*>EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
D6€i
For more information
To learn more about the EPA's
cleanup and investigation activities:
For technical questions:
Thomas Alcamo
EPA Project Manager
312-886-7278
800-621 -8431, Ext. 67278
9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., weekdays
alcamo .thomas@epa. gov
Dan Rockafellow
MDEQ Project Manager
517-284-5143
rockafellowd@michigan.gov
For general questions:
Diane Russell
EPA Community Involvement
Coordinator
Saginaw Community Information
Office
989-401-5507
9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., weekdays
mssell.diane@epa.gov
EPA Chicago Office:
U.S. EPA Region 5
77 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604
EPA Information Office:
804 S. Hamilton St.
Suite 111
Saginaw, MI 48602
Website:
www.epa.gov/region5/cleanup/
velsicolmichigan/index.html
Update on Cleanup
Activities atVelsicol Site
Velsicol Chemical Corp. Superfund Site
St. Louis, Michigan	April 2015
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Mchigan Department of
Environmental Quality are continuing cleanup and investigation activities at the
former Velsicol Chemical Corp. Superfund site, hi 2014 and early 2015, these
activities included cleanup of the residential area next to the former Velsicol plant,
ongoing effort to replace the St. Louis municipal drinking water supply, soil
sampling of the high school practice field, removal of the metal sheet pile wall
from the Pine River, cleanup design for the former chemical plant site, and ongoing
operation of the collection trench to remove contaminated groundwater from
the site
Residential cleanup
The residential cleanup work for properties next to the former Velsicol plant
is progressing as planned. Sampling of 134 properties near the former plant
found 99 contained elevated levels of the insecticide DDT or the flame
retardant PBB. Last year, EPA cleaned up 52 of those properties, and 47
yards are scheduled for completion in 2015.
EPA anticipates removing
an additional 18,000 tons of
contaminated soil this year
and is conducting more soil
sampling in other sections
of the residential area to
evaluate whether cleanup is
needed in those areas.
To date, EPA has removed over 25,000 tons of contaminated soil from the
residential area. The contaminated soil was disposed of in a licensed landfill.
Once contractors removed the contaminated soil, they placed clean soil in
the excavated areas, replaced landscaping and laid sod over the clean soil.
Additionally, there were 191 trees removed and replaced in 2014. Project
managers expect about 58 trees will have to be removed and replaced
this year.

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Drinking water supply replacement
As part of the Velsicol Superfund cleanup, EPA and
MDEQ are paying for a portion of the cost to replace
the St. Louis drinking water supply. The two agencies
are funding $33 million for construction of new water
wells, pipelines, pump stations and well houses. The
project's total cost is around $45 million. The city of St.
Louis, through a settlement with Velsicol Chemical and
its insurance company, AIG, will also contribute to the
drinking water project.
The cities of St. Louis and Alma have formed the joint
Gratiot Area Water Authority, or GAWA, to provide
drinking water to both communities.
GAWA continues to fund upgrades to the existing Alma
water treatment plant and other construction activities
necessary to expand capacity and deliver water to both
communities from the Velsicol and AIG settlement funds.
The Alma treatment plant softens the water by removing
some of the minerals. The plant will provide treated water
to GAWA customers in the future.
The first portion of the project funded by EPA and MDEQ
is nearly complete and includes construction of a new
water pipeline from Alma to St. Louis. EPA and MDEQ
will also fund new pumping stations, a new elevated
water tank in St. Louis, a transmission water pipeline,
raw water transmission pipelines, new wells and well
houses. The entire project should be completed in 2016.
St. Louis residents can expect better water quality since
the water will be conditioned at the treatment plant. When
the project is complete, St. Louis will abandon its current
water wells.
Velsicol plant site work
In 2014, EPA conducted investigations to support the
cleanup design for the former Velsicol plant site. The
investigations will continue in the summer of 2015.
This work will consist of additional soil sampling
and groundwater monitoring. "Groundwater' is an
environmental term for an underground supply of fresh
water. EPA will continue to perform air monitoring during
the soil sampling to protect the safety of residents and
construction workers.
Information obtained from these investigations will help
EPA and MDEQ develop a cleanup plan for the site.
Certain sections of the Velsicol site will undergo on-site
-Sheet Pile Wall
(Removed in 2014)
St. Louis Dam
"Pine River
Downstream
Former Creamery-1
Warehouse Property
Velsicol Site Map
2

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soil treatment and other areas will have contaminated soil
excavated and disposed of off-site. EPA will begin cleanup
work once it receives all of the soil sampling results
Depending on the availability of funding, cleanup at the
former chemical plant site could begin in 2016.
Athletic Field Soil Sampling
In August 2014, after soil sampling of the St. Louis High
School Athletic Fields, the EPA determined some DDT
concentrations were near, but not exceeding MDEQs safe
level for residential soil To further define the extent of
DDT contamination of the athletic fields, EPA conducted
additional soil sampling near the fields where elevated
DDT concentrations were found. In late January, EPA
conducted an additional investigation by obtaining soil
samples from 50 locations. Soil was taken from spots
ranging from the surface to 3-feet deep. EPA sent the soil
samples to a laboratory for analysis.
EPA will explore additional cleanup options based on
information from the sampling results. Options could
include EPA conducting a time-critical removal action,
which would allow for a cleanup in a short time frame.
Wall removal
Last December, EPA removed the metal sheet pile wall
located in the Ping River next to the former Velsicol
chemical plant (see photos below). This 1,425-foot-long
sheet pile wall was used as part of the multi-million dollar
river cleanup completed by EPA and MDEQ from 1999 to
During the winter, workers used a "geoprobe " unit for collecting
soil samples next to the Velsicol site.
2006. Tins portion of the sheet pile wall remained in place
until EPA determined if it could be used in the Velsicol site
cleanup. The wall was not needed so was removed. The
sheet piling was cleaned and transported off-site for reuse.
Pine River after the sheet piling was removed.
Crane on a barge removing sheet piling from the Pine River.
3

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Update on Cleanup Activities atVelsicol Site
To learn more about the EPA's cleanup and investigation activities:
For technical questions:

For general questions:
Thomas Alcamo
Dan Rockafellow
Diane Russell
EPA Proj ect Manager
MDEQ Project Manager
EPA Community Involvement
312-886-7278
517-284-5143
Coordinator
800-621-8431, Ext. 67278
rockafell owdfo>,mi chi aan. aov
Saginaw Community Information Office
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.,

989-401-5507
weekdays

9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., weekdays
alcamo. thomasfo>,epa.aov

russell.dianefo>,epa.aov
Signup for email updates by visiting

www.epa.gov/region5/cleanup/velsicolmichigan and click on the Sign up for the Velsicol listserv link
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