Book Club Discussion on Paper Valley The Fight for the Fox River Cleanup Register

Date and Time:
Tue, Sep 3, 2024; 7:00 PM (Central)

Organized By: Wisconsin Chapter

Location: Virtual

Event Organizers:
Cassie Steiner
   cassandra.steiner@sierraclub.org

The Sierra Club Wisconsin Chapter’s book club is back again for 2024 with plenty of great reads. We meet from 7 - 8 pm on the first Tuesday evening of every other month (on odd months) and we’d love for you to join us! 

September 3, 2024: Paper Valley: The Fight for the Fox River Cleanup by David Allen and Susan Campbell
When 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. This 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. 



Please join us for as many book club reads as you would like, and feel free to drop in even if you haven't finished the book or are only able to attend one discussion during the year. Books are selected from a list of recommendations from book club attendees. 

Contact Cassie at cassie.steiner@sierraclub.org with questions.