Attorney General Nessel Secures Settlements with Past and Present Operators of White Pigeon Paper Mill to Address PFAS Contamination

LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has reached two settlement agreements with the current and past owners of a paper mill in White Pigeon, Michigan. The two settlements secure funding for response activities to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) released into the environment from historic operations and require action to address sources of past and ongoing releases of PFAS into the White Pigeon River.   

The Attorney General filed a lawsuit against St. Joseph County paper companies Ox Paperboard WP, LLC and White Pigeon Mills, LLC (collectively Ox Paperboard) in October 2024 following repeated violations of environmental laws. Under the terms of this settlement (PDF), Ox Paperboard must address ongoing contamination sources at the mill by: 

• Properly closing a former wastewater lagoon on the property that allowed contamination to seep into the groundwater;
• Conducting an engineering evaluation of its wastewater treatment system;
• Addressing PFAS in stormwater on the property; and
• Preventing any unauthorized discharges to surface waters or groundwater. 

This adds to a settlement reached in April 2025 (PDF) with the paper mill’s former owner, Artistic Carton, now known as Grove 1935, which operated the mill from 1976 to 2019. That settlement included a nearly $1.2 million payment, with almost all of that amount dedicated to the cleanup of contamination at the White Pigeon site.   

“Ensuring Michigan residents have clean water and a healthy environment is one of our top priorities, and companies that pollute our waters will face consequences,” Nessel said. “These settlements will reduce historic and ongoing PFAS pollution from the White Pigeon Mill and will help protect the White Pigeon River for years to come.” 

“Communities like White Pigeon deserve to know their water and environment are being protected,” said EGLE Director Phil Roos. “These settlements send a clear message that Michigan will hold polluters accountable and take action to safeguard our natural resources. We’re committed to ensuring a cleaner, healthier future for all Michiganders.” 

These settlements were reached with the assistance of Special Assistant Attorneys General (SAAGs) retained specifically to assist with complex PFAS litigation. These two settlements follow three previous site-specific settlements reached with the PFAS SAAGs’ assistance and there are currently three PFAS cases filed under the SAAG contract pending in federal court.  

More information about Attorney General Nessel’s work on PFAS litigation can be found online at the Department of Attorney General website.