CHICAGO (Jul. 1, 2004) -- Last week, under an EPA order, International
Paper Co. completed an initial removal of dioxin-contaminated soil
from the St. Regis Paper Co. Superfund site in Cass Lake, Minn.
Over a period of ten days, 2,386 tons of soil were removed in 94
loads and sent to the Onyx FCR Landfill in Buffalo, Minn.
EPA is primarily concerned about dioxin contamination from the
wood treatment operation at the former St. Regis Paper site. This
initial removal addressed soil with dioxin levels of one part per
billion or greater in parts of the site primarily owned by Cass
Lake.
The excavated areas were sampled to be sure that the most contaminated
soil was completely removed. Results are expected within four to
six weeks. The excavated areas will remain covered and fenced until
the sample results are received and reviewed. If results show additional
soil needs to be excavated, more will be removed later this summer.
International Paper, which acquired Champion International in
2000, is responsible for cleaning up soil and ground-water contamination
on and around the site. Champion bought the St. Regis Paper Co.
in 1985.
Technical documents and other information about the St. Regis
Paper Superfund site are on file at the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
Division of Resource Management, 6350 Highway 2 N.W., Cass Lake;
the Cass Lake City Clerk's office, 332 Second St. N.W., Cass Lake;
Bemidji State University Library, 1500 Birchmont St. N.E., Bemidji
; and Leech Lake Tribal College, 203 Second St., Cass Lake. Information
about the site is available on EPA's Web site at www.epa.gov/region5/sites/stregis.
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