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Press Release

For Immediate Release
Contact: Sean C. Bonyun
July 31, 2009
(202) 225-3761

Upton Urges EPA Head to Address Local Concerns at Kalamazoo Landfill Site
Rep. is concerned with potential for contamination of local water supply

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) today urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to promptly address concerns expressed by the City of Kalamazoo and local leaders regarding the cleanup of PCB-contaminated material at the Allied Paper landfill.  Upton believes the concerns raised by local officials and residents regarding the potential health and environmental risks posed by the site have not been sufficiently addressed by the EPA.

“You cannot be too careful when it comes to our local water supply,” said Upton.  “It is imperative that the EPA is wholly forthcoming with the City of Kalamazoo and its residents.  We have been through this exercise once before in 2007, and I look forward to the EPA pursuing a plan that will protect our water for countless years to come.”

Upton has been closely monitoring the situation at the Allied site.  Joining local residents and officials in 2007, Upton helped lead the successful effort that brought a moratorium on further dumping of toxic material at the Allied Paper landfill.  As part of the agreement reached between the EPA, State of Michigan, and local leaders, the cleanup process was to be opened to greater public scrutiny.  Upton hopes that a constructive dialogue can be struck between the city and the EPA, allowing the municipality to assure its citizens of their health and safety.

The full text of the letter to EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson is below:

Dear Administrator Jackson:

I write to express my concern regarding the cleanup of the Allied Paper/Portage Creek/Kalamazoo River Superfund site at the Allied Paper Inc. landfill in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  While this project has made tremendous progress in recent years, I share the concerns of the local community and its officials over the potential for future groundwater contamination from the site, which could pose a serious health risk to the city’s residents.

Two years ago when the EPA and Michigan Department of Environmental Quality came to the table over the dumping of PCB-contaminated sediments at the Allied Paper site, the EPA agreed to make the process of the cleanup more open to public review and comment.  However, since that time, the technical review comments submitted by the city and its consultant have essentially gone unheeded, with no substantive changes made to the remedial investigation/feasibility study.

To this end, I would request the EPA to give its full consideration to the concerns raised by the city, and more, would develop a remediation plan that would allow the city to assure its residents that the remedial action taken by the EPA will be effective in safeguarding the long-term health and cleanliness of the community.

I appreciate the EPA’s attention to this matter.  I look forward to your prompt response.

Cc: Steven Chester, Director, Michigan DEQ

Bharat Mathur, Acting Regional Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency – Region V

      Hon. Bobby Hopewell, Mayor, City of Kalamazoo

View a PDF of Upton’s letter.

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