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Tittabawassee River, Saginaw River & Bay site

March 2013

Tittabawassee River Floodplain

EPA, working with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, is developing cleanup options for contaminated soil in frequently flooded areas along the Tittabawassee River downstream from Midland. Many properties in the Tittabawassee River floodplain will be affected by EPA's cleanup decision. The Tittabawassee River floodplain starts in Midland below the Dow Chemical Co. plant and extends through Midland and Saginaw counties.

Before formally proposing the cleanup options EPA wants to give property owners and other interested people an opportunity to discuss what concerns they may have about a long-term cleanup. EPA is planning to hold a number of interactive small group sessions in different locations near the Tittabawassee River. Starting in March, EPA will send invitations to property owners asking them to attend one of the sessions to share their thoughts. EPA will take their comments and concerns into consideration in developing its proposed cleanup plan.

More information about the Tittabawassee River Floodplain>>

Previous site updates >>

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Documents

News Releases

Sign up for the dow_dioxin listserv (subscription-based email list EPA uses to deliver news about the site).

• EPA Selects Cleanup Plan for Tittabawassee River Island July 26, 2011
• Residents invited to comment on Tittabawassee River January 14, 2011
• (view all news releases)

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Fact Sheets

• EPA Proposes Cleanup Plan for Polluted River Section (PDF) (8pp, 1MB) August 2011
• EPA proposes cleanup action for small island (PDF) (8pp, 630K) April 2011
• Interim Actions Proposed for High Use Floodplain Areas (PDF) (8pp, 661K) January 2011
• Signed Agreement Triggers Cleanup Plan and Work (PDF) (4pp, 1.8MB) July 2010
• EPA/MDEQ Approve AOC, Continue Enhanced Community Engagement (PDF) (2pp, 147K) January 2010
• Fact Sheet: EPA Conclusions Regarding Citizen Concerns on the Dredged Materials Disposal Facility (PDF) (5pp, 319K) January 2010
• Proposed Settlement for Superfund Cleanup Process (PDF) (8pp, 455K) October 2009
• EPA Seeking Members for Community Advisory Group (PDF) (2pp, 150K) September 2009
• Workshop to discuss community advisory group (PDF) (2pp, 150K) July 2009
• Proposed Community Involvement Activities (PDF) (2pp, 62K) June 2009
• Superfund Process and Negotiations at the Dow Site (PDF) (2pp, 65K) June 2009
• Timeline for Achieving Comprehensive Cleanup (PDF) (2pp, 255K) June 2009
• New Talks Will Explore Dioxin Cleanup Process (PDF) (2pp, 141 K) December 2008

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Presentations

• Segment 1 EPA's Proposed Cleanup Option, Public Meeting August 16, 2011 (PDF) (133pp, 6.2MB)
• Summary of Ecological Studies within the Tittabawassee River Floodplain (PDF) (53pp, 17.5MB) June 20, 2011
• Presentation from the April 28, 2011 public meeting
  • EPA's proposed plan for controlling contaminant movement at Reach MM Island (PDF) (38pp, 2.8MB)
• Presentation from the Jan. 19, 2011 public meeting
  • Proposed Plan for Interim Actions at High-Use Floodplain Areas (PDF) (31pp, 4MB) presentation delivered by Mary Logan, U.S. EPA
• Presentations from the July 19, 2010, public meeting
  • Update on the Work (PDF) (21pp, 1.9MB) presentation delivered by Mary Logan, U.S. EPA
  • Update on Community Involvement Activities (PDF) (7pp, 230K) presentation delivered by Diane Russell, U.S. EPA
• "Proposed Settlement for Superfund Cleanup Process" Nov. 5, 2009
• "U.S. EPA Review of the University of Michigan Dioxin Exposure Study," delivered by Peter Preuss and Jeff Frithsen (PDF) (22pp, 592K) Oct. 2009
• "Plan for Interim Preliminary Remediation Plan for Interim Preliminary Remediation Goals for Dioxin in Soil," delivered by Betsy Southerland (PDF) (1pp, 45K) Oct. 2009
• Community Advisory Group (PDF) Aug. 21, 2009
• Saginaw Valley State University Presentation (PDF) (27pp, 491K) June 2009
• Tittabawassee River Residential Floodplain Sampling (PDF) (13pp, 559K) August 2008
• Presentations from community meeting in Saginaw, MI, Jan. 31, 2008
  • Tittabawassee River Dioxin Interim Response Activities (PDF) (6pp, 393K)
  • Tittabawassee/Saginaw River and Bay Chemical Contamination & RCRA Corrective Action (PDF) (25pp, 1.2MB)
  • Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay Watershed (PDF) (30pp, 1.8MB)
• Tri-Cities Dioxin Community Meeting Nov. 28, 2007

