EPA Extends Comment Period on Proposed Dow Chemical Agreement; Meeting Nov. 5, 7 p.m.

(CHICAGO -- Nov. 2, 2009) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has extended its comment period on a proposed EPA and Michigan Department of Environmental Quality agreement with the Dow Chemical Co. The agreement outlines the next steps in a comprehensive Superfund evaluation of contamination in the Tittabawassee River and Saginaw River and Bay and their floodplains. The comment period began that Oct. 19 has now been extended 30 days to Dec. 17.

EPA and MDEQ will not sign any agreement contained in a legal document called an administrative order on consent until after the agencies have engaged the community and fully considered public comment. A public meeting will be held Nov. 5, 7 p.m., at Saginaw Valley State University, Curtiss Hall, Banquet Rooms A&B, 7400 Bay Road, Saginaw. EPA will hold a question-and-answer session and accept public comments at the meeting.

Separate from the proposed agreement meeting, from 6 to 7 p.m. on Nov. 5 at SVSU, MDEQ is holding a public availability session in Banquet Room C to provide an update on corrective action work that has been ongoing over the summer and fall. Topics will include Reach B and Reach D sediment cleanup and capping, historic outfall investigation bank stabilization pilot projects, and an update on the city of Midland soil investigation process.

Residents with questions or who need special accommodations at the meeting may contact EPA Community Involvement Coordinators Patti Krause, 800-621-8431, Ext. 69506, krause.patricia@epa.gov, or Don de Blasio, 800-621-8431, Ext. 64360, deblasio.don@epa.gov. More information including a fact sheet on the proposed agreement is at www.epa.gov/region5/sites/dowchemical.

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Contact Information: Mick Hans, 312-353-5050, hans.mick@epa.gov

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