mdn110104

Dow dioxin talks with DEQ ongoing

Kathie Marchlewski, Midland Daily News 11/01/2004

Sunday marked the deadline for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and The Dow Chemical Co. to reach an agreement on how to handle dioxin contamination in the Saginaw Valley. Whether a pact materialized remains to be seen.

DEQ spokesman Bob McCann said this morning he didn't know "if they had, or if they were even close." An update from DEQ Director Steven Chester is likely by midweek, he said.

Dow spokeswoman Terri Johnson said this morning "discussions continue."

The department and company have been in talks at the governor's request since June, trying to hash out a plan that will protect the economic vitality of the area while meeting the requirements of Dow's 10-year Hazardous Waste Facility Operating Permit issued in June 2003.

That permit requires Dow to meet environmental standards, including the assurance that dioxin contamination in soil not exceed the state's direct residential contact criteria of 90 parts per trillion. Levels as high as 7,000 parts per trillion have been found on properties within the Tittabawassee River flood plain, and areas of Midland and the Saginaw River and Bay also exceed the allowable level.

Talks included Chester and Lt. Gov. John Cherry, along with Dow's Arnold A. Allemang, executive vice president of global operations; Larry J. Washington, corporate vice president of environmental health and safety, human resources and public affairs; and Susan Carrington, vice president and head of Dow's dioxin initiative, and continued over the weekend.

"Both sides were willing to work up to 'zero hour,'" McCann said.

For additional articles like this one, go to the Tittabawasse River Watch web site www.trwnews.net for complete coverage of the Tittabawassee River Dow Chemical dioxin contamination saga. . The Newspaper / Media page of our site contains an extensive archive of media articles dating back to January 2002. The source organization's web site link is listed to the right of the article, visit often for other news in our area. The Newspaper / Media page may be accessed by scrolling down to the bottom of the CONTENTS section and clicking on the Newspaper/Media link.