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Maps

• Overview map (PDF) (1pg, 128K) May 2011
• Segment Map for Tittabawassee and Saginaw River (PDF) (1pg, 900K) April 2011
• West Michigan Park Area (PDF) (1pg, 1.5MB) September 2008
• Reach overview aerial photo Middle Tittabawassee River Project (PDF) (1pg, 135K) June 2007
• Reach overview aerial photo Upper Tittabawassee River Project (PDF) (1pg, 213K) June 1, 2006

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Legal Documents

2011

• Enforcement Action Memorandum w/Responsiveness Summary as Attachment C (PDF) (45pp, 8.5MB) Nov. 2, 2011
• Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent (AOC) for Segment 1 (PDF) (45pp, 9.3MB) Nov. 2, 2011
• Enforcement Action Memorandum: Non-Time Critical Removal Action at an In-Channel Island at Reach MM (PDF) (38 pp, 3.0MB) July 8, 2011
• Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent for Removal Action(PDF) (52pp, 2.6MB) May 2011
• Enforcement Action Memorandum: Non-Time Critical Removal Action at Portions of Exposure Units (PDF) (62pp, 3.1MB) May 2011

2010

• Final Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) (PDF) (65pp, 1.3MB)- approved Jan. 14, 2010
• Appendix B: Tittabawassee River, Saginaw River & Bay Site Superfund Memorandum of Agreement between U.S. EPA and MDEQ (PDF) (20pp, 363K) Jan. 14, 2010

2009

• Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent (AOC) for Remedial Investigation, Feasibility Study and/or Engineering Evaluation and Cost Analysis and Response Design (PDF) (65pp, 4.5MB) October 2009
  Appendices to the AOC:
  • AOC Appendix A: Remedial Investigation, Feasibility Study and/or Engineering Evaluation and Cost Analysis, and Response Design SOW (PDF) (73pp, 4.7MB)
    • SOW Exhibit D: General Location of Exposure Units (PDF 17" x 11") (1pg, 594K)
    • SOW Exhibit E: General Location of Segment 1 (PDF) (1pg, 216K)
  • AOC Appendix B: Memorandum of Agreement between US EPA and MDEQ (PDF) (20pp, 731K)
    • Attachment A (PDF 17" x 11") (1pg, 609K)
    • Attachment B (PDF) (1pg, 133K)
  • AOC Appendix C: Map of the Site (PDF 17" x 11") (1pg, 594K)
  • AOC Appendix D: Map of Respondent's Midland Plant (PDF) (1pg, 220K)
  • AOC Appendix E: License Modification language (PDF) (3pp, 178K)
  • AOC Appendix F: List of Sampling, Analysis, Studies, and Orders (PDF) (4pp, 175K)
  • AOC Appendix G: Map of the Saginaw Bay and inner Saginaw Bay areas of the Site(PDF) (1pg, 147K)
  • AOC Appendix H: Corresponding Obligations of the License and Settlement Agreement(PDF) (4pp, 174K)
    
• Administrative Order on Consent for Exposure Unit 002 (West Michigan Park and adjacent properties) (PDF) (39pp, 597K) February 2009
  • Enforcement Action Memo for Exposure Unit 002 (West Michigan Park and adjacent properties) (PDF) (28pp, 979K) February 2009
  • Administrative Record Index and maps and photos for Exposure Unit 002 (PDF) (44pp, 4.8M) February 2009

2008

• Special Notice Letter (PDF) (9pp, 152K) Dec. 15, 2008
• Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent (PDF) (58pp, 1MB) Dec. 15, 2008
  
• Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent for Removal Action - Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI (PDF) (51pp, 2.0MB) July 15, 2008
  • Attachment A: Site map EU 001 Properties - residential floodplain sampling (PDF) (1pg, 11"x17", 3.3MB)
  • Attachment B: Site areas map of EU 001 Areas - residential floodplain sampling (PDF) (1pg, 11" x 17", 3.3MB)
  • Attachment C: Enforcement Action Memorandum (PDF) (34pp, 1.18MB) July 2008
    • Attachment 3: Site areas map of EU 001 Areas - residential floodplain sampling (PDF) (1pg, 11" x 17", 3.3MB) (same map as Attachment B above)
    • Attachment 4: Map of final TEQs for EU 001 (PDF) (1pg, 145K)

