United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region V
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

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 sediment from within Reach O 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.

The following tasks have been completed by Dow’s contractor during the period from August 17 – 23, 2007:

• Site survey to delineate area boundaries.
• The removal of trees and grading of an access road along the top of the embankment of the River in order to gain access to the Removal Management Areas (RMU’s).
• The construction of a temporary access road into the site.

The following tasks are currently on going:

• Installation of turbidity meters in the Tittabawasse River in order to establish background turbidity measurements.
• Tree removal and grading along two areas of the river embankment in order to access the RMU’s in the Tittabawasse River.
• Grubbing and grading areas for the construction of the sediment dewatering and wastewater treatment structure.
• Mobilization and staging of heavy equipment and materials.
• Installation of silt fence along the access road on the top of the embankment along the river.
• Surveying and installation of stakes within the river to demarcate the location of the temporary sheet pilings/extent of the dredging areas within the RMUs.

The following tasks are planned to be implemented:

• The open water dredging activities of a “hot spot” in the vicinity of RMU #1.
• The installation of temporary sheet piling, within the Tittabawasse River, to contain the areas of dioxin contaminated sediment during the dredging activities.