BREAKING NEWS: EPA develops dioxin cleanup plan

 By Tony Lascari, Midland Daily News
 Published: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 6:06 PM EDT U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson today announced plans to speed cleanup of contamination in local waterways.

Pollution from The Dow Chemical Co.’s Michigan Operations site in Midland - including dioxins and furans - has traveled from the Tittabawassee River downstream to the Saginaw River and Saginaw Bay. Jackson wants a full investigation of the Saginaw River and Bay, as has been completed in the Tittabawassee River.

Jackson called for a division of cleanup oversight between the EPA and the State of Michigan, with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality continuing to lead corrective actions at Dow’s plant in Midland and its immediate surroundings, including the City of Midland, while the EPA will assume lead responsibility for the remainder of the river system and Saginaw Bay using its Superfund authorities.

“By leveraging our combined resources and expertise, we should be able to accelerate the pace of site investigation and cleanup,” Jackson wrote.

Dow spokeswoman Mary Draves said the company is ready to move forward with talks on the specifics of the plans.

"We’re prepared to move forward with the systematic approach the EPA has outlined and the transparency being proposed,” Draves said.

 http://www.ourmidland.com/articles/2009/05/26/local_news/doc4a1c67ed40c5a260408161.txt


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