of the Kalamazoo River
between Morrow Dam and Plainwell, and Portage Creek between Cork Street
and the Kalamazoo River. All soil and sediment sampling activities at Area 1
have been completed, and a site investigation report will be submitted to EPA
in April 2011.
A plan for investigating the PCB contamination in Area 2, which consists of
the Kalamazoo River between the former Plainwell Dam and the Otsego City
Dam, was submitted to EPA in July 2010. EPA submitted comments on the
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plan and it is being revised by Georgia-Pacific. Initial data
collection for Area 2 will begin in late fall/winter of 2010.
with extensive soil and sediment sampling to occur during
the summer of 2011.
Plainwell Mill
During the spring of 2010. Weyerhaeuser Co. collected soil
samples for the Plainwell Mill cleanup investigation, and
will provide a report to EPA in the spring of 2011. Based
on terms of a settlement with the federal government.
Weyerhaeuser has been investigating and sampling the
mill, with EPA oversight. EPA expects to release a cleanup
plan, in a document called a record of decision, in 2012.
with cleanup activities to follow.
12th Street Landfill
By the end of 2010, Weyerhaeuser will complete
construction of the landfill cap and monitoring system
for 12th Street Landfill. The activities include capping
of contaminated paper residuals, a ventilation system for
landfill gasses, an underlying ground w7ater monitoring
system, and site access restrictions.
Willow BouIevard/A-Site Landfill
Georgia-Pacific submitted a preliminary cleanup report
to EPA for the Willow Boulevard/A-Site Landfill. The
company will install a permanent landfill cover, a landfill
gas venting system and a ground water monitoring system
at the landfill. The cleanup plan also includes removing
contaminated soil from nearby wetlands and removing
sheet piling. These cleanup activities will begin in 2011
and end in 2012.
Allied Paper Landfill
EPA is studying cleanup alternatives for the site. EPA will
share cleanup recommendations and proposed plan with
the public and accept comments in the spring of 2011.
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GRAPHIC SCALE
LEGEND
REMOVALAREA BOUNDARY
- ROAD CENTERLINE
1 h RAILROAD
MEDIAN WATER LINE (APPROXIMATE)
RIVER
CLEARING/GRUBBING COMPLETE
REMOVAL COMPLETE
REMOVAL AND REPLANTING COMPLETE
AREAS TARGETED FOR REMOVAL IN 2010
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Public Information Meeting
Wednesday, Nov. 3
6:30 p.m.
Comfort Inn and Conference Center
622Allegan St.
Plainwell
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