The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking public comment after officially releasing its proposal to clean up Kalamazoo's Allied Paper Superfund site.
The EPA’s proposal is similar to a compromise plan developed with Kalamazoo city officials that was presented earlier this year. A 60-day comment period starts Sept. 30. A public hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. Nov. 19 at Washington Writers' Academy in Kalamazoo.
The $63 million plan calls for consolidating contaminated soil to about 27 acres. The land would be covered by an impermeable cap and would potentially be available for light recreational reuse. Long-term groundwater monitoring also is proposed.
Some community members wanted to completely remove soil contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs. An earlier plan was estimated to cost $189 million.