KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) — The first of two Environmental Protection Agency meetings is set for Thursday on the plan to clean up the old Allied Paper dump site.
The second will take place next Thursday.
The compromise plan won’t remove the PCBs. Instead, dangerous chemicals will be isolated from the community on one section of the property, and the rest of the 80-acre site will be left for redevelopment.
“We think there’s some really nice features for this, and we also think this will open up the landfill for redevelopment and access,” EPA representative Michael Berkoff said.
Mayor Bobby Hopewell says Kalamazoo will get several benefits, but at a lesser cost.
“We have an opportunity for redevelopment at the site that was not on any radar screen before this community came together,” Hopewell said.
Thursday’s session will be held at the Washington Writers Academy. Next week’s will be held at the Hispanic American Council.
Both events start at 6 p.m. Public comment will be accepted.
– John McNeill
