News Releases from Region 05

Administrator Pruitt Updates List of Superfund Sites Targeted for Immediate, Intense Attention

EPA adds the St. Regis Paper Company site in Minnesota

CHICAGO (April 16, 2018) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released an updated Administrator’s Emphasis List of Superfund sites. The list represents sites identified by the Regions with concurrence from the Administrator that will benefit from his targeted immediate and intense attention. The St. Regis Paper Co. site in Cass Lake, Minn., was added to the list to spur action on cleanup and redevelopment efforts.

“We are making tremendous progress expediting sites through the entire Superfund remediation process,” said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. “The updated Emphasis List reflects our commitment to addressing Superfund sites as quickly and safely as possible.”

In elevating EPA’s focus on the Superfund program, Administrator Pruitt has been at the helm of efforts to streamline and improve the program, and accelerate the cleanup and reuse of America’s most contaminated sites. Work at the St. Regis Paper site will focus on determining the standard for proposed remedial action and sign the record of decision for the residential soil cleanup.  

The updated Administrator’s Emphasis List, like the initial emphasis list, identifies Superfund sites that will benefit from Administrator Pruitt’s direct engagement. The emphasis list is intended to be dynamic. Sites will move on and off the list as appropriate. At times, there may be more or fewer sites based on where the Administrator’s attention and focus is most needed. 

Background

The initial list – consisting of 21 sites across the country – was released on Dec. 8, 2017, in direct response to the Superfund Task Force Recommendations. Two sites in EPA Region 5 were added to the list then: the USS Lead Superfund site in Indiana and the Allied Paper Inc./Portage Creek/Kalamazoo River Superfund site in Michigan. It is anticipated that this list will be revised quarterly.

Over the next few months at the USS Lead site, EPA plans to:

• begin cleanup of more than 200 properties in zones 2 and 3
• conduct dust sampling and interior dust cleaning at all properties receiving remediation in zones 2 and 3
• continue the groundwater study in operational unit 2
• ensure the demolition of the west calumet housing complex is completed without spreading contamination into the surrounding area
• work with the community to update the community involvement plan

Over the next few months at the Allied Paper/Kalamazoo River site, EPA plans to:

• continue restoration activities around the site of the former Otsego Township Dam
• continue dredging sediment and soil from the PCB-contaminated Kalamazoo River
• approve the final cleanup plan design at the Plainwell Paper Mill
• complete the pre-design investigations for the consolidation of existing waste materials at Allied Landfill

The updated Administrator’s Emphasis List can be found at https://www.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-sites-targeted-immediate-intense-action.

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