A Nickname No One Wants

by Sean McCann

Over the years, Kalamazoo has had several nicknames—the Burr Oak City, the Celery City, and the Debt-Free City, to name a few. By the 1930’s, the area was home to over fifteen paper mills, and Kalamazoo was dubbed the Paper City.

Around this time, the Swann Chemical Company began commercial production of polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs. In 1935, the Monsanto Industrial Chemical Company purchased Swann and continued PCB production until 1977. They were used in production of power transformers, capacitors, heat transfer systems, hydraulic fluids, pigments, adhesives, liquid-cooled electric motors, fluorescent lights, plasticizers, and in de-inking carbonless copy paper.

It is this last use that now concerns us in Kalamazoo. Even decades before their ban, some knew that PCBs posed serious health risks with even minimal exposure. Others saw the tremendous commercial potential, hailing polychlorinated biphenyls as a break-though substance. According to legend, one Monsanto engineer declared PCB’s to be “as perfect as any industrial chemical can be.” Unfortunately, the very attributes for which mid-twentieth century industrialists valued polychlorinated biphenyls are the same that now pose a threat to us and the environment—high resistance to thermal and chemical breakdown.

Certainly, it is past time to begin river cleanup efforts and re-routing the river to dry-dredge the contaminated soil is currently the best option. Biological solutions—such as bacteria that eat PCBs—are at least a good ten years away from viable use. As of this writing, one key question about the plan that remains unanswered is this: If the proposal to dump sediment in the middle of three residential neighborhoods is merely phase one—approximately two percent of the total known contaminated sediment— where is the remaining sediment going to end up? In other words, if another Superfund containment site will eventually be needed, should it not be built now, closer to the contaminated area in Allegan County to minimize risks in transporting the toxins?

The EPA also seems uncomfortable answering this question: When is the eventual clean-up of the existing toxins going to occur at the Alcott/Cork site since it is ostensibly supposed to have been a temporary location? We should all be wary of Orwellian replies like, “We have to call it ‘temporary’ because it hasn’t been classified as ‘permanent’ yet.” It is also yet unclear what effects this plan will have on our municipal water system.

The EPA has insisted bringing the additional toxins into the community “poses no risk.” Perhaps. Let’s remember, though, in 1933, workers at the PCB manufacturing plant exhibited acne-like pustules, with some registering a loss of appetite, energy, and libido, as well as other skin ailments. Then, in 1936, scientists issued a report attributing the workers’ disease to “poor handling techniques” and the workers’ “natural laziness.”

Those in a position to profit from polychlorinated biphenyls and the products in which they were used, when faced with the choice of people and positive returns, far too often in the past opted for the latter. General Electric was not insensitive to the workers’ pain and disfigurement in 1937, and many executives at first concluded they had to “get rid of it—get it out of the plant.” This decision—easily said, not so easily done—would have forced the Wireworks to essentially close up shop. Ultimately, despite their personal ethics, the GE executives decided to continue using PCBs, understanding that doing so would mean problems would continue as well.

When the EPA first announced its intentions to truck and dump PCB contaminated soil from Plainwell in the middle of the City of Kalamazoo, there was no indication that the plan was anything other than a done deal.

The degree of organizing and outcry from our community thus far has been nothing short of amazing. Never before has a single issue galvanized all sectors of the community to fight what is so clearly a bad idea.

Now, in the face of mounting pressure, public backlash and some questions asked by high-level political officials, the EPA says they will conduct further “public dialogue” and communication about their plans. Yet they continue to stick to their talking points and give no sign of any serious reconsideration of their intentions. To date, none of the rationales the EPA has given for the plan can truly justify it. It continues to appear that they wish to truck the poison here because to save money for the potentially responsible parties, not because they should.

We must not let this happen. Kalamazoo will not accept the nickname “The Toxic City.”