Pine River Superfund Citizen Task Force
This is the website of the community organization created in 1998 to advise federal and state governments on the clean-up of contaminants in Mid-Michigan from Velsicol Chemical that harmed the local environment and impacted human health of 8 million people and their descendants.
On Earth Day each year, those in the Pine River watershed dealing with the legacy of Velsicol Chemical need to remember that Velsicol vehemently opposed Rachel Carson and he publication of Silent Spring, the book that launched the modern environmental movement and especially targeted the threat to human health and the environment of several products, including DDT, of Michigan Chemical-Velsicol.
Environmental Health News carried this summary of new findings about the intergenerational impacts of DDT exposure. This news is especially relevant to the Pine River community both because Michigan Chemical/Velsicol was a major producer of DDT but also because the firm carelessly dumped large quantities into the regional environment. Former workers at Michigan Chemical/Velsicol, their families and residents f the region should be concerned with this news. See this summary: Pesticide DDT linked to increased breast cancer risk generations after exposure – EHN
PROGRAM: CAG Member JoAnne Scalf will give a presentation on the health mapping project which she began several years ago. The project tracks health problems of people who lived or who now live near the Superfund Site in St. Louis.
EPA Report: Tom Alcamo, Remedial Project Manager
EGLE Report: Erik Martinson, Project Manager
OLD BUSINESS:
PBB Leadership Team (related to Emory University PBB health studies) Update
Website redesign and
CMU class in public history
NEW BUSINESS: Tomorrow (Thursday, March 18 – 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) forum on Superfund financing and need for more stable funding source.
To log in:
Topic: CAG General Membership Meeting – MarchTime: Mar 17, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting (by Computer)https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86087874037?pwd=UmljK2FxLzhkMi9aeDA4bE5UU3JjQT09
Meeting ID: 860 8787 4037Passcode: 293352
Here is a new story in the local press about the state PBB website. This is an important step forward in providing information to those concerned about the human health consequences of exposure to PBB.
Predictably, during the Year of COVID, paid memberships have dropped in the Pine River Superfund Citizen Task Force.
We are now beginning our 22nd year of volunteer efforts to get human health follow-up and the best clean up possible for St. Louis and the entire Pine River watershed contaminated
with chemical waste from the former Michigan Chemical Corp./Velsicol Chemical Corp. Your help – especially joining the Task Force – is appreciated.
Please send your 2021 yearly dues ($5) to:
Pine River Superfund Citizen Task Force
P.O. Box 172
Saint Louis, Michigan 48880
We are happy to accept additional donations to the cause, as well!
Thank you!
Emma Selmon wrote a story for the January 14, 2021 edition of The Gratiot County Herald about the new PBB Website established by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Service (MDHHS). Below is a link to the story.
A team of biochemistry students has won a gold prize for their work on assessing and remediating contaminated soils at the Velsicol site in St. Louis. Here is a story from the Morning Sun from Jan 11, 2021 describing their work and award.
Alma College iGEM team examines soil cleanup at local Superfund site.
Bellow is a link to a news story from January 3, 2021 describing the new PBB Website launched by the state health department. Especially if you are concerned with the exposure of you or family members, you may want to read the story below from the (Alma) Morning Sun and then check out the state PBB website. Michigan Department of Heath and Human Services launches new PBB website | News | themorningsun.com
Here is a link to the state DHHS website: MDHHS – PBB (michigan.gov)