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 within Reach D of the Tittabawassee River near Midland, Michigan. Dow contractors mobilized to the site on July 9, 2007. 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.
On July 9, 2007, the removal action at the Reach D site was initiated by Dow pursuant to permits previously issued by the Michigan DEQ. Dow’s contractor began positioning equipment on a work barge to begin the preparation of driving temporary sheet piling in the river to delineate the area of highest dioxin-contamination. Dow’s contractor has nearly completed all construction on the sediment pipeline and sediment dewatering pad on the facility. Water from the sediment dewatering pad will be treated in Dow’s Waste Water Treatment Plant and discharged to the river. On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) Brian Schlieger provided oversight with assistance from U.S. EPA’s START Contractor, Weston Solutions, Inc.
The following tasks have been completed by Dow's Contractor during the period from July 9-18, 2007:
• Mobilization and placement of equipment and sheet piling on a work barge in the river.
• Placement of 142 sheets of sheet piling (equivalent to approximately 290 feet) along the east bank of the river
• Grading for all three cells of the Reach D Sediment Dewatering Pad
• Pouring of concrete for the sump within the settling pond cell at the Sediment Dewatering Pad
• Installation of liners for water decanting cell of the Sediment Dewatering Pad
• Establishment of The Sediment Transfer Line from the Reach D Sediment Removal area to the Sediment Dewatering Pad
• Establishment of electrical service lines in the Sediment Dewatering Pad
• Establishment of air monitoring stations throughout the Reach D project area
Dow's contractor will continue to place sheet piling in the river prior to comencement of dredging operations. Contractors will also continue completion of the Sediment Dewatering Pad and the Sediment Transport Line. Additional Dow contractor personnel are scheduled to be mobilized to the site the week of July 23.
Review and approval of the Project Work Plan and associated Site-Specific Health and Safety Plan by U.S. EPA is pending.
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