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Residents of Midland and Saginaw will have a chance this month to offer input on The Dow Chemical Co.’s plans to remedy contamination in the Tittabawassee River Flood Plain and in Midland soils.
The DEQ has scheduled two public meetings on the Scopes of Work (SOWs) submitted by Dow as a requirement of the hazardous waste facility operating license issued by the DEQ on June 12. The SOW is a blueprint for plans that will limit human and wildlife exposure to historical and future contaminants.
The first public meeting will be on Sept. 22, from 7 to 9:30 p.m., at Swan Valley High School Auditorium, located at 8400 O’Hern Road in Saginaw. The second public meeting will be Sept. 25, from 7 to 9:30 p.m., at the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library Auditorium, located at 1710 West St. Andrews in Midland.
The DEQ and Dow will present overviews of Dow’s off-site corrective action requirements and the SOWs at these public meetings and will seek public input on the SOWs.
The SOWs are required to identify and propose the implementation of specific interim response activities for the protection of public health for areas that are known through prior environmental sampling to be impacted by releases from the facility. In addition, the SOWs must describe the proposed phasing and prioritization of interim response activities and remedial investigation work in a schedule based on consideration of potential risks to human health and the environment.
Once the SOWs are acceptable to the DEQ, Dow will be required to begin interim response activities as needed to reduce exposures and to develop a Remedial Investigation Work Plan to assess comprehensive cleanup needs. As additional contaminated areas and exposure pathways are identified, further interim response activities may need to be implemented accordingly.
"These public meetings are being held as part of the DEQ’s effort to increase openness and transparency and to increase the public’s opportunity to have a meaningful role in activities that could affect their quality of life," said George Bruchmann, Chief, Waste and Hazardous Materials Division.
"Early public input on these Scopes of Work is vital to ensure that Dow’s remedial investigation, interim response activities, and other off-site corrective action work is conducted in the appropriate areas in a prioritized manner for the protection of public health and the environment."
Interested persons can review the SOWs and related documents through the DEQ website at www.michigan.gov/deq (click on "Waste," "Hazardous Waste," "Hazardous Waste Management," and "DOW Part 111 Operating License Information") or by calling (517) 373-9881 and requesting a copy. The documents are also available for review at the following locations:
• Reference Desk of the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library.
• Zauel Memorial Library, 3100 North Center Road, Saginaw Township.
• Thomas Township Library, 8207 Shields Drive, Saginaw.
• DEQ, Saginaw Bay District Office, 503 North Euclid Avenue, Bay City, (Contact Trisha Peters at 686-8025, Extension 8204).
Written comments on the SOWs will be accepted until Oct. 10, and can be sent via e mail to howec@michigan.gov or by writing to Cheryl Howe, Waste and Hazardous Materials Division, DEQ, P.O. Box 30241, Lansing, MI 48909 7741. |