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Pine River Superfund SiteFrom Great Lakes Wiki
The Pine River Superfund Site is located on the Pine River in St Louis, Michigan, in the "middle of the mitten" 50 miles north of Lansing. Its environmental problems stem from the Michigan Chemical (now Velsicol) plant that was once on the banks of the Pine River. The plant produced both DDT and PBB, and dumped waste and pollution in the Pine River until it was shut down in 1978. The St Louis community is heavily involved in the clean-up process, headed by the Pine River Citizen's Advisory Group alongside the EPA and DEQ. [edit] HistoryContamination of the Pine River began in the mid-nineteenth century when logging and farming first tainted the banks of the Pine River. In the 1930s, petroleum refineries went up along the river and Michigan Chemical (later purchased by Velsicol) in St. Louis and the Leonard refinery, in Alma, set up shop. The Superfund Site stems from the Michigan Chemical/Velsicol facility that produced both DDT and PBB there. For a full, detailed description of the sequence of events, see the Full Timeline This timeline follows the Pine River/St Louis, Michigan area from the beginnings of human interaction to the present. It contains a detailed list of companies involved with Pine River pollution, the levels of pollution, and the legal battles of the Pine River CAG. Much of its data comes from the Full Pine River CAG timeline. The tables below provide historical context for St Louis while Velsicol was in operation there and also after they left.
[edit] Problems with the Pine River SuperfundA number of problems remain for the community of St Louis, Michigan. A waste dump or Burn Pit across the river has yet to be cleaned up because of its unusual jurisdiction. The water supply still has measurable traces of pCBSA, a byproduct of DDT that residents are exposed to. An on-going legal battle with AIG Insurance over funds has also been a focus of the group for years. With all of these problems, the small community has its hands full  [edit] The Burn PitThe Burn Pit is a former dump site of Michigan Chemical/Velsicol that was used to disgard chemical byproducts and contaminants, often in sealed barrels. When Velsicol was forced to shut down and clean its site in 1980, some of the material in the Burn Pit was dug up, but it was paid little attention. This has left a portion of highly contaminated land on the North bank of the Pine River. Unfortunately, the EPA and DEQ Superfund Site at Pine River doesn't cover the Burn Pit. While officials have taken measurements at the site, there are no tentative plans to clean it more thoroughly, although the Citizen's Advisory Group continues to push for a full cleanup. [edit] St Louis' water supplyRecent testing still shows amounts of pCBSA (parachlorobenzene sulfonic acid), a byproduct of DDT, in the river and drinking water. "This is the city's biggest problem," said Mayor George Kubin. Though detected levels are below EPA standards, the cause for concern among officials is the uncertainty associated with the lesser-known chemical, he said. Dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) is a syrup-like compound that is moving off the Velsicol site, recontaminating the river and, perhaps, the water table under the site. The EPA and DEQ are conducting an ongoing study of the levels of these chemicals in the Pine River and in wells across the city. pCBSA has been detected routinely in 5 of the 6 wells, although the range is very low. However, the measurements have risen in small increments.
[edit] Citizen’s Advisory Group (CAG)
The Pine River Citizen's Advisory Group began operation at the end of 1997 to provide community feedback to the United States Environmental Protection Agency for the second cleanup at the Velsicol Chemical Site in St. Louis, Michigan. Made up of concerned citizens of St Louis alongside teachers from Alma College, the group made full cleanup and remediation their top priority, as well as seeking reparations from the offending companies. While continuing to monitor the cleanup of DDT in the Pine River by the old plant site, the CAG became involved in the EPA litigation against Total Petroleum for air and water violations at its Alma Refinery. They also helped out in the cleanup of Horse Creek, a runoff of Pine River that became a siphon for contaminants. The creek was dredged by hand by CAG member Murray Burrello, a geologist from Alma College, and his student group. Pictures of the cleanup The Task Force has also pursued concerns with contamination at the other two superfund sites and a radioactive waste dump near St. Louis and at related sites impacted by the petro-chemical industry. In addition to monitoring EPA and other federal and state clean-up efforts in the watershed, the Task Force has aggressively pursued making the responsible parties, not the general treasury, pay for clean-ups. Their ongoing legal battle with AIG Insurance has potentially been settled for $91,000, but this is only 1/10th of the full $100 million policy that Velsicol and Fruit of the Loom had out on their site. The Pine River CAG is also holding a DDT Conference in March that will feature DDT experts from around the world. The group is highly active, and meets monthly. They actively review EPA information on the site, and seek to keep both the EPA and Velsicol accountable for the Superfund site in St. Louis. [edit] News
[edit] Related PagesAlma College [edit] Related LinksPine River environmental web site maintained by Alma College Information on the Velsicol Superfund Site in St Louis Information on the Gratiot County Landfill Superfund Site in St Louis Information on the Gratiot County Gold Course Superfund Site in St Louis |
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