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Native
Midland legislators are listening. After a Wednesday community meeting on
dioxin, Republicans state Sen. Tony Stamas and state Rep. John Moolenaar
introduced legislation that would lift Michigan's action level for dioxin to
the federal rate of 1,000 parts per trillion until there is evidence that a
reduction is necessary.
The move comes as the
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality plans for soil testing in
Midland and mitigation of areas that have levels above 90 parts per trillion
of dioxin in soil. Nearly 9,000 households and 21,000 people could be
affected.
The DEQ would also label contaminated properties
"facilities," a designation that would require property owners to
disclose information to potential buyers and could limit use and lower
property values.
Previous tests show
that properties in neighborhoods northeast of The Dow Chemical Co. plant site
are likely to exceed the state limit and become subject to action.
Senate Bill 1276 and
House Bill 5963 were introduced Thursday. The legislation would not set the
level at 1,000 ppt in the event that health and safety concerns were evident,
but would allow the higher level until science showed a problem, Moolenaar said.
The University of
Michigan plans to launch a dioxin exposure study in July. The study is
expected to be completed in 18 to 24 months.
"As a father
raising six children here, I believe it is important to protect the public
health of our families using good sound science and sound judgment," Moolenaar
said.
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