Published December 2, 2002 in the Midland (MI) Daily News

By Beth Medley Bellor

Several environmental groups have banded together to try to put the brakes on a draft proposal to allow more dioxin to remain in Midland.

“In the face of mounting scientific evidence confirming the grave risks posed to human health by dioxin, the state’s DEQ has shunned the advice of its own experts and turned the cleanup process over to Dow and its consultants,” said Michelle Hurd Riddick of Lone Tree Council, a petitioner.

Their target is a corrective action consent order negotiated between The Dow Chemical Co. and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. The consent order focuses on dioxin contamination in the Midland area and proposes an allowable dioxin level of 831 parts per trillion for Midland, dramatically higher than the 90 ppt standard used for the rest of the state. The draft document also orders soil sampling and a Dow-funded health study.

Residents and environmentalists filed a petition today under the provisions of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to intervene in the order, seeking a delay until the DEQ weighs evidence opposing a change in the standard. The groups argue that the proposed interim dioxin standard was developed using unapproved methods, threatening Michigan’s environment and the public health.

“Now only concerned citizens stand between DEQ’s insider agreement and an increased risk of immune system problems, developmental delays, cancer, birth defects, neurological impairments, and other harm that can result from exposure to dioxin,” said Diane Hebert, a Midland resident and petitioner.

Section 1705 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act authorizes agencies or courts to allow any person to intervene in administrative proceedings that may result in harm to the environment. Groups filing the petition include Lone Tree Council, Tittabawassee River Watch, Ecology Center, Michigan Environmental Council, Citizens for Alternatives to Chemical Contamination and Public Interest Research Group in Michigan (PIRGIM). Thirteen area residents, including two from Midland, also signed. The petitioners are represented by the Traverse City law firm Olson and Bzdok.

In a separate letter to the DEQ, the coalition has asked for an extension of the public comment period on Michigan Operations’ draft operating license for a hazardous waste management facility, corrective action requirements and draft major operating license modification for the Salzburg Road Landfill, arguing the notices and hearing violated state requirements. The coalition requested the extension in order to give citizens a chance to present extensive technical documentation challenging the proposed agreement.

The comment periods for both the license package and the consent order are scheduled to expire Dec. 9. Materials on both proposals are available at Grace A. Dow Memorial Library.

For more on the groups’ viewpoints, see websites for the Tittabawassee River Watch at http://www.trwnews.org and the Ecology Center at http://www.ecocenter.org.