Dow plans soil sampling

Kathie Marchlewski, Midland Daily News 02/08/2006

In order to find out how far historical dioxin contamination spread from its Michigan Operations manufacturing facility, The Dow Chemical Co. is planning to test soils across Midland. Once the snow melts, the company expects to be actively asking property owners for dirt.

"In order to get a representative characterization of the area, there are going to be tests taken on private property, if access is given," said Dow spokesman John Musser.

The proposed testing area includes a wide stretch of land that City of Midland planners estimate hosts as many as 23,785 residents living in 9,373 homes and rental units (see map, page A2).

The first phase of the effort includes testing only -- not cleanup -- and is the result of requirements of Dow's operating license. The company is proposing that study results not be linked to specific properties in order to protect privacy, but acknowledges that if sampling turns up contamination levels higher than state standards, property owners could be notified and offered services to keep them from exposure.

People can give or deny permission for the sampling. "You're going to have people on both sides of the equation," Musser said. "They can make the choice with their own free will whether or not they want to take part."

The proposed process and testing area are among the topics scheduled for discussion at Thursday's quarterly Tri-Cities Dioxin Community meeting, 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Horizon's Conference Center, 6200 State St., Saginaw. Hosted jointly by Dow and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, staff from each will be available to the public for one half hour before and after the meeting. Study and sampling plans for the Tittabawassee River and its flood plain, and the Saginaw River and its bay, also are on the meeting agenda.

Plans are yet to be reviewed and approved by the DEQ, which will be taking public comment on proposals until March 15.

The next step, which won't begin until the remedial investigation is complete, involves deciding what actions, if any, should be taken to resolve the contamination issue.

"The remedies have not been determined," said MDEQ spokesman Bob McCann. "That's the goal of the remedial investigation -- to get to that point."

The meeting agenda and Dow's work plans are available at www.michigan.gov/deqdioxin, by clicking on "DEQ/Dow Community Involvement" and "Dow Off-site Corrective Action."

©Midland Daily News 2006

Reader Comments

Wednesday February 08, 2006 at 02:06 PM EST

About Time I grant permission, where do I sign? Fred Stoll, Midland, MI
 

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