Clean Watershed Campaign

Welcome to our watershed Dr. deFur.

Dr. Peter deFur to review EPA-Dow
negotiated plan for dioxin laden rivers

The Lone Tree Council announced today that they have retained Dr. Peter deFur as the organization’s technical expert. Dr. deFur will be charged with reviewing the EPA’s Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) negotiated with Dow Chemical and released to the public on October 16th 2009. Dow Chemical is responsible for extensive dioxin contamination of 52 miles of river and the Saginaw Bay of Lake Huron.

Utilizing a grant from EPA, Lone Tree Council sought out Dr. deFur because of his extensive experience with dioxins, risk assessment, EPA and community groups. “We are beyond delighted that Dr. deFur agreed to assist us in evaluating this crucial first step negotiated between EPA and Dow Chemical,” said Michelle Hurd Riddick of the Lone Tree Council. In March, during meetings with EPA HQ’s, the environmental community and impacted river residents requested technical assistance to aid in comprehending what will be highly technical documents. “We asked for a technical expert of our choosing and EPA certainly delivered,” said Terry Miller, Chair of the Lone Tree Council. “We appreciate EPA hearing us.”

Dr. deFur has over thirty years’ experience providing technical services regarding the cleanup of contaminated sites to community organizations across the country, from Washington State to North Carolina. In 2000, he was selected as the co-chair for the Peer Review of the EPA Dioxin Reassessment, striving to work with various stakeholders to set a standard that is protective of human health and the environment. deFur states, “I look forward to working for the Tittabawassee/Saginaw River community to provide the best possible technical review of these documents to ensure the most effective cleanup.”

Dr. Peter L. deFur is president of Environmental Stewardship Concepts (ESC), an independent private consulting firm in Richmond, Virginia. He is also an Affiliate Associate Professor in the Center for Environmental Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University where he conducts research on environmental health and ecological risk assessment.

Links:

• Dr. Peter deFur
  Environmental Stewardship Concepts

  Environmental Stewardship Concepts, one of a handful of professional environmental consulting firms across the United States representing community organizations, was founded in 1996 by Dr. Peter deFur. Based in Richmond, Virginia, ESC provides consulting services that prioritize the public good and sustained environmental quality.

• EPA Technical Assistance Service Contract
• EPA/MDEQ/Dow negotiated Administrative Order on Consent