How Large is
Kalamazoo River Superfund Site?
U.S. EPA
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Allied Paper/Portage Creek/Kalamazoo River
Superfund Site
Allegan/Kalamazoo County, Michigan
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80-miles of River & 3-miles of Portage Creek
Approx. 9 million cubic yards of soil and
sediment contaminated with PCBs
Plainwell removal & disposal at Allied is a
small piece of overall Cleanup of Entire River
Disposal Options for Entire River must be
considered now
Why Cleanup is Important?
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Past 17 years: LITTLE to NO river cleanup
Mediated Negotiations
Today: 2 Major Agreements Signed by PRPs
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Benefits of Moving Forward with Cleanup
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Why TCRA?
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New data (2006) shows elevated PCB (220 ppm)
at 3 hot spots in river sediment & on banks
Previously unknown (220 ppm)
Eroding banks at Plainwell Impoundment is
first most upstream significant source of PCBs
to Kalamazoo River
Cleanup of Plainwell Impoundment & Supplemental RI/FS
Process for moving forward
Economical and recreational benefits
Clean River, Clean fish
Why Disposal at Allied Landfill?
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Landfill existed for 50 years; is one of four landfills that
are part of the Superfund Site
Has disposal capacity
 12th Street Landfill in Plainwell does not
 King-Highway landfill in Kalamazoo closed
 Willow/A-Site landfill in Kalamazoo–ROD issued
Cost benefits on-site disposal vs. off-site
EPA & State believe Plainwell material can be safely
managed at Allied landfill
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Why EPA & State Believe the Western
Disposal Area at Allied Landfill Is Protective

Disposal of Plainwell material at Western Disposal
Area is protective because:
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Groundwater &
City of Kalamazoo Wells

Low permeability of existing paper residuals; equally as
protective as a TSCA clay liner
Western Disposal Area outside the 100-year floodplain
Groundwater flows toward Portage Creek
No PCBs in groundwater above State standards for protection
of groundwater discharging to surface water (0.2 ppb)
Groundwater collection system in front of sheet pile wall,
groundwater treated with carbon prior to discharge to WWTP
Existing data tells us there is no reason to believe
that groundwater beneath the Allied landfill will
impact City’s Drinking Water Wells
 Groundwater moves toward Portage Creek
not downward to the City’s Wells
 No PCBs in groundwater above State’s
protective standards for groundwater
discharging to surface water (0.2 ppb)
Well Network

Static water levels being measured at 103
locations on monthly basis
10 permanent sumps
3 staff gages
 64 monitoring/extraction wells
 26 observation wells
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Map of water levels
Ability to collect analytical samples at 57
monitoring wells
Map of sampled wells
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Temporary vs. Permanent Disposal
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Placement of the Plainwell material into the
landfill is considered “temporary" only in the
legal sense in that a “final” cleanup decision has
not been made under the Superfund remedial
program
Public will have opportunity to comment on a
proposed cleanup plan for the Allied landfill
before EPA makes a final cleanup decision
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Dewatering & Storm Water
Management
Plainwell Impoundment
Removal Action
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Runoff Storage Basins
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Contain 100-year, 24-hour storm event
Double-lined flexible membrane liner
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Geosynthetic Clay Liner
40 mil low or high density polyethylene
Geosynthetic Drainage Composite
40 mil textured low or high density polyethylene
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Interim Cover
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End of construction season/period of non-use
12 inches thick
Top 6-inches capable of revegetation
Surface water drainage control features
Section 2.10.5 of Design Report
Section 2.10.6 of Design Report
Transportation of Soil & Sediment
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Slope disposal cell floors for positive drainage
to basins
Captured water pumped to basins
Final cover for storm water management features
Section 2.10.7 – 2.10.8 of Design Report
Sealed or lined boxes
Truck boxes covered with plastic tarp
Wet material
Section 3.7.1.1 of Design Report
Traffic Control
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Average 20-30 trucks/day
Utilize Established Truck Routes
Dedicated Drivers
Adjust for Peak Periods of Traffic, if necessary
Traffic Control Plan
Section 3.7.1.1 of Design Report
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Contact Information
Removal & Disposal Questions:
borries.samuel@epa.gov
Sam Borries
On-Scene Coordinator
(312) 353-8360
(800) 621-8431
www.epaosc.org/kzooplainwell
Kalamazoo River Overall
Project-Related Questions:
kolak.shari@epa.gov
Shari Kolak
Remedial Project Manager
(312) 886-6151
(800) 621-8431
www.epa.gov/region5/sites/
kalproject
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