Contamination investigations continue
 By Tony Lascari tlascari@mdn.net Midland Daily News
 Published: Saturday, November 7, 2009 1:19 AM EST

 Work continues to take place to better understand contamination in the Tittabawassee River, as regulators consider public input on a proposed path toward cleanup action.

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality updated ongoing investigations into dioxin and other contamination near The Dow Chemical Co.’s Michigan Operations site in Midland at a Thursday meeting in Saginaw.

Al Taylor, MDEQ geologist, said the site of Dow’s former 47 Building had chlor-alkali cells in the soil, which spread dioxin-like furans into the river system. Dive crews went into the river to remove the contaminated materials.

“It’s very similar to contamination downstream,” Taylor said. “It’s what we’d consider primary source material.”

The area was capped with sand and stone to help prevent recontamination.

“We anticipate it will be successful but if not it’ll be identified and more work will be done,” Taylor said.

In a stretch of the river adjacent to Dow’s site, the company removed river sediment and has proposed capping the area. The project is expected to transition to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency leadership, Taylor said.

Final investigations into various outfall sites on Dow’s property along the river will begin Monday. Taylor said they are looking at dioxins, furans and other contaminants as part of the high priority investigation. Much of the sampling in a representative sample of the outfalls is to expected to be finished this year.

“There’s quite a number of outfalls to the river over the years,” Taylor said.

Dow also has made repairs to a system that intercepts groundwater from the Michigan Operations site before it reaches the river. A blockage was removed and plans are being developed for routine service, a move Taylor said is critical to protection plans.

Work also continues on bank stabilization pilot projects and developing a strategy to address dioxin contamination in properties in the city of Midland, Taylor said. He said more information is needed on other contaminants and the depth of contamination in Midland’s soil. Taylor would like to see the process move forward.

“We’ve moved a lot of paper back and forth, but we haven’t done a lot of actual characterization,” he said.

Also, about 70 percent of the fish consumption advisory signs in the region have been replaced with updated Michigan Department of Community Health recommendations.

Frank Ruswick, MDEQ senior policy adviser, said the department is pursuing modifications to Dow’s operating license to reflect an integration of regulation with the EPA. The plan would allow the state to keep its authority to require cleanup while letting the EPA take a leadership role in coordinating plans with Dow.

“We’re looking for a smooth transition so work continues and it’s not a problem,” he said.
 

http://ourmidland.com/articles/2009/11/07/local_news/doc4af50cd09a799707105494.txt

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