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 24 through August 30, 2007:
• Tree removal and grading along two areas of the river bank in order to access the Removal Management Units (RMU) in the Tittabawasse River.
• Grubbing and grading an area for the construction of the sediment dewatering and wastewater treatment operations.
• The construction of a temporary access haul road along the river and the installation of a silt fence along the road.
• Collection and laboratory analysis of waste characterization samples from the RMU’s.
• The excavation and staging of dioxin-impacted sediments from a “hot spot” in the vicinity of RMU #1.
• The collection and laboratory analysis of a post removal sample from the “hot spot” after excavation activities were completed.
The following tasks are currently on going:
• Collection of turbidity measurements from meters in the Tittabawasse River in order to establish background turbidity measurements.
• Mobilization and staging of additional heavy equipment and materials to begin driving sheet piling for the temporary turbidity barrier in RMU #1&2).
• Continue construction of the dewatering pad.
• The installation of temporary sheet piling, within the Tittabawasse River, to contain the areas of dioxin contaminated sediment during the excavation activities in the five RMU’s.
• Once an RMU has been constructed and dewaterd, Dow plans to have continuous operations 7 days a week until the RMU is completed and post removal samples have been collected.
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