Reach JK, Pollution Report 2

Tittabawassee River Dioxin-Reach D
Midland , MI - EPA Region V
POLREP #2 - 8/15/2007

On-Scene Coordinator - James Augustyn/Brian Schlieger

Site Description

On June 27, 2007, U.S. EPA ordered The Dow Chemical Company (Dow) to negotiate an Administrative Order on Consent, to address removal of extremely elevated levels of dioxin-contaminated soil from an eroding river bank within Reach JK of the Tittabawassee River near Midland, Michigan. Dow agreed to the terms of the Order and on July 12, 2007, the Order was signed by the Regional Administrator and Dow. For additional background information please see the site profile.

Reach JK will be divided into two areas. The area along the river bank where contaminated soil will be excavated will be designated JK-1, and an area further back from the river bank where clean soil will be used to cap contaminated soil will be designated JK-2.

On-Scene Coordinators (OSC) Jim Augustyn and Brian Schlieger are providing oversight with assistance from U.S. EPA's START Contractor, Weston Solutions, Inc.

Current Activities

The following tasks have been completed by Dow's contractor during the period from August 13-16, 2007:

Vegetation and tree removal along the river bank in order to access the excavation area of JK-1.
Installation of erosion control silt fencing throughout the site.
Installation of silt fence along the shoreline.

The following tasks are currently on going:

Removing and chipping of tree stumps along the river bank in order to access the excavation area of JK-1.
Hauling logged trees off site.
Installation of silt curtain in the river along the shoreline.

Planned Removal Actions

Dow's contractor will make some temporary haul road improvements, set up decontamination areas and then will begin the excavation of JK-1.
An 8 foot-high fence will be installed surrounding a Riparian Forested Wetland within Reach JK-2.
Excavated contaminate soil will be disposed of at Dow's Salzburg Road Landfill

Next Steps

Comencement of excavation in JK-1 will begin once all vegitation has been removed from the excavation area.

Key Issues

Approval of the Project Work Plan and associated Site-Specific Health and Safety Plan by U.S. EPA is pending.