FMC Pocatello, IdahoCONTACT: Paul Yochum 208-317-3583
POWER COUNTY, Idaho, September 26, 2011 – EPA Region 10 today released its proposed cleanup plan for the FMC portion of the Eastern Michaud Flats Superfund site. The proposed plan calls for capping contaminated soils at the site as well as the treatment of contaminated groundwater.
The proposed plan was issued approximately 21 years after the Eastern Michaud Flats was first listed as a Superfund site in August 1990, and 16 months after the EPA National Remedy Review Board’s review and concurrence with the EPA Region 10 proposed plan. The cost to implement the cleanup is estimated at $60 million over a three-year period.
“FMC is pleased that a proposed plan has now been released by EPA for public comment and appreciates the hard work of all involved, including EPA, IDEQ and the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes,” said Bob Forbes, FMC director of Environment. “It has been a long time coming. Over the past two decades, the site has been studied and restudied to confirm the extent of contamination and the appropriate options to remedy the site conditions. The time has come to act on the results of those investigations and implement the selected site remedy in the proposed plan.”
FMC anticipates that the cleanup could begin in the spring of 2012. Redevelopment can occur as the cleanup progresses and there are portions of the property that can accommodate an industrial use now. The property boasts excellent infrastructure including rail, electrical transmission and access to interstate highways.
“We’re looking forward to making good on our commitment to Southeast Idaho when we closed the plant in 2001, which was to get the property cleaned up and redeveloped. The site is uniquely situated to support good paying jobs and significantly contribute again to the local economies,” said Forbes. “The Power County Development Authority (PCDA) is actively marketing the property and opportunities abound to make something happen as we implement the cleanup.”
FMC will continue to work with EPA through the public comment period to finalize the plan so that it can be implemented. FMC hopes the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes will support the plan given their extensive involvement in its development from start to finish. “This proposed plan provides a safe, effective and time-tested method of managing phosphorus in soil. We need to move forward to get the site cleaned up and contributing to the economy of Southeast Idaho. This plan can make that happen,” said Forbes.
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