EPA sampling residential properties for dioxin
By Tony Lascari, Midland Daily News
Published: Thursday, April 3, 2008 11:23 AM EDT

State and federal agencies are screening about 10 residential properties along the Tittabawassee River in Saginaw County for dioxin contamination in the soil.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 and Michigan Department of Environmental Quality hope to find the extent of dioxin contamination in the neighborhood.

According to the EPA, the sampling was prompted by The Dow Chemical Co.'s February 2008 disclosure to the agencies of an elevated dioxin level found in a residential soil sample collected by Dow in November 2007.

Dow's Michigan Operations plant upriver from the site is an historic source of dioxin and furan contaminants, which are byproducts from the manufacture of chlorine-based products.

Dow spokesman John Musser said the company will cooperate as required, but he believes the area might have already qualified for remedial cleanup.

The EPA will analyze small plugs from up to 3 feet below surface level, with the process taking two to three weeks. The EPA, MDEQ and Michigan Department of Community Health will use the data to consider a range of options, including more comprehensive sampling in the area and possible cleanup actions.

"Residential soil contamination is a serious matter," said Associate Superfund Director Ralph Dollhopf. "At this time of year, children are playing outside again and families are planning gardens. If action is needed, this project will ramp up very quickly."

Musser said Dollhopf might not be taking into account a University of Michigan dioxin exposure study by David Garabrant that found dioxin levels in soil had little relation to blood dioxin levels in residents.

"It just seems to be inconsistent with that finding," he said.

Under Dow's operating license, MDEQ required the company to conduct certain soil and embankment sampling along the middle section of the Tittabawassee River downriver from its Midland site.

"We think it is related to some homes that are located right on the Tittabawassee River in an area that can flood during the 10-year flood events," Musser said. "These residences were likely included in the interim actions we took a couple of years back."

Among the actions offered to homeowners were carpet cleaning, duct cleaning and some landscaping in areas designated as Priority 1 properties. Musser said he does not know if the EPA is aware that the remedial work might have taken place there.

"We're going to certainly be cooperative as required to make sure they have all the information they need to have," he said.
 

For additional articles like this one, go to the Tittabawassee 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.