2007

• Confidentiality Agreement (PDF) (6pp, 615K) Oct. 23, 2007
• Special Notice Letter (PDF) (9pp, 273K) Oct. 10, 2007
• Requests for Information Pursuant to Section 104 of CERCLA:
  • to Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr, and Huber (PDF) (13pp, 534K) Aug. 31, 2007
  • to Miller Canfield, Paddock, and Stone, P.L.C. (PDF) (13pp, 531K) Aug. 31, 2007
  • to the City of Midland, MI (PDF) (13pp, 538K) Aug. 31, 2007
  • to the Dow Chemical Company (PDF) (38pp, 2.0MB) Aug. 13, 2007
  • to the Dow Chemical Company (PDF) (16pp, 873K) Aug. 10, 2007
  • General Notice of Potential Liability to the Dow Chemical Company (PDF) (3pp, 244K) June 27, 2007

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Technical Documents

• Tittabawassee River, Saginaw River and Bay Site Community Involvement Plan, (PDF) (98pp, 3.MB) December 2011
• Tittabawassee River Segment 1 (OU1) Response Proposal (PDF) (154pp, 616KB) April 4, 2011; Tables (PDF) (36pp, 184KB) April 4, 2011. (Because of their large size, some figures and appendices have not been posted. You can view the entire response proposal at one of the site repositories or contact Patricia Krause.)
• The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has a draft version of the Areas of Concern report available here: Public Health Implications of Hazardous Substances in the Twenty-Six U.S. Great Lakes Areas of Concern. In 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007, EPA contributed expert review comments which are also available on ATSDR's site.
• Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis for Reach MM In-Channel Island (PDF) (37pp, 1.1MB) April 2011
• Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) for Early Response Action to Address (PDF) (27 pp, 323K) Nov. 17, 2010
• Responsiveness Summary (PDF) (50pp, 1.5MB) January 2010
• May 2010 Water Supply Sampling Report (PDF) (256pp, 7.66MB) Dec. 6, 2010
• Tittabawassee River, Saginaw River & Bay site technical assistance plan (PDF) (12 pp, 198K) June 2010
• Post-removal Monitoring Plan and Sample Results (PDF) (8pp, 392K) November 2009
• Midland/Saginaw/Bay City Water Supply Sampling Report (PDF) (235pp, 6.9MB) Oct. 5, 2009
  
• Field Sampling Plan for Midland/Saginaw/Bay City Water Supply (PDF) (27pp, 1.5MB) July 2009
• EPA's Science Plan for Activities Related to Dioxins in the Environment May 2009
• Statement of Work for Remedial Investigation, Feasibility Study (PDF) (55pp, 1MB) Dec. 15, 2008

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Other Documents

• Transcript of the August 16, 2011 public meeting (PDF) (31pp, 123K)
• Transcript of the April 28, 2011 Public Meeting (PDF) (48pp, 191K)
• Transcript of January 19, 2011 Public Meeting (PDF) (44pp, 159K)
• Transcript of the Nov. 5, 2009, Public Meeting (PDF) (74pp, 9.0MB)
• Newspaper Advertisement announcing June 2009 public meeting (PDF) (1pg, 51K)
• EPA's August 24, 2009 Letter to Dow (PDF) ( 5pp, 82K)
• EPA June 26, 2009 letter to Dow (PDF) (1pp, 82k)
• EPA Administrator Jackson letter to residents (signed), May 2009 (PDF) (5pp, 54K)
• EPA Administrator Jackson letter Re: dioxin contamination in Saginaw Bay Watershed, March 2, 2009 (PDF ) (2pp, 92K)
• Letter to the editor, September 21, 2007

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Outreach Materials From Other Agencies

State Agency Advisories and Information

• Michigan Department of Community Health
  • Eat Safe Fish in Saginaw Bay Area (PDF)
  • Eat Safe Wild Game (PDF)
  • News release for Wild Game Advisories (PDF)
• Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
  • Reducing Exposure at Home (PDF)
  • Reducing Exposure from Agricultural Activities (PDF)
  • Health Questions (PDF)
  • Soil Movement Advisory for Private, Public and Commercial Projects (PDF)
• Michigan Department of Agriculture
  • Food, Farming and Gardening Guidelines for Minimizing Dioxin Exposure (PDF)
• Michigan Department of Natural Resources
  • 2012 Michigan Fishing Guide (PDF)

