Thursday, October 14, 2004
JEREMIAH STETTLERTHE SAGINAW NEWS
The state Department of Environmental Quality has sanctioned a communications plan that will accompany cleanup efforts along the dioxin-tainted Tittabawassee River.
The state is requiring Dow Chemical Co. to create community information centers in Saginaw and Midland counties that contain information about dioxin. All materials will undergo state review.
The company also must post warning signs in high-use areas such as Imerman Memorial Park, West Michigan Park, Freeland Festival Park, Caldwell Boat Launch and Center Road Boat Launch about the potential health effects of dioxin.
Dow Chemical submitted the document in February as part of its proposed remediation plan for the Tittabawassee River. State regulators say the company polluted the floodplain with dioxin, a harmful byproduct of combustion.
State spokesman Robert McCann said the eight-month delay in receiving the plan and approving it resulted from several modifications and back-and-forth discussions with Dow.
"We wanted to make sure that the right message was getting out to the community," McCann said.
DEQ Director Steven E. Chester said the document will help bridge the information gap about dioxin.
"This plan will help the citizens of Midland and other regional communities stay informed about dioxins and learn what they can do to reduce any potential exposure to themselves and their families," he said. "This is a positive step forward in efforts to address the issue and keep the community healthy."
The plan is available at www.michigan.gov/deqdioxin. v
Jeremiah Stettler is a staff writer at the Saginaw News. You may reach him at 776-9685.
© 2004 Saginaw News
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.