Thursday, December 4, 2003

JEREMIAH STETTLER
THE SAGINAW NEWS

Dow Chemical Co. has failed to meet state expectations for dealing with dioxin along the Tittabawassee River, a Department of Environmental Quality official said Wednesday.

Next week, state regulators will release a "notice of deficiency" to the Midland-based chemical giant, detailing the shortcomings of its plans to clean up dioxin in the floodplain.

The Department of Environmental Quality has reported dioxin levels along the Tittabawassee River up to 80 times higher than the state standard and has ordered Dow to develop a remediation plan.

Dow officials say they are trying to develop the "right" approach for coping with the contamination problem.

"Individuals and families who live along the river are telling us that they want answers, but they want what is right," said Dow spokeswoman Terri M. Johnson. "We have to understand what is right."

Al Taylor, senior geologist for the DEQ's Hazardous Waste Division, said the company's proposed cleanup plan isn't sufficient.

"It requires substantial revisions," he said.

Among other things, the plan gives Dow too much time to complete its work. Taylor wants to see the timeline compressed to "this year or as soon as possible."

It also lacks plans for sampling soil in Midland neighborhoods near Dow, for identifying properties outside Riverside Boulevard in Saginaw Township where residents are at high risk for dioxin exposure, and for posting warning signs in public parks along the river.

The DEQ also wants Dow to stop crop production on company-owned farms in the "frequently flooded" areas of the Tittabawassee River floodplain.

The state will release the deficiency notice early next week. Dow then will have 45 days -- 15 days extra because of the holidays -- to submit a revised plan.

Gary Henry, a Tittabawassee River resident who sits on a dioxin-related citizens committee, said he is tired of the delays. He said the company is dragging its feet on projects as simple as posting warning signs in riverside parks.

"Either they are not taking any of us seriously or there is an ulterior motive," he said. "It just doesn't make any sense. If they were really concerned about the public's welfare, they would have already resolved this."

Betty Damore, a resident and citizens committee member, agreed.

"It seems like they are constantly pushing back the clock to benefit themselves," she said. "They are not being concerned about public issues and public safety."

Johnson said Dow is not sitting idle while its plan is reviewed. Rather, she said the company is acting proactively to address pollution concerns.

Johnson referred to a wild game study, which is listed under Dow's remediation plan. The study would measure dioxin levels in the edible portions of frequently hunted animals.

Although the remediation plan is not approved, Dow officials received a go-ahead from the state to collect deer, turkeys and rabbits for the study. Most of those animals are collected. t

Jeremiah Stettler is a staff writer for The Saginaw News. You may reach him at 776-9685.

© 2003 Saginaw News