Michael S. Regan 16th Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency | Official Website
CHICAGO (April 30, 2024) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has officially commenced the cleanup operations at the Velsicol Burn Pit Superfund site located in St. Louis, Michigan. The funding for this crucial environmental initiative comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda.
Debra Shore, the Region 5 Administrator, expressed gratitude for the support provided by the Biden-Harris Administration, stating, "Thanks to the resources provided by the Biden-Harris Administration, EPA can clean up these sites much faster than we otherwise could. For too long, the residents of St. Louis have had to live with this contamination in their community."
The cleanup at the Velsicol Burn Pit site is part of a broader effort funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which allocated $3.5 billion for environmental remediation at Superfund sites across the country. The innovative cleanup at the Velsicol site involves the use of an in-place thermal treatment system, which utilizes heaters to warm the contaminated soil and groundwater for easier removal of contaminants.
The thermal treatment system's process involves the extraction and proper disposal of heavier oil-like liquid contaminants, as well as the vaporization of contaminants in groundwater into gases. The vapor treatment system, located at the sister Velsicol Superfund site known as the Former Plant site, will process the extracted contaminants via a temporary pontoon bridge across the Pine River.
The EPA expects the thermal treatment system to operate for a year before the cleanup is deemed complete. The reuse of this system, coupled with existing utility connections, is projected to save $2 million in construction costs, demonstrating a cost-effective and efficient approach to environmental remediation.
The investment facilitated by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law significantly enhances the Superfund program, empowering the EPA to address threats to human health and the environment more effectively. In addition to funding cleanup activities, the investment supports accelerated pre-construction efforts such as remedial investigations, feasibility studies, remedial designs, and community engagement, ensuring that communities are actively involved in the cleanup process.
For more information on the Velsicol Burn Pit Superfund site cleanup, interested individuals can visit EPA’s Burn Pit website.
