Team:Alma/Test2
navbar sublinks that aren’t there yet:
But why is this so far down here? Science Communication
Attributions
IHP
Project description
But why is this so far down here? Science Communication
Attributions
IHP
Project description
Watch our project promotion video!
The Pine River runs through mid-Michigan in southwest Isabella, Montcalm,
and Gratiot counties. The once-beautiful beautiful river is now a polluted danger zone; its history is a long and unfortunate story.
Subheading
In 1853, Joseph Clapp founded St. Louis, MI, later building a sawmill and a dam along the Pine River.
In May of 1856, Clapp decided to sell his sawmill and the surrounding forest and lumber to Richard G. Hillyer,
Lewis M. Clark, and George W. Davis of Saginaw. They began to lumber their new property.
In the 1930s, the newly organized Michigan Chemical Corporation had acquired a 14-acre site of the sawmill, salt block, and bromine plant. On September 15, 1935, ground was broken for the construction of a chemical plant on the banks of the Pine River. Throughout this decade the company manufactured products such as Crystal Flow salt. They eventually dedicated themselves to full chemical research. During World War II, the corporation began researching an effective new insecticide called DDT (Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane). More research led to constructing a DDT plant in April 1944. The corporation then sent tons of the product to the Army and Navy. This helped them serve in insect-ridden areas. In the 1950s and 1960s, the Michigan Chemical Corporation grew into a complex array of buildings and storage tanks across the west side of St. Louis. This pumped millions of dollars into the area’s economy.
In the 1930s, the newly organized Michigan Chemical Corporation had acquired a 14-acre site of the sawmill, salt block, and bromine plant. On September 15, 1935, ground was broken for the construction of a chemical plant on the banks of the Pine River. Throughout this decade the company manufactured products such as Crystal Flow salt. They eventually dedicated themselves to full chemical research. During World War II, the corporation began researching an effective new insecticide called DDT (Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane). More research led to constructing a DDT plant in April 1944. The corporation then sent tons of the product to the Army and Navy. This helped them serve in insect-ridden areas. In the 1950s and 1960s, the Michigan Chemical Corporation grew into a complex array of buildings and storage tanks across the west side of St. Louis. This pumped millions of dollars into the area’s economy.
Subheading
In the 1960s, DDT questions arose about its effectiveness due to more-resistant insects and its negative impact on other living organisms. A few years later, the Michigan Chemical Corporation was bought by the Velsicol Chemical Company and the production of DDT ceased in 1964, and DDT was eventually outlawed in 1973. During the 1970s Velsicol’s main products included Firemaster, a fire retardant with a chemical called PBB (Polybrominated Biphenyl), and Nutrimaster, a supplemental cattle feed. In 1973, there was a tragic mix up and Nutrimaster bags filled with PBB-laden Firemaster were sent to the Farm Bureau services, leading to the slaughter of hundreds of poisoned cattle. However, contaminated meat had already been sold throughout the state and nearly every person in the Lower Peninsula ingested PBB. The effects were unknown and there were an estimated $200 million in lawsuits.
Subheading
Around this time the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) stepped in to investigate the effects of the Velsicol Chemical Company’s operations surrounding the Pine River. They found the waterway and the company’s buildings, and property were highly contaminated by years of chemical production. In 1982, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency offered Velsicol a deal to pay $38 million in damages in exchange for legal freedom of responsibility for the contamination. The buildings on the property were dismantled and the area was covered by clay to seal in the contamination. The area was fenced off and became an expensive plot of dirt.
Subheading
Throughout the years, the DNR continued to monitor the river and found that sixteen years after the plant ceased operations the fish of the river were also poisoned with DDT. Further into the investigation it was discovered that river sediment next to the plant site was 4% DDT/DDT derivatives. The pollution problem was far from solved and in fact, getting worse. In 1997, the Pine River Superfund Citizens Task force was formed as a local advisory group to the EPA. They pushed the EPA for money to clean up the site. The EPA eventually fulfilled the request and a filtration process began that is still occurring today.
(page end)