wEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Informational open houses EPA is holding two open house sessions so you can learn more about the latest developments in the Kalamazoo River cleanup. Both will be at the Edison Neighborhood Association, 816 Washington Ave., Kalamazoo. You may attend either session: Thursday, May 15 Open House 6:30 p.m. (presentation 6:45 p.m.) Friday, May 16 Open House 9:30-11:30 a.m. (no presentation) EPA representatives and other officials will be available to discuss site activities with you individually. If you need special accommodations, contact Community Involvement Coordinator Don de Blasio (see below) by May 12. 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 (P-19 J) 77 W. Jackson Blvd. Chicago, IL 60604 312-886-4360 or 800-621-8431, Ext. 4360, weekdays 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. deblasio.don@epa.gov Landfill Studies Complete; Cleanup Plan Being Written Allied Paper/Portage Creek/Kalamazoo River Superfund Site Kalamazoo, Michigan May 2008 Studies were completed in March into the nature and extent of contamination in soil, sediment (mud), ground water and air at the Allied Paper Landfill portion of the Kalamazoo River Superfund site. The primary contaminant of concern is polychlorinated biphenyls, better known as PCBs. These are chemical compounds with common industrial uses. At high concentrations and exposures they can cause illness in people and wildlife. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is holding two open house sessions to discuss the results of the study and the latest developments at the Kalamazoo River Superfund site (see box, left). The remedial investigation report documenting the results of the cleanup investigation will be used as a basis for developing a cleanup plan for the Allied Paper Landfill. Next Steps Now that the investigation into the contamination is complete, those responsible for the pollution will use the findings to develop cleanup alternatives. After studying the alternatives, EPA will recommend one option in a document called a "proposed plan." EPA will then seek comments from the public. In addition to overseeing the cleanup options, EPA is working with the city of Kalamazoo in its efforts to redevelop the Portage Creek corridor. The corridor includes the Allied Paper Landfill and other undeveloped properties. Site Background The Allied Paper Landfill portion of the site covers 89 acres along Portage Creek between Cork and Alcott streets. The Bryant Paper Co. built the Bryant Paper Mills there in 1895. Various paper manufacturing and disposal operations were conducted on the site until all paper manufacturing operations ceased during the late 1970s and early 1980s. No active mills remain on the site. The Alcott Street dam was built in 1895 to provide mechanical power and process water for the paper mill. This dam on Portage Creek formed Bryant Mill Pond. Process wastewater and paper-making residuals were the primary waste products generated during the de-inking and repulping processes at the mills. The residuals, which are primarily a mixture of clay and wood fiber, often appear at the site as deposits of gray clay. As with most clay, it's very dense when compacted. It looks distinctive, and one goal of the cleanup has been to remove all the gray clay residuals. PCBs were introduced to the landfill through the recycling of carbonless copy paper. Between 1957 and 1971, carbonless copy paper contained PCBs, and PCBs were in the recycle stream after that period as the carbonless copy paper supply was depleted. ------- avstjf// ps/o/oa/ jo apem jaded uo pajuud si jaaqs }oe; sii]± 3)3|dui03 sajpnts ||!ipue"| jadej pamv :31IS QNIUUBdllS H3AIH 00ZVW\flV>l/>l33H0 3DVlH0d/H3dVd Q3I11V C]31S3n03U 30IAiJ3S NUni3U t?0909 II 'oBeomo QQU-Ift I Q\ IIJ PAia uos^oer M LL OOV ±oaid (p6i,-d) uojSjAia pun^edns g uojBey AoueBv UO!JO0JOJd |BJU0LUUOJ!AU3 seieis pejmn VdB'c* Allied Paper Landfill Progress and Updates Informational open houses May 15 and 16 (details inside) For more information You can read more information about the Kalamazoo River cleanup online at: www.epa.gov/region5/sites/kalproject ------- |