Document 0axrBrZgMR67ag1EqX51K4dm

INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM Date: From: Dept: Tel No 09-Aug-1993 01:43pm CDT Loren Wassell WASSELL, LOREN W. Chemical Group Public Affairs 314-694-7002 FAX 314-694-1585 TO: TO: TO: TO: TO: TO: TO: TO: TO: Robert G. Potter Michael E. Miller David L. Sliney Michael W. Winkel Elizabeth A. Fay Laurence J. O'Neill FOSTER, SCARLETT L G. F. Fort Michael Foresman ( POTTER, ROBERT G. ) ( MILLER, MICHAEL E. ) ( SLINEY, D. L. ) ( WINKEL, MICHAEL W. ) ( FAY, ELIZABETH A. ) ( O'NEILL, LAURENCE J. ( SLFOST0CCMAIL ) ( FORT, GARTH F. ) ( FORESMAN, MICHAEL R. ) ) CC: CC: CC: CC: CC: CC: SACKETT, RUSSELL F Steven D. Smith KRCHMA, STEPHEN P Kevin S. Cahill MILLER, KEITH S SMITH, ANDREA H ( RFSACK@HP ) ( SMITH, STEVEN D. ( SPKRCH0CCMAIL ) ( CAHILL, KEVIN S. ( KSMILL0HP ) ( AHSMIT0HP ) ) ) Subject: WGK LANDFILL / WALL STREET JOURNAL Scott McMurray of the lied today to inquire about the impact of the flood on the former he is doing a column on the river's effect'bn several environmental issues, including the landfill. (You may recall that McMurray wrote a major article last year (6-17-92) on Sauget area waste sites.) WGK Plant Manager Russ Sackett handled the response in a telephone interview. The questioning was briefer, and much less negative, than last week's CBS TV interview. The response: o There is no significant effect from the flood. We have inspected the landfill and done aerial photography; the cap remains above the level of the water. It is visible as a rectangular green island (formed by the cap) west of the levee on the east side of the river. Q. Have you done any testing to see if there is leakage? A. The water is about 12 feet deep and so it would be difficult to test the water around it. Our studies tell us it has no effect on the river during normal flows. In our visual inspections, we see no violation of the integrity of the cap. Loren Wassell DSW 134920 STLCOPCB4034879 INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM Date From Dept: Tel No 06-Aug-1993 02:37pm CDT Loren Wassell WASSELL, LOREN W. Chemical Group Public Affairs 314-694-7002 FAX 314-694-1585 TO: TO: TO: TO: TO: TO: TO: TO: TO: Robert G. Potter Michael E. Miller David L. Sliney Michael W. Winkel Elizabeth A. Fay Laurence J. O'Neill FOSTER, SCARLETT L G. F. Fort Michael Foresman ( POTTER, ROBERT G. ) ( MILLER, MICHAEL E. ) ( SLINEY, D. L. ) ( WINKEL, MICHAEL W. ) ( FAY, ELIZABETH A. ) ( O'NEILL, LAURENCE J. ( SLFOST0CCMAIL ) ( FORT, GARTH F. ) ( FORESMAN, MICHAEL R. ) ) CC: CC: CC: CC: CC: CC: SACKETT, RUSSELL F SMITH, STEPHEN T KRCHMA, STEPHEN P Kevin S. Cahill MILLER, KEITH S SMITH, ANDREA H RFSACK0HP ) SMITHS@A1@NUTRA ) SPKRCH0CCMAIL ) CAHILL, KEVIN S. ) KSMILL0HP ) AHSMIT0HP ) Subject: CBS NEWS -- WGK LANDFILL CBS TV contacted us this morning for an interview about the flood as it relates to the former Krummrich landfill. The TV team said they had been researching the story for two days, and talked to Illinois EPA and "other watchdog groups." Based on the questioning, the story will identify the landfill as the worst of several toxic sites involved in the flood, and indicate the flood will increase leaching into the river with unknown impact. Russ Sackett responded for the Krummrich Plant, and said the interviewer's tone was aggressive throughout. Main points were: o We have done significant work to install the cap and protect the landfill and we'll continue to do what's needed. We've worked cooperatively with Illinois EPA and will continue to do so. o We have inspected the cap routinely throughout the flooding and it remains intact. We'll continue to examine it as the water recedes. o There's no reason to believe the flood is causing any problem today. Other points, in response to questions, included: DSW 134921 STLCOPCB4034880 o Our counsultants indicate there is no risk to human health from the landfill during ordinary river flow; the extraordinary volumes during the flood would tend to lessen any risk. o The landfill was sited 30 years ago, and met legal standards at that time. We would not site a landfill'there today. In fact, our goal now is to eliminate waste, or recycle and reuse it. The plant does not send any routine process wastes to landfills today. o The landfill contains various process wastes from operations at the plant. o There is a question whether removing the material would disrupt the structure and have a larger impact than an engineering solution with the existing structure. The current cap is an engineered solution built to exacting specifications and the protective structure has since been improved. o We have spent several million dollars on the remedial investigation and are continuing to work cooperatively on it with EPA. The interviewer indicated the story will air tonight or Monday on the CBS Evening News. It's possible other media will follow up on this subject after it airs. Loren Wassell DSW 134922 STLCOPCB4034881