From: U.S. EPA
[mailto:usaepa@govdelivery.com]
Sent: Friday, August 31, 2007 5:44
PM
Subject: Hazardous Waste News
(Region 5): EPA issues demand for Midland
dioxin sampling data
CONTACT:
Karen Thompson, 312-353-8547, thompson.karen@epa.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
No. 07-OPA151
EPA issues demand for Midland dioxin
sampling data
(Chicago, Ill.
- Aug. 31, 2007) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 today issued a
request for information to the city of Midland, Mich., for all dioxin
sampling data taken within the city in 2006 and 2007.
The
city of Midland
has information that would give EPA a more complete picture of Dow Chemical
Co.'s dioxin contamination in that area. EPA has also sent information
requests to two other entities that hold relevant information.
"It
appears that the data is obscured by an unusual double blind system that EPA
has been unable to obtain voluntarily from the city of Midland," said EPA Region 5 Superfund
Division Director Richard Karl. "The city holds the key to the data
and we're requiring them to provide it."
Today's
request is part of a larger investigation of dioxin contamination in the Midland area. In mid-August, EPA issued two
requests to Dow asking for information on off-site and on-site dioxin
sampling conducted by Dow and more extensive data on numerous other hazardous
materials produced at the Dow Midland plant.
Dow
began a dioxin cleanup in three hot spots of the Tittabawassee River
as a result of EPA orders in late June. Those cleanups are expected to be
completed this year and set the stage for additional work downriver.
The
Dow facility is a 1,900-acre chemical manufacturing plant located in Midland, Mich.
Dioxins and furans were byproducts from the manufacture of chlorine-based
products. Past waste disposal practices, fugitive emissions and
incineration at Dow have resulted in on- and off-site dioxin and furan
contamination.
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