It is also an opportunity for those in the community to voice concerns or questions regarding the cleanup. The EPA has, in the past been very responsive to community concerns, but they can't be responsive if they don't know what those concerns are. The information part of the meeting is also a time when the State environmental agency , MDEQ, presents information regarding the health of the river including fish and other wildlife studies. The second part of the meeting involves technical aspects of the cleanup. In the past, the technical committee of the CAG has looked into whether or not the EPA should lower the river level to build coffer dams and explored ways to cut down on airborne dust from the cleanup.
Water is pumped out from inside the dammed area exposing the sediment to be cleaned.
Please do not go near the exposed river bottom. The water treatment system cleans the water and pumps it back into the river, but it can't run unless the State grants the EPA a permit to discharge the water into the Pine River. The current permit required some upgrades from last year and improvements have been made to the system. The water treatment system is now treating contaminated cell water and pumping DDT-free water back into the Pine River. The contractors are currently excavating the sediment and mixing it with lime pellets.