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City and County Issue Joint Statement on Air Quality Health Report

Published on May 09, 2023

The City of Kalamazoo and Kalamazoo County Government received the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Health Consultation report Monday regarding odors near the Graphic Packaging International (GPI) facility and the Kalamazoo Wastewater Reclamation Plant. City and County staff are thoroughly reviewing the results from the health consultation.

“The City of Kalamazoo considers the public’s concerns over air quality emissions as a top priority,” said James J. Baker, City of Kalamazoo Public Services Director & City Engineer. “Regarding the results of the Air Quality Health Study, Kalamazoo remains steadfast in efforts to address the presence of gases and their odors in air readings throughout the city.”

“We’re grateful the community trusted us to escalate their concerns—resulting in an investigation by MDHHS,” said Jim Rutherford, Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department Health Officer. “We will continue to support MDHHS as they work to mitigate emissions in our community and encourage residents to learn more at the upcoming town hall meeting.”

At the Kalamazoo Wastewater Reclamation Plant, more than $5 million in odor mitigation improvements have recently been made, and additional improvements are underway. Examples include:

Carbon and passive interceptor air scrubbers operational and installed at remote locations.
New solids handling processes to minimize the number of trucks leaving the Wastewater Plant and new odor-reducing procedures for truck loading.
2023 project to relocate and resize pipes from Graphic Packaging International (GPI) discharging to the Wastewater Reclamation Plant to reduce gas accumulation in the pipes.
Use of technology to investigate potential odors from within large sewer pipes entering the City.
Placement of 10 EnviroSuite air monitors in neighborhoods and six (6) within the Wastewater Reclamation Plant.
Publicly available website for monitoring results of EnviroSuite data: https://es2.envirosuite.com/monitoring/city-of-kalamazoo/kalamazoo-cooc
Ongoing Odor Task Force comprised of City officials, community members, industry, and state regulators to identify and act on odor reduction improvements.

The City of Kalamazoo will continue actively monitoring GPI and work with federal and state regulators and county health officials, as well as with all parties involved on this important issue. A link to the MDHHS report, along with a press release from the state, are available online: Kalamazoo Air Quality Health Consultation (michigan.gov)

MDHHS will host a town hall at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 18, at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 120 Roberson St. in Kalamazoo, to answer questions from the public. A second session will take place at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 24, at Urban Alliance, 1009 E. Stockbridge Ave., Kalamazoo, for those unable to attend the first meeting.