Lansing, Michigan – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has launched a lawsuit against St. Joseph County paper producer Ox Paperboard WP, LLC and its partner White Pigeon Mills, LLC. Filed in Ingham County Circuit Court, the case accuses the company of numerous environmental violations, especially the release of wastewater tainted with PFAS into the White Pigeon River and environs.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds, or PFAS, are a group of man-made chemicals well known for their environmental persistence and potential human health risks. Because of their water and oil repellency qualities, these compounds have been applied in several sectors including consumer goods. Because PFAS resists natural degradation and presents long-lasting environmental and health issues, the pollution threat can be particularly significant.
Ox Paperboard has been sent seven violation notices by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) since assuming control of operations at the White Pigeon Mill in June 2020. These violations of Michigan’s strict environmental laws included inappropriate processing and disposal of wastewater contaminated with PFAS. Despite these warnings, the business allegedly carried on its harmful activities, raising serious environmental and water quality issues.
Attorney General Nessel’s legal action aims to pursue certain corrective actions directed against Ox Paperboard. Among the main requests are correct closure of wastewater lagoons on the land, instant stop of illegal wastewater releases, and large civil fines. These fines seek to recoup state spending in implementing environmental regulations as well as the expenses and damages resulting from the violation.
“As Attorney General, I have prioritized protecting Michigan’s environment and holding polluters accountable,” said Nessel. “When companies operating in Michigan fail to respect our laws and our communities, our Department will not hesitate to use its full authority under the law to defend our public health and our natural resources. It is unacceptable for companies like Ox Paperboard to pollute Michigan’s precious water and put the health and safety of Michigan families at risk.”
“Every resident across the State deserves clean air, safe water, and a healthy community, including being protected against toxic contaminants like PFAS,” said Phil Roos, Director of the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. “We are committed to enforcing Michigan’s statutes prohibiting harmful PFAS discharges into waters of the State and EGLE is committed to stopping these discharges and holding this company accountable.”
The case symbolizes AG Nessel’s ongoing larger battle to solve PFAS pollution around Michigan. It emphasizes the state’s strict attitude to environmental enforcement and reflects a rising trend of legal challenges targeted at reducing pollution and safeguarding public health from the negative consequences of lasting industrial contaminants like PFAS.
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The case against Ox Paperboard will be a crucial litmus test for Michigan’s environmental regulations and their execution as the court processes, emphasizing the continuous fight against industrial pollutants and the need of preserving the state’s environmental laws.
The suit against Ox Paperboard follows Attorney General Nessel’s PFAS-specific lawsuits against multiple PFAS manufacturers, separate lawsuits against manufacturers of PFAS-containing firefighting foam, a lawsuit, now settled, against Asahi Kasei Plastics North America in Livingston County, a lawsuit against Domtar Industries, Inc. pending in St. Clair County, and a lawsuit related to former Keeler Brass facilities currently pending in Kent County Circuit Court.