Dow signs, again…
As anticipated, EPA announced Friday that Dow Chemical signed on the dotted line accepting the administrative order on consent (AOC) negotiated with the company behind closed doors over the summer. Contrary to some media reports this is not a cleanup plan. To coin EPA verbiage, “It does not contemplate cleanup”. This agreement only provides for an evaluation of dioxin contamination in the rivers and floodplain. It is far from a settlement too.
Sound familiar? It should. In June 2003, Dow signed on the dotted line accepting the terms and conditions of their RCRA license which provided for an evaluation of the same dioxin in the same river system.
Good news: EPA says they will build on work already done and that MDEQ will remain their partner; too much institutional memory and knowledge on MDEQ’s part to do otherwise. Keeping MDEQ on board is central to a good cleanup on the river. EPA says negotiated plans will be put in simple English making it easy for the public to digest. The comment period ends November 17th 2009.
So it’s time to start reading and commenting on the plan and future of our watershed. You can find details at the following link:
There are those who just want this issue and the stigma of this contamination to go away. Fair enough. But they too bear responsibility for delays by defending Dow’s bad behavior for the past 8 years. Not sure if any lessons were learned. This first agreement is long and it is detailed but the work it will require of Dow will determine the quality of cleanup and the recovery of this watershed. The final results, the end product, public health protections and restoring the resources are more important than an expedited cleanup.
EPA and MDEQ will not sign off on the agreement until they hear from the public. Be loud and be heard mid Michigan!
Michelle Hurd Riddick
Lone Tree Council
