February 6th, 2007 #82
Dioxin Update
Lone Tree Council and TRW
February 6th 2007 # 82
www.trwnews.net
Dioxin Levels in the Tittabawassee hit 100,000 ppt
Levels as high as 100,000 TEQ of dioxin (page 303) are noted in a recent Geo-Morph study document which summarizes dioxin levels in samples collected in and around the first 6 miles of the river down stream of Dow's Midland plant. The report contains the results of what looks to be over 3,000 samples collected from various depths and sites including wetlands, in channel, floodplain, levees, and river bank terraces. Sample results seem to vary all over the place, ranging from ‹10 to 100,000 ppt TEQ. Note numerous samples collected at the surface contain levels ranging up to 30,000 ppt TEQ on the river banks (page 125) which is over 300 times the States RDCC (Residential Direct Contact Criteria) of 90 ppt. Go to the TRW web site to view the data.
Details outlining plans to remove these high levels from the river will be discussed at Thursday's meeting (below). While an obvious point of irritation for DEQ management and Dow Chemical the question remains: what level would DEQ decide was to high and warranted removal? They are on the record that the 83,000 ppt is too high. Well what about the 61,000 ppt in Reach K or the 54,000 in Reach M, should they be removed? What about the 23,000 in Reach N? (Reaches are defined sample areas along the 6 mile stretch of the river tested)
No audience with the Board of Commissioners
In a letter from the County Board of Commissioners, Lone Tree Council has been denied an audience with the full board to discuss the DMDF. On advice of county legal counsel we were notified by the Chair that the meeting would not take place. Lone Tree initiated the request with a letter to Board Chairwoman Cheryl Hadsall. We appreciate her consideration and think it unfortunate that legal counsel feels the need to protect the board from a frank discussion of the site.
We will prepare information for the board and forward it to them individually.
Dioxin Community Meeting
February 8 Community Meeting on Dow Corrective Action Work
The Department of Environmental Quality and The Dow Chemical Company will be holding the next quarterly Midland/Saginaw/Bay City (Tri-Cities) Dioxin Community Meeting on Thursday, February 8, at the Horizons Conference Center, 6200 State Street, Saginaw. The meeting is open to the public and will run from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Staff from the DEQ, Department of Community Health, and Dow, with their consultants, will be available one-half hour before and one-half hour after the meeting for individual discussion with the public. Link for more information.
Best Regards,
Michelle Hurd Riddick
Lone Tree Council
