West KL Landfill Response To Comments - Dec 19: The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) Division of Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology Toxicology and Response Section has prepared the Response to Public Comments on the Health Consultation for the West KL Avenue Landfill. MDCH released the Draft Public Health Consultation for West KL Avenue Landfill for public comment last May. The consultation, prepared under a cooperative agreement with the Federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), addresses the U.S. EPA amendment to the Record of Decision for the site, health concerns expressed by the community, and the cap on the landfill. West KL Avenue Landfill is a former sanitary landfill in Oshtemo Township, Kalamazoo County. MDCH will be issuing a release on the Response in early January, 2004. In the meantime at the request of MDCH, WIMS has posted the Response document. Access the Response to Comments (click here).

West KL Avenue Landfill Health Consultation - May 16: The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has released a Draft Public Health Consultation for West KL Avenue Landfill for public comment.  The consultation, prepared under a cooperative agreement with the Federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), addresses the U.S. EPA amendment to the Record of Decision for the site, health concerns expressed by the community, and the cap on the landfill. West KL Avenue Landfill is a former sanitary landfill in Oshtemo Township, Kalamazoo County.  It operated from the 1960s until it was closed, by order of the State, in 1979.  The State ordered the landfill closed after volatile organic compounds were detected in residential wells in the area.  EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List in 1982 and later signed a Record of Decision (ROD) that selected a final clean up for the site.  Remediation steps included placing an "impermeable" cap over the landfill.  The site is currently covered with a "permeable" cap. In 2002, EPA amended the ROD so that municipal water would be supplied to homes ahead of the path of the plume. MDCH will conduct a meeting with the community June 4, 2003, from 7-9 PM, at the Oshtemo Township Hall, to ensure that all health concerns have been voiced and addressed. The Department of Community Health invites the public to review the Draft Public Health Consultation and offer comments on it.  Comments on the draft Public Health Consultation must be received by June 23, 2003. According to a release, the Health Consultation is available for public review at the Kalamazoo Public Library, Oshtemo Branch, 7265 W. Main St., Kalamazoo.  Access the MDCH release with further information on commenting and contacts (click here).