Michigan’s Attorney General, Dana Nessel, has reached two important settlement deals with the current and former owners of a paper mill in White Pigeon. The agreements focus on cleaning up harmful chemicals called PFAS, which have leaked into the environment from the mill’s past operations.
Last October, Nessel filed a lawsuit against the companies that now own the mill, Ox Paperboard WP, LLC, and White Pigeon Mills, LLC, after several violations of environmental laws. Under the settlement, Ox Paperboard has several tasks to complete. They must properly close an old wastewater lagoon that allowed pollution into the groundwater, review their wastewater treatment system, manage PFAS in stormwater on their property, and stop unauthorized releases of pollutants into local water sources. The company will also pay a $95,200 fine and cover past legal and cleanup costs.
Before this, in April 2025, there was a similar agreement with the mill’s former owner, Artistic Carton, now known as Grove 1935, which ran the mill from 1976 to 2019. That deal included nearly $1.2 million, mostly for cleaning up the pollution at the site.
These settlements show a clear effort by Michigan officials to address pollution and protect the local environment. The White Pigeon River and surrounding areas have been affected by PFAS, chemicals that don’t break down easily and can be harmful to people and wildlife. These agreements aim to stop further contamination and repair the damage from years of industrial activity.