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Plaintiffs suing The Dow Chemical Co. over dioxin in the Tittabawassee River floodplain plan to address the court in person for the first time today.
Attorney Jan Helder, representing more than 180 property owners who believe their land was made worthless by dioxin deposited into the soil by historic Dow manufacturing processes, said this morning that a scheduling hearing would take place in Saginaw County Circuit Court.
Judge Leopold R. Borrello is expected to set a timeline for the case and plaintiffs will file a motion to have the case certified as a class-action suit representing about 2,000 people living in the floodplain. They also will request access to Dow records relevant to the case.
The hearing and filing takes place on the heels of a recent Department of Environmental Quality advisory informing owners of land in the river’s 100-year floodplain that they must disclose information about dioxin contamination to potential buyers. An advisory also was distributed warning that any movement of soil, including activities such as gardening and mowing, increases health risks associated with dioxin.
While each property in the floodplain has not been tested for dioxin levels, DEQ spokeswoman Patricia Lawton said based on soil sampling conducted in the area, "We believe it’s appropriate to conclude that it does (have dioxin)."
"We need to make sure that people realize their responsibilities," she added.
A second phase of soil testing, future tests, soil movement matters and Dow’s recently issued Hazardous Waste Facility Operating License will be discussed at a public meeting hosted by the DEQ Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Freeland High School Auditorium, 8250 Webster Road, Freeland.
Representatives from the Department of Environmental Quality, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and the Department of Community Health will be available.
Also on the agenda are future plans for community involvement in addressing area environmental issues. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/deq or call the Saginaw-Bay District Office of the DEQ at (989) 686-8025. |