September 17, 2003

The DEQ has scheduled two public meetings on the Scopes of Work (SOWs) for Remedial Investigation of the Tittabawassee River and Flood Plain and for the Midland Area Soils. The SOWs were submitted by The Dow Chemical Company pursuant to the corrective action requirements in the hazardous waste facility operating license issued to Dow by the DEQ on June 12.

The first public meeting will be held on Monday, September 22, from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. at the Swan Valley High School Auditorium, located at 8400 O’Hern Road in Saginaw.

The second public meeting will be held on Thursday, September 25, from 7:00 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 immediately 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.”

The DEQ has also established a Community Advisory Panel, consisting of local residents, local government and health department officials, business interests, and environmental group representatives, to provide additional focused input on the Tittabawassee River and Midland area contamination and to advise the DEQ, the Department of Community Health, and the Department of Agriculture on the development of public education materials and other related matters.

Interested persons can review the SOWs and related documents through the DEQ website at http://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, at the address
  given above.

• 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 Ms. Trisha Peters at 989 686 8025, Extension 8204).

• DEQ, Waste and Hazardous Materials Division, Constitution Hall,
  Atrium North (Lower Level), 525 West Allegan Street, Lansing.

Written comments on the SOWs will be accepted until October 10, and can be sent via e mail to howec@michigan.gov or by writing to Ms. Cheryl Howe, Waste and Hazardous Materials Division, DEQ, P.O. Box 30241, Lansing, MI 48909 7741.

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

Revised September 17, 2003 by Pat Watson