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The Toxic Slurry Pit is Bad for Our Health
- FUGITIVE DIOXIN PROBLEMS: Michigan is supposed to protect its citizens from bad air. But this facility is likely to create problems with dust as tons of material are dumped literally in people's backyards, in an open pit. Dioxin binds tightly to soil. The dust blowing off this toxic pit on prevailing westerly winds will settle in people's yards and homes. Inhalation of dioxin is a exposure pathway for human populations. Our laws in Michigan are supposed to protect citizens: Rule 901 "prohibits emissions of air contaminants that alone or in reaction with other air contaminants, cause injurious effects to human health or safety, animal life, plant life or significant economic value or property."
- NO LIMIT ON TOXIC DIOXIN: No limit has been established for dioxin levels in sediments intended for the site. Although the site is supposedly only for navigational spoils, Dow has made it clear that they want to use this site for disposal of highly contaminated sediments. This means that highly contaminated sediments could be placed in a facility that was not designed to handle that material.
- ODOR PROBLEMS: As planned, the slurry pit will stink and impact the enjoyment of residents' property. This is not hypothetical. Corps spokesman at a public meeting noted that the "method of dredging would bring up organics that would rot — there would be odors."
- POTENTIAL GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION: Dozens of sand lens or sand seams run through the property where the slurry pit was sited. These sand seams serve as highways for contaminated spoils drawn from river dredging and placed in the pit. The seams would allow for the slurry to migrate to groundwater, adjacent property or back to the river. These seams increase the cost of the project, threaten public health, threaten groundwater and increase taxpayer liability because of the potential for future contamination.
