January 3, 2006

A work plan to conduct a Remedial Investigation of the contamination in Midland area soils and the Tittabawassee River and floodplain was received on December 29, 2005 by the Department of Environmental Quality from The Dow Chemical Company. Submittal of this work plan was required by Dow’s June 2003 hazardous waste management facility operating license and the January 2005 Framework for an Agreement between the DEQ and Dow.

Discussion of this work plan will be the main topic of the next quarterly Midland/Saginaw/Bay City Tri Cities Dioxin Community meeting hosted by the DEQ and Dow on Thursday, February 9, 2006, at the Horizons Conference Center in Saginaw. The meeting is open to the public and will run from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. Staff from the DEQ and Dow will be available one-half hour before and after the meeting for individual discussion with the public. Background information and supporting materials for the meeting, including the work plan, will be available at http://www.michigan.gov/deqdioxin, then click on the "DEQ/Dow Community Involvement" Quick Link.

Residents are encouraged to provide their comments on Dow’s work plan at the community meeting. Alternatively, comments can be submitted by mail to Cheryl Howe, DEQ Waste & Hazardous Materials Division, PO Box 30241, Lansing, MI, 48909-7741, or by email at howec@michigan.gov.

During 2006, additional quarterly community meetings are scheduled to be held on May 10, August 9, and November 8.

Editor’s note: DEQ news releases are available on the department’s Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

“Protecting Michigan’s Environment, Ensuring Michigan’s Future”

Revised January 3, 2006 by Pat Watson