Dioxin Information

• ATSDR
  • Chlorinated Dibenzo-p-Dioxins (CDDs) Fact Sheet (PDF)
  • Copy of Public Health Statement (only pages 1-18 are copied) (PDF)
• World Health Organization
  • Dioxins and their effects on human health (PDF)

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Superfund Removal Actions (Cleanups)

In 2007, Dow cleaned up four dioxin hot spots in the Tittabawassee and Saginaw Rivers downstream of Dow's plant in Midland. In July 2008 Dow began cleaning up dioxin contaminated yards, homes, and paving road surfaces in the Riverside Boulevard neighborhood of Saginaw. Both cleanups were done with EPA oversight. Residential yards were dug up and backfilled with clean soil, interiors of homes were cleaned, and surfaces on Riverside Boulevard were paved.

Tittabawassee River

Island MM

Island MM likely formed in the early 1900s as a result of changes in river currents caused by stone piers from a former bridge that once existed as an extension of Hospital road. During the same time period, intensive logging and agricultural practices allowed extensive runoff. The resulting high solids loading into the Tittabawassee River caused sediment to build up downstream of the bridge, forming Island MM. The solids that formed Island MM mixed with dioxins and furans that were released historically from Dow's Midland Plant. Review of historical aerial photographs taken over the last 70 years and more recent post-flood monitoring and evaluation shows that Island MM is eroding over time. The currently visible Island MM persists above the median water surface elevation of about 580 feet and supports some vegetation.

• Initial and Final Removal Polrep (PDF) (5 pp, 37K) July 6, 2012
• EPA proposes cleanup action for small island (PDF) (8 pp, 630K) April 2011
• Enforcement Action Memorandum for removal action at Island MM (PDF) (38 pp, 3.0MB) July 8, 2011
• Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis for Reach MM In-Channel Island (PDF) (37 pp, 1.1MB) April 2011

Exposure Controls

Dioxins and furan contamination has been found downstream from the Dow Chemical Co. Midland Plant due to historical waste management practices. The floodplains of the rivers are subject to flooding and erosion, particularly during high flow events. This may result in the spread of dioxin contamination to other locations within the floodplain, as well as to downstream locations. The floodplain is greaterr than 4,000 acres and areas that flood frequently are likely to contain contamination. These early actions are intended to mitigate potential exposures to contaminated floodplain soils ahead of the comprehensive cleanup of the rivers and floodplain.

• Initial Removal Polrep (PDF) (5 pp, 128K) July 6, 2012
• Interim Actions Proposed for High Use Floodplain Areas (PDF) (8 pp, 661K) January 2011
• Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent for Removal Action(PDF) (52 pp, 2.6MB) May 2011
• Enforcement Action Memorandum: Non-Time Critical Removal Action at Portions of Exposure Units (PDF) (62 pp, 3.1MB) May 2011
• Segment 1 EPA's Proposed Cleanup Option, Public Meeting Aug. 16, 2011 (PDF) (133 pp, 6.2MB)

Segment 1

Segment 1 is the stretch of the Tittabawassee River adjacent to Dow's Midland plant, approximately 3.1 miles in length. Segment 1 starts at the confluence of the Tittabawassee and Chippewa rivers at the Tridge and extends downstream to Lingle Drain. Segment 1 is located within the City of Midland and Midland Township, Midland County, Michigan. Segment 1 is the first of eight segments that comprise Operable Unit 01 (OU 1) of the Tittabawassee River, Saginaw River & Bay site. Segment 1 includes Reaches A through H. Segment 1 transects the Dow Midland plant and is characterized by engineered banks (e.g., embankments, rip rap, and sheet pile), a relatively narrow river valley, and a very small amount of adjacent area that floods. Land use is industrial on both sides of the river. The Dow Dam is located about one mile downstream of the Tittabawassee and Chippewa confluence.

• Initial Polrep (PDF) (5 pp, 160K) June 28, 2012
• EPA Proposes Cleanup Plan for Polluted River Section (PDF)(8 pp, 1MB)
• Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent (AOC) for Segment 1 (PDF) (45 pp, 9.3MB) Nov. 2, 2011
• Enforcement Action Memorandum w/Responsiveness Summary as Attachment C (PDF) (45 pp, 8.5MB) Nov. 2, 2011
• Tittabawassee River Segment 1 (OU1) Response Proposal (PDF) (154 pp, 616KB) April 4, 2011; Tables (PDF) (36 pp, 184KB) April 4, 2011. (Because of their large size, some figures and appendices have not been posted. You can view the entire response proposal at one of the site repositories or contact Patricia Krause.)
• Segment 1 EPA's Proposed Cleanup Option, Public Meeting August 16, 2011 (PDF) (133 pp, 6.2MB)

