{"product_id":"paper-valley-the-fight-for-the-fox-river-cleanup","title":"Paper Valley: The Fight for the Fox River Cleanup","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe compelling true story of a hard-fought environmental win, set in motion by a tenacious government scientist and an unrelenting journalist—resulting in the polluting companies paying for the $1 billion, 20-year cleanup.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBooklist raves,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003ePaper Valley\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\"is a compelling human-interest tale on par with Erin Brockovich and Jonathan Harr's\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eA Civil Action\u003c\/em\u003e.\"\u003cbr\u003eA 2024 selection by the Sierra Club, Wisconsin Chapter Book Club\u003cbr\u003eWinner, Midwest Book Award!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen government scientist David Allen arrived at his new jobsite in the 1990s, the Fox River near Wisconsin's Green Bay was dominated by hulking paper mills, noxious industrial odors, and widespread ecological damage. Confronted by his lack of resources to force the politically powerful \"Paper Valley\" polluters to fix their mess, Allen proceeds against all bureaucratic odds in building a $1 billion case against the paper company bosses. Two small but vital players, Allen along with journalist Susan Campbell were relentless in bringing the case to the public at the time. They do so again in this book: an act of radical transparency to uncover the intrigue that nearly blocked the cleanup behind the scenes at US Fish and Wildlife, Wisconsin's Department of Natural Resources, and the US Environmental Protection Agency. In a rare and major environmental win, the Fox River became the site of the largest polychlorinated biphenyls cleanup in history, paid for by the paper companies rather than taxpayers, to the tune of $1.3 billion, and completed in 2020.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis true story of struggle, perseverance, and success inspires hope for environmentalists who strive to restore natural landscapes. The detailed account given in this book is meant to inspire and offer practical knowledge and solutions for those fighting similar opponents of environmental cleanup and restoration. Allen and Campbell eloquently outline the problematic bureaucracy involved in environmental cleanup efforts and reveal tactics to compel corporate entities who would dodge accountability for decades worth of contamination.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eP. David Allen II is a retired wildlife biologist and environmental consultant, who has worked for federal, state, tribal, and local governments in twenty-five states.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSusan Campbell is a former environmental reporter for the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eGreen Bay Press-Gazette\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand the coauthor of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eBeyond Earth Day: Fulfilling the Promise\u003c\/i\u003e, with the late Earth Day founder, Sen. Gaylord Nelson.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wayne State University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42705720475710,"sku":null,"price":26.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1957\/7713\/files\/9780814349588.avif?v=1776281723","url":"https:\/\/nmglstore.org\/products\/paper-valley-the-fight-for-the-fox-river-cleanup","provider":"National Museum of the Great Lakes","version":"1.0","type":"link"}