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Tittabawassee River / Saginaw River / Saginaw Bay Cleanup
Comment on the proposed settlement
EPA is accepting comments on the proposed settlement with Dow Chemical Co. until Dec. 17, 2009. Based on the comments and information provided to EPA, the Agency may revise the selected cleanup plan or pick another option.
Site Information
- Bay City, Carrollton, Essexville, Freeland, Midland, Saginaw, Shields and Zilwaukee, MI (Bay, Midland and Saginaw Counties)
- EPA ID# MID000724724
- Alias(es): N/A
- Photos
- Overview Map
Contact Information
Community Involvement Coordinator
Patricia Krause (krause.patricia@epa.gov)
312-886-9506 or 800-621-8431, ext. 69506, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. CST
Community Involvement Coordinator
Don de Blasio (deblasio.don@epa.gov)
312-886-4360 or 800-621-8431, ext. 64360
Remedial Project Manager
Mary Logan (logan.mary@epa.gov)
312-886-4699 or 800-621-8431, ext. 64699
Repositories
(where to view written records)
Grace A Dow Memorial Library
1710 W. St. Andrews St.
Midland, MI 48640
Hoyt Main Library
505 Janes Ave.
Saginaw, MI 48607
Links
Midland/Tittabawassee
River Dioxin Information Page from Michigan Dept. of Environmental
Quality 
EPA Superfund Home Page
Region 5 Superfund
Superfund glossary
Superfund Frequent Questions:
Superfund Information Systems Frequent Questions
Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR)
Community Involvement Guidance
General EPA enforcement information
EPA memo: Enforcement First for Remedial Action at Superfund Sites (PDF) (3pp, 121K) Septbember 2002
EPA memo: Restrictions on Communicating with Outside Parties Regarding Enforcement Actions (PDF) (4pp, 1.5MB) March 2006
Table of Contents
Public Comment Opportunity
EPA is interested in your comments on the proposed cleanup plan for the Tittabawassee River/Saginaw River/Saginaw Bay Cleanup site. The comment period runs from Oct. 19 - December 17, 2009.
EPA held a public meeting November 5, 2009.
Site Updates (view all updates)
Latest Update: November 18, 2009
No dioxin contamination in samples from Saginaw, Midland and Bay City water supply systems
US EPA Region 5 said that results from a second round of samples collected from the Midland, Saginaw and Bay City, Mich., water supply systems show no dioxin or furan contamination. EPA rejected a previous round of unusable samples in early October 2009 due to laboratory contamination.
- Read the full news release
- Midland/Saginaw/Bay City Water Supply Sampling Report Addendum (PDF) (48pp, 1.3MB)
Baseline Post-Removal Sample Results for EU001 Riverside Boulevard
On Nov. 18, 2009, EPA released the baseline post-removal sampling data for EU001 Riverside Boulevard neighborhood. These samples were collected by Dow Chemical with oversight by EPA. Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) collected split samples during this sampling event. The samples collected by Dow Chemical as well as MDEQ's split samples detected dioxins. The dioxin concentrations detected ranged from 0.3 ppt TEQ - 90.2 ppt TEQ.
November 5 Meeting Transcript
- Transcript of the Nov. 5, 2009, public meeting held at Saginaw Valley State University (PDF) (74pp, 9.0MB)
- Other materials from the meeting are featured in the Nov. 10 update
November 12, 2009
CAG Membership Announced
Doug Sarno, an independent facilitator hired by EPA, today announced the membership of the community advisory group for the Tittabawassee River, Saginaw River and Bay Superfund site. The members were selected by a six-person committee of local leaders.
November 10, 2009
Materials from the Nov. 5 Public Meeting
Here are materials from the Nov. 5 public meeting at Saginaw Valley State University:
- "Proposed Settlement for Superfund Cleanup Process" presentation delivered by EPA's Richard Karl, Robert Kaplan and Wendy Carney and MDEQ's Frank Ruswick.
- The fact sheet distributed by independent technical advisor Dr. Peter deFur.
News Releases (view all news releases)
- EPA extends comment period on proposed Dow Chemical agreement; meeting Nov. 5, 7 p.m. November 3, 2009
- EPA and MDEQ seek comment on proposed Dow Chemical Agreement; public meeting Nov. 5 October 16, 2009
- EPA: some water samples from Saginaw, Midland and Bay City unusable due to lab contamination; retesting for furans to begin October 5, 2009
- EPA reviews Univ. of Michigan dioxin study; finds limited application to Tittabawassee River and Saginaw River and Bay September 30, 2009
- Dow negotiations conclude; proposed cleanup pending September 28, 2009
Fact Sheets
- Proposed Settlement for Superfund Cleanup Process (PDF) (8pp, 455K) October 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
Presentations
- June 17, 2009 Presentation (PDF) (27pp, 491K) June 2009
- Tittabawasee River Residential Floodplain Sampling (PDF) (13pp, 559K) August 2008
- Presentations from community meeting in Saginaw, MI, January 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)
- EPA Presentation, Tri-Cities Dioxin Community Meeting, Nov. 28, 2007
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 Cleanup | Saginaw River Cleanup | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reach D in progress |
Reach JK complete |
Reach O complete |
Riverside Boulevard complete |
West Michigan Park |
Wickes Park - Saginaw River complete |
Maps
- West Michigan Park Area (PDF) (1pg., 1.5MB)
- Overview map (PDF) (1pg, 128K)
- Reach overview aerial photo Upper Tittabawassee River Project (PDF) (1pg, 213K) June 1, 2006
- Reach overview aerial photo Middle Tittabawassee River Project (PDF) (1pg, 135K) June 2007
Letters to the Editor
Legal Documents
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)
- AOC Appendix B: Tittabawassee River, Saginaw River & Bay Site Superfund Memorandum of Agreement between U.S. EPA and MDEQ (PDF) (20pp, 740K)
- SMOA Attachment A (PDF 17" x 11") (1pg, 977)
- SMOA Attachment B (PDF) (1pg, 220K)
- AOC Appendix C: Map of the Site(PDF 17" x 11") (1pg, 962K)
- AOC Appendix D: Map of Respondent's Midland Plant(PDF) (1pg, 220K)
- AOC Appendix E: License Modification language(PDF) (3pp, 182)
- 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 for the Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Michigan, Tittabawassee River Dioxin Spill Site (PDF) (9pp, 152K) December 15, 2008
- Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent (PDF) (58pp, 1MB) December 15, 2008
- Statement of Work for Remedial Investigation, Feasibility Study (PDF) (55pp, 1MB) December 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: Determination of an imminent and substantial threat to public health and the environment at the Riverside Boulevard Area of the Tittabawassee River Dioxin Spill Site, Saginaw County, MI
(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)
- Attachment 4: Map of final TEQs for EU 001 (PDF) (1pg, 145K)
2007
- Confidentiality Agreement (PDF) (6pp, 615K) Oct. 23, 2007
- Special Notice Letter for The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Michigan Tittabawassee River Dioxin Spill Site (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) Jun. 27, 2007
Technical Documents
- The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has a draft version of the Areas of Concern report available on its Web site. The full title is: 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 Web site.