Reach D

The Site covers the area in the vicinity of an historic, 1,200 foot-long, water discharge flume containing approximately 15,000 cubic yards of dioxin-contaminated sediment and bottom deposits. The site is generally bounded by the Dow Revetment Groundwater Interception System (RGIS) sheet piling along the northeast bank of the Tittabawassee River and a line of old sheet piling constructed in the 1930s-1940s and varying from 5 to 40 feet distant from the bank.The entire removal area is located upstream of the Dow Dam. The historic water discharge flume was, at one time, connected to an outfall at the Midland Plant.

• More information about Reach D

Reach JK

The Site is located in over-bank areas on the northeast side of the Tittabawassee River, approximately 3.6 miles downstream of the confluence of the Chippewa and Tittabawassee Rivers and located within The Dow property bounded to the northeast by a wetland with Saginaw Road to the northeast beyond the wetland, the Caldwell boat launch to the South, and to the west by the east channel bank of the Tittabawassee River, in Midland County, Michigan.

The Site includes two areas of focus.The first consists of buried, post-industrial deposits immediately adjacent to the River and extending at least 75 feet inland, near the southern end of Reach J and extending through the southern end of Reach K (the "Levee Area").The second area consists of high and low terraces, and includes wetlands, that occupy most of the Reach J/K over-bank area and are subject to sediment deposition during flood conditions.

• More information about Reach JK

Reach O

Reach O of the Tittabawassee River Superfund Site is an area of contamination within the Tittabawassee River Dioxin Spill Site. The site, which is located in Midland County, Michigan, was contaminated with dioxin and furans, primarily as the result of historic wastewater discharge practices associated with The Dow Chemical Company Plant.

Reach O is an approximately 1,300 foot-long point bar extending approximately 50 to 100 feet into the Tittabawassee River and situated parallel to the northeast bank of the Tittabawassee River, approximately 6.1 miles downstream of the confluence of the Chippewa and Tittabawassee Rivers and located within, or immediately adjacent to, the Dow Chemical Company property located to the south of North Saginaw Road and to the west of North Orr Road, in Midland County, Michigan.

• More information about Reach O

Riverside Boulevard

The site is located along a private road and is generally located approximately 4 miles to the west and 2 miles to the south of the intersection of Interstate 75 and State Route 46 in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan. The site is approximately 1,000-foot long by 150-foot wide area along the north bank of the Tittabawassee River just above its confluence with the Shiawassee River. Riverside Blvd runs through site and is located just south of the land berm located on the northern edge of the site. The site contains 26 parcels of property that includes 11 residences and open lots that can be accessed from Riverside Blvd. Riverside Blvd is privately owned by one of the neighborhood property owners. The site is prone to heavy flooding which lead to contamination from river sediment deposition. The site is located approximately 22 miles down river from the Midland Plant.

• More information about Riverside Boulevard

West Michigan Park

The site is located along West Michigan Avenue and is generally located approximately 7 miles to the west and 1 mile to the south of the intersection of Interstate 75 and State Route 46 in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan. The site is approximately 3,000-foot long by 500-foot wide area along the northeast bank of the Tittabawassee River, 3 miles upstream of the confluence of the Tittabawassee and Shiawassee Rivers. It includes a 5-acre public park named West Michigan Park (WMP); a condominium complex located directly adjacent to and west of WMP; several residential properties directly adjacent to and east of WMP. Site activities will be concentrated to the areas of WMP; two elevated contamination areas near single condominiums and four elevated contamination areas near single-family residents (ECAs); and a moderate-use zone (MUZ) in several areas located on the wooded portion of the residential properties. The site is located approximately 15 miles down river from the Midland Plant.

• More information about West Michigan Park

Saginaw River

Wickes Park

The Site is located in the Saginaw River, approximately 0.5 miles downstream from the confluence of the Schiawassee and Tittabawasee Rivers and is adjacent to Wickes Park in Saginaw. The site is generally bounded by the City of Saginaw's Wickes Park to the east and by General Motors to the west. The contaminated zone is located at the approximate center of the Saginaw River, just north of the abandonned boat ramp in Wickes Park. During previous sampling by Dow contractors, this area was identified as containing elevated levels of dioxin contamination. Due to the level of contamination, the highest observed in the river system to date, a removal action was required immediately.

• More information about Wickes Park

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