Contamination

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Pine River Contamination

The petro-chemical industries in the watershed for many years used the Pine River as a free sewer for toxic and noxious wastes. Michigan Chemical-Velsicol Chemical dumped hundreds of thousands of pounds of DDT, Polybrominated biphenyls, and other products linked to a variety of environmental and human health consequences into the river. The three refineries that function on or near the river in Alma and St. Louis dumped thousands of gallons of petroleum byproducts into the river and the underground aquifers, causing Alma to abandon city wells and mobilizing the downstream oil soluble contaminants from Velsicol. Studies of exposure to the Velsicol contaminants show that there are statistically significant increases in certain cancers and developmental and nervous system problems in those with high body burdens. There have been document cancer clusters in downwind communities. Ecologically, river fish and other watershed wildlife have taken-up large amounts of certain toxins, resulting in visible deformities, fish kills, and other evidence of chronic toxicity. Since 1974,the river below the Alma dam to the river's mouth have had the highest-level fish consumption ban in the state.

It is the Pine River Task Force's goal to learn from this contamination, making those responsible pay for clean up, and return the community to sustainable use of our resources. While the Task Force wants a vibrant economic base for our community, to provide opportunity for our children, we are concerned that we and our children learn from the shortsighted economic decisions made by the parties responsible for the watershed's contamination. Often in desperate need for cash to sustain speculative investments around the world, the responsible parties milked area operations for all possible cash. They ignored wise use and responsible production in a conscious effort to increase cash flow to fund purchases of other businesses. In some cases, the total profits from all operations in the region are less than the total cost of remediation of remaining contamination, clearly an unwise accounting of cost and benefits.

All are welcomed to work with the Task Force and help us achieve restoration of our watershed and future sustainability. Please contact us at (989)463-7203 if you wish to work with us or need information.