Author: Doug McLaughlin

  • Attend community meeting on PCB clean up at former Allied Paper site

    Attend community meeting on PCB clean up at former Allied Paper site

    The Kalamazoo City Commission held a special meeting on March 26, 2013 to discuss the US Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed remedy to consolidate and cap soils contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in and around the former Allied Paper site. At this meeting City Commissioners agreed to push the EPA for full clean up of the site, which was one of the remedy alternatives assessed by EPA. This remedy would involve total removal of PCB-contaminated soils at the site with offset disposal in a qualified landfill.

    A community meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 2 at 7:00 pm at Goodwill Industries, 420 E. Alcott Street in Kalamazoo. We encourage you to attend this public meeting to learn more about the recent developments at the site and learn about ways you can support the City’s position on PCB clean up.

    The Kalamazoo Gazette recently published an article on the special meeting of the City Commission.

  • EPA orders Enbridge to dredge sections of Kalamazoo River

    EPA orders Enbridge to dredge sections of Kalamazoo River

    A recent press release by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced they have issued an administrative order requiring Enbridge to dredge three sections along the Kalamazoo River impacted by a July 2010 oil spill. EPA has documented recoverable submerged oil above Ceresco Dam, upstream of Battle Creek, and in the Morrow Lake delta.

    Enbridge has a short window of time to respond to the order and submit a dredging work plan to EPA. Visit EPA’s oil spill website for more information about the recent administrative order and the background on the 2010 oil spill.

  • Public forum on Michigan’s energy future

    Public forum on Michigan’s energy future

    The Governor is seeking input on Michigan’s energy policy through a series of town hall style listening sessions. The State of Michigan website has a listing of all locations and dates. Our local listening session will be held at Western Michigan University’s Fetzer Center on Monday, March 18 from 1:00 – 5:00 pm in the Kirsch Auditorium.

  • Last chance to register for Kalamazoo Legislative Breakfast

    Last chance to register for Kalamazoo Legislative Breakfast

    The Kalamazoo Environmental Council (KEC) is hosting the annual legislative breakfast on Monday, March 11 from 7:30 – 9:30 am at the Kalamazoo Nature Center. As a member of KEC, we invite you to join us as we talk with our state and federal lawmakers about protecting and managing Michigan’s natural resources for future generations in the face of global climate change and increasing pressure to maximize short-term economic gains. Invited lawmakers include: State Senator Tonya Schuitmaker, State Representatives Jase Bolger, Sean McCann, Aric Nesbitt, Margaret O’Brien, and legislative staff for U.S. Representative Fred Upton and U.S. Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow.

    Register online at www.naturecenter.org or by phone (269) 375-0954 by March 6. Breakfast is $8.00. The discussion begins at 8:00 am and is free.