Black Bear Speaks

Public Meeting April 14 on Proposed Cleanup Options for Occidental Chemical Site in Montague

Published on 2010-04-14 10:02:00

There will be an informational meeting Wednesday, April 14, on proposed cleanup strategies for contaminated ground water at the Occidental Chemical Corp. facility in Montague. The meeting is from 6 to 8 p.m. at Montague Township Hall, 8915 Whitbeck Road.The proposed cleanup plan includes installing installation of six new wells on the southern portion of the former Occidental Chemical property. The idea is that the wells, working with a current well system in place at White Lake, might reduce gr

Michigan Golf Course added to Superfund toxic sites list

Published on 2010-03-05 14:44:00

The Gratiot County Golf Course in St. Louis, Michigan has been added to the Superfund National Priorities List. Superfund is the federal program that investigates and cleans up the most complex and uncontrolled hazardous waste sites in the U.S.The Gratiot County site lies east of the Hidden Oaks Golf Course on Monroe Road. From 1956 to 1970, the nearby Velsicol Chemical burned their hazardous waste in an open pit. Originally the pit disposal area was proposed to Superfund in 1982, but at that ti

Meanwhile Down in Evansville... or should we call it "Leadville"?

Published on 2010-02-03 15:54:00

upcoming lead-contaminated soil Superfund cleanup, 350 properties affected encompassing whole neighborhoods350 properties in an area bounded by Mary Street to the west, Iowa Street to the north, Elliot Street to the east and Division and Illinois streets to the south will excavated and restored down in LEADVILLE beginning in March. The work is being funded through at least $5 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The effort represents the second phase of cleanup at the

Legal battle over, state wins clean-up costs for Ludington industrial site

Published on 2010-01-26 13:38:00

$525,000 Settlement Reached The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment reached a settlement that secures re-imbursement of the costs incurred by the department to investigate contamination from the former Handy Things Manufacturing Company property in Ludington. The settlement with Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, the corporate successor to Handy Things Manufacturing, also requires the company to address existing soil and groundwater contamination at the site and includes

Ottawa River clean-up has begun

Published on 2010-01-11 15:40:00

Approximately 260,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment is being removed from the Ottawa River and Sibley Creek in Toledo, OH. The project began on December 19th and it is estimated that it's going to cost us - me and you fellow taxpayer - $49 Million dollars. The goal of the project is to reduce impacts to human health and the environment on the Ottawa River. This is the eighth cleanup of a contaminated site under the Great Lakes Legacy Act.Sediment in the river and creek is contaminated wi

Sunoco to Pay $173,310 for Air Quality Violations at Marcus Hook Refinery

Published on 2010-01-05 13:58:00

Over in the NOT-SO-GREEN corner for the past year is Sunoco, which has ordered to pay $173,310 in penalties for pollution violations at its refinery in Marcus Hook, PA. In May 2008 a broken boiler released 8.3 tons of carbon monoxide. Two incidents in June 2008 resulted in 18.1 tons of volatile organic compounds being released into the atmosphere, along with 1,300 gallons of oil. These incidents resulted in residential damage claims and odor complaints.In December 2008, a compressor shutdown r

EPA Rules to Impact Manufacturers, Utilities

Published on 2010-01-05 11:43:00

he U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced two separate actions that could significantly impact several industries including power and water utilities.The EPA has identified three industries — chemical manufacturing, petroleum and coal products manufacturing (including refineries and not coal mines), and the electric power generation, transmission, and distribution industry — that could face financial assurance requirements to ensure that the owners or operators of the facilitie

EPA cites Sauder for clean-air violations

Published on 2009-07-15 15:42:00

The EPA is taking action against Sauder Woodworking Facility for alleged Clean Air Act violations at the company's furniture manufacturing plant in Archbold, Ohio. EPA proposed a $328,334 penalty.Allegations suggest Sauder has violated federal and state regulations by emitting excessive amounts of particulates (smoke, dust, ash), nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds from its plant. Sauder has also violated notification and record keeping requirements and requirements to continuously

Genesee County Files Application to Drain Lake Huron

Published on 2009-05-27 15:38:00

The Michigan DEQ received a water withdrawal permit request this week from the Genesee County Drain Commission for the withdrawal of 85 million gallons per day from Lake Huron as a public water supply source for Genesee County, the city of Flint and customer municipalities in Lapeer, Sanilac, Saginaw, and Shiawassee counties.A 45 day public comment period required under state law will be open through July 15, and a decision on the permit application is expected later this summer.Copies of the pe

$10.3 Million in grants for contaminated land cleanup, economic development in Michigan

Published on 2009-05-15 15:01:00

Funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are being awarded to help communities in Michigan clean up sites known as “brownfields” which may be contaminated by hazardous chemicals or pollutants. The grants which include $2.5 million from the Recovery Act and $7.8 million from the EPA brownfields general program funding, help revitalize former industrial and commercial sites, with the intent of turning them from problem properties to productive community use.Battle Creek (2), a $20