Midland, MI - January 17, 2007
Dow Chemical has submitted a Scope of Work (SOW) to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for conducting a Remedial Investigation of sediments and floodplain soils in and along the Saginaw River and Bay. The SOW is consistent with the January 2005 Framework for an Agreement between the State and Dow for how concerns regarding contamination in and along the Saginaw River and Bay would be addressed. Dow’s submission comes nearly a month ahead of the deadline imposed by its Hazardous Waste Management Operating License.
Dow’s Director of the Mid-Michigan Dioxin Initiative, Greg Cochran, said of the early submission, “We continue to make every effort to streamline the work as well as the risk-based decision-making process so that we can resolve this situation as fast as possible in the best interests of all concerned –the people living in the area, the State, Dow and it’s shareholders.”
The purpose of the SOW is to provide a general description of the process, steps and schedule for completion of work activities in the Saginaw River/Bay. Specific planning and implementation details will be developed and presented in a Work Plan that is to be prepared and submitted to DEQ 60 days from the approval of this SOW.
If approved, the work outlined in the SOW would proceed in three phases and be completed within approximately a 21 month period, beginning in September 2007. Each phase of the planned activities would be incorporated into a Work Plan for that specific phase. The standard operating procedures, investigation and testing methods, and other project support activities will reflect, to the extent practical, the approaches adopted for the Tittabawassee River Remedial Investigation Work Plan.
To date, various investigations have shown a clear association between some of Dow’s historic manufacturing processes discontinued prior to WWI and furan and dioxin contamination in sediments and soils in and along the Tittabawassee River and to a lesser extent, in and along the Saginaw River and Bay. There are numerous confirmed sources of contamination in the Saginaw River and Bay in addition to Dow’s discontinued historic operations, including past and present municipal waste treatment facilities, industrial operations and agricultural run-off.
About Dow
Dow is a diversified chemical company that harnesses the power of innovation, science and technology to constantly improve what is essential to human progress. The Company offers a broad range of products and services to customers in more than 175 countries, helping them to provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. Built on a commitment to its principles of sustainability, Dow has annual sales of $49 billion and employs 43,000 people worldwide. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.
Editorial Information:
Terri McNeill
The Dow Chemical Company
989-636-5279
tfmcneill@dow.com
John C. Musser
989-636-5663 (O)
989-620-0558 (Cell)
