"This was a good faith effort to promote bipartisan cooperation and to have good science guide our remediation efforts," said Rep. John Moolenaar, who offered an amendment to the DEQ budget recommendation that restored nearly $6 million to the Waste and Hazardous Materials Division.

The appropriations committee last week considered the change as a "message of intent" for a department some called "out of control" in handling contamination issues in Midland and along the Tittabawassee River flood plain.

The elimination would have moved administration of hazardous materials regulations and permits to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which currently has a dioxin action level more than 11 times higher than the state's, but is conducting a reassessment and could shift the number downward in upcoming years.

MDEQ Director Steve Chester told Midlanders last month that the state's 90 parts per trillion residential direct contact criteria for dioxin would be adhered to for Midland and Tittabawassee River flood plain soils. Sampling in Midland was expected to begin in upcoming weeks with mitigation at properties exceeding that level to follow. Possibilities included removal and replacement of soil.

Chester also said further studies that could increase the 90 ppt could be considered but didn't commit and complained about spending the extra time.

When lawmakers, including Moolenaar and Sen. Tony Stamas, met with Chester and Gov. Jennifer Granholm Saturday, an agreement to proceed with further study was met.

The DEQ budget that was passed included $800,000 for an independent bioavailability study that will be peer-reviewed by the state and will use animals to determine how much dioxin is absorbed when contaminated soil is ingested.

The measurement will be plugged into the algorithm the state used to set the 90 ppt criteria. In the existing calculation, the amount absorbed is assumed, but not proven.

"I consider this a victory for sound science and common sense," Moolenaar said of the item in the budget.