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CHICAGO (July 12, 2007) — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has
reached agreement with Dow Chemical Co. to clean up three dioxin-contaminated hot
spots on the Tittabawassee River downstream of its Midland, Mich., facility. On June 27
EPA required that terms of three administrative consent orders for the cleanup be
finalized by Friday, July 13.
“This settlement puts Dow on track to get priority work in these areas completed this
summer,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator Mary A. Gade. “This expedited remediation
schedule is an important step in protecting human health and the environment in the
Midland area.”
The EPA-ordered corrective action will include three segments of the river between
Midland’s Tridge and Imerman Park in Saginaw Township:
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EPA, DOW REACH AGREEMENT FOR DIOXIN CLEANUP-Page 2
The Dow facility is a 1,900-acre chemical manufacturing plant located in Midland, Mich.
Dioxins and furans, chlorobenzenes, metals and other materials were byproducts from
the manufacture of chlorine-based products and other chemicals. Past waste disposal
practices, fugitive emissions and incineration at Dow have resulted in on-and off-site
contamination. Dioxins are a family of chemicals that have been linked to some forms of
cancer, reproductive problems and weakened immune systems.
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