Jan
26
2012
Clean Water Action calling upon Administrator Jackson to release the dioxin reassessment.
We are concerned that the American Chemistry Council (ACC) and other industry trade associations are once again pressuring the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to further delay the release of this important document. We believe the American public has a right to know about the health consequences of exposure to dioxin. As these delaying tactics persist, people in communities across the country continue to be exposed to this highly toxic chemical.
Jan
13
2012
Lone Tree Council joining a chorus of environmental and public health advocates calling on Administrator Jackson to finally release the EPA’s long delayed dioxin reassessment.
Jan
11
2012
Since EPA’s take over of Dow’s contamination along the rivers, public participation and attendance at meetings has hit an all time low. The CAG has had its fits and starts and is still grappling with the science and charge before them. Few attend the CAG meetings.
Last month Lone Tree Council began videotaping the CAG meetings and the League of Women Voters of Flint are giving us space on their site to make the meetings available to the public. The first is the December 12th 2001 meeting of the EPA’s Community Advisory Group.
Its been and will remain an exasperating ordeal to garner a good cleanup but to that end, public scrutiny is important.
Jan
10
2012
Ringing in the New Year, EPA announced this past week that Dow Chemical is second among toxic chemical emitters.
And then there’s the rhetoric.
Sustainability begins at home, but its destiny is to engage the problems of the world. We will build on our company’s rich legacy of leadership in solving the world’s most pressing problems with a spirit of fearless accountability, not just for our own footprint on the planet, but the collective footprint we make as part of the human family. —Andrew Liveris, CEO Dow Corporation
Tags: accountability, contamination, Dow, EPA, Health, politics, pollution, risk, scandal, toxic | 
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5
2012
Back in September, Lisa Jackson’s EPA, after missing a previous deadline to release the dioxin reassessment, said the agency would divide its long-awaited final dioxin reassessment into two parts: cancer and non-cancer endpoints with plans to release the non-cancer numbers for dioxin in soil by the end of this month, January 2012.
Applying a tried and true decades old tactic, it should come as no surprise that Dow’s lobbyists at the American Chemistry Council are once again calling on EPA to delay the release of the non cancer numbers past the end of this month, insisting on more information and investigation by EPA in light of a new appropriations bill passed in December.
Administration after administration for decades has promised the release of this much needed guidance. Each and every time they have caved, placing corporate and monied interests above public health.
High hopes for 2012?
You can follow the recent development at this Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ) link.
Dec
29
2011
It’s perhaps very telling the value that Dow Chemical holds all of the regional area by how long they have sought to delay, and avoid responsibility for their pollution. If they really valued the ‘human element’, like their PR campaign claims, you would think that they, as a corporation, would also value the environment that the ‘human element’ lives, works, raises children, vacations, and plays in. However Dow sees more value in buying politicians and wonderfully bogus advertisements so that they look like they care about more than their shareholder’s return on their investment.
So, at what time does Dow start realizing the true value of nature, and more importantly the environment that their employees and the people that live near their plants are forced to live in just because of their avoidance to operate ethically and respectfully of nature.
As corporations demand ‘personhood’, we must force the corporations to recognize that although our local environment might not be of much concern to their shareholders, it is of much greater intrinsic value to US, the people that live and work there. If they really want personhood then they should hold to ALL laws that real flesh and blood persons have to. I mean, to cross species, even a dog doesn’t poop in their own bed. Dow shareholders make more money if Dow devalues nature and threatens jobs over being held accountable for their pollution. Harming the environment also harms their shareholders and all of us.
Put a value on nature. It shouldn’t be negative…
Dec
11
2011
November 2011
EPA and Dow Chemical Co. signed a legal agreement on November 2, 2011 requiring Dow to clean up sediment in Segment 1, a three-mile stretch of the Tittabawassee River next to Dow’s Midland Plant. There are six Sediment Management Areas or SMAs identified within Segment 1 where chemical pollutants are targeted for cleanup. Most of the pollution in Segment 1 is from chlorobenzenes and other chemicals rather than dioxin. A form of the contamination, dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL), a heavy liquid made up of materials that do not mix with water and sinks to the bottom of the river, is targeted for cleanup in three of the SMAs. EPA selected its plan after carefully considering public comments.
Oct
21
2011
For the first time an agency stated in plain language their rationale for declining the use of a study funded by Dow Chemical. Below is MDEQ’s written and succinct comments to the EPA’s Community Advisory Group (CAG) who invited Dr Garabrant to speak to them about the findings in his Dow funded study.
Oct
20
2011
As reported by the Saginaw News, EPA and MDEQ are again declining to use the Dow Chemical funded U of M Dioxin Exposure Study for protection of public health and response activities along the river.
Good for EPA and MDEQ. While acknowledging the study has some valuable information, the agencies remain firm in the belief that the study as limitations.
Dr. Garabrant, the lead researcher said it was ‘logical nonsense’ that EPA declined to use the Dow funded study. No sir it is not. Continue Reading »
Sep
29
2011
Here is an outrageous video of contaminated sediments being pumped into the Army Corp of Engineers/Saginaw County dredge site. Currently, there is no coordination on this site among the agencies who have all expressed concern about the site integrity, wildlife contamination, lack of permits or long term implications of this dump site.
Dow Chemical is (should be?) responsible, cradle to grave, for their dioxin contamination. However, EPA has made an exception in this case to take a hands off position for the time being on Dow’s responsibility and obligations on the Saginaw River and to people that live and play on and in it. A delay is always a win for Dow and their shareholders, yet is once again a loss for the people that live in their spoils.
Tags: accountability, Class warfare, contamination, Delay, Dow, EPA, Health, politics, pollution, scandal, toxic |
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