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EPA public hearing on St. Regis Paper Superfund site cleanup plan June 7, informal sessions June 8

Release Date: 5/24/2005
Contact Information:

CONTACT:
Don de Blasio, (312) 886-4360
Karen Thompson, (312) 353-8547
Mick Hans, (312) 353-5050

For Immediate Release
No. 05-OPA075

CHICAGO (May 24, 2005) — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 will host a public meeting and a public hearing Tuesday, June 7 on a proposed short-term cleanup plan for contaminated dust in residences near the St. Regis Paper Superfund site, in Cass Lake, Minn. The meeting will be at Cass Lake-Bena Elementary School, 15 Fourth St., N.E. Residents will also have opportunities Wednesday, June 8, to ask questions in an informal setting.

The public meeting to explain the project will be from 6 to 7 p.m., the public hearing to take comments about the plan will begin at 7:15 p.m. A hearing is the public's turn to speak on a proposal, so EPA will not comment or respond to questions at that time.

A pair of less formal drop-in sessions to answer questions about the plan will be held June 8, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 3:30 p.m., at EPA's field office at the Leech Lake Police Building, 6242 Upper Frontage Road, in Cass Lake.

Written comments are given equal consideration to oral comments. EPA will accept written comments through June 30. Comments may be sent to Timothy Drexler, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. EPA Superfund Division (SR-5J), 77 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604, e-mail, drexler.timothy@epa.gov, or fax (312) 353-9281.

The complete proposal will be available at the meeting or may be reviewed online at www.epa.gov/region5/sites/stregis/index.htm, or at the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Division of Resource Management, Leech Lake Tribal College, Bemidji State University, Cass Lake Library or the Cass Lake Municipal Building.

Persons with special needs, such as large-print handouts, should contact community involvement coordinator Don de Blasio, (800) 621-8431, Ext. 64360, between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays, or deblasio.don@epa.gov.

International Paper, which acquired Champion International in 2000, is responsible for cleaning up soil and ground-water contamination on and around the site. Champion bought the St. Regis Paper Co. in 1985.