The plan by Dow to take wild game samples and analyze them for dioxin was approved by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) on Monday.

Under the plan, Dow will collect deer, turkey, and rabbit samples from two locations within the Tittabawassee River area south of Midland, and from a third, control location North of Midland for comparison. All locations are either Dow or privately owned. Also, the plan stipulates that animals be collected under specific permits for scientific purposes and the collection be conducted by officers from the US Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services Division. Tissue samples from the animals will be analyzed for dioxins, furans and PCBs. The results will be used to determine whether there is a statistical difference in levels between the sites. These results will also be compared to background dioxin levels found in the national food supply for the same or similar species.

"This is a very tangible step forward," Carrington said. "People have been asking us to begin a sampling program to develop actual data, and now we have MDEQ’s approval to move forward."