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Tittabawassee River / Saginaw River / Saginaw Bay Cleanup
Site Information
- Bay City, Carrollton, Essexville, Freeland, Midland, Saginaw, Shields and Zilwaukee, MI (Bay, Midland and Saginaw Counties)
- EPA ID# MID000724724
- Alias(es): N/A
- Photos
- Overview Map
Contact Information
Community Involvement Coordinator
Patricia Krause (krause.patricia@epa.gov)
312-886-9506 or 800-621-8431, ext. 69506, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. CST
Community Involvement Coordinator
Don de Blasio (deblasio.don@epa.gov)
312-886-4360 or 800-621-8431, ext. 64360
Remedial Project Manager
Mary Logan (logan.mary@epa.gov)
312-886-4699 or 800-621-8431, ext. 64699
Repositories
(where to view written records)
Grace A Dow Memorial Library
1710 W. St. Andrews St.
Midland, MI 48640
Hoyt Main Library
505 Janes Ave.
Saginaw, MI 48607
Links
Midland/Tittabawassee
River Dioxin Information Page from Michigan Dept. of Environmental
Quality 
EPA Superfund Home Page
Region 5 Superfund
Superfund glossary
Superfund Frequent Questions:
Superfund Information Systems Frequent Questions
Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR)
Community Involvement Guidance
General EPA enforcement information
EPA memo: Enforcement First for Remedial Action at Superfund Sites (PDF) (3pp, 121K) Septbember 2002
EPA memo: Restrictions on Communicating with Outside Parties Regarding Enforcement Actions (PDF) (4pp, 1.5MB) March 2006
Table of Contents
Background
The Dow Chemical Company began operations in 1897. The facility covers approximately 1,900 acres. It abuts the Tittabawassee River, with the majority of the plant located on the east side of the river and south of the city of Midland. Past waste disposal practices, fugitive emissions, and incineration at Dow have resulted in on and off-site contamination. Off-site contamination extends over 50 miles downstream of the Dow Midland facility through the Tittabawassee and Saginaw Rivers and into Saginaw Bay. (more...)
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Site Updates
April 24, 2009
On April 1, EPA and the Michigan Department of Community Health launched a partnership with the Saginaw County Public Health Department and three other local organizations to make sure that vulnerable populations are better informed and more aware of any potential risks associated with fish consumption. Vulnerable populations include women of childbearing years, children and those who rely on local fish for sustenance. EPA provided $75,000 for the “Fish Smart, Eat Smart” program, which will be more than matched by in-kind contributions from local partners. EPA and MDCH officials will participate in the next Tri-Cities Dioxin Community Meeting on May 6 and will discuss this outreach program in more depth with interested residents.
For more information: www.mi.gov/fishandgameadvisory/
April 10, 2009
To address concerns about EPA's current approach at the site, Administrator Lisa Jackson dispatched a high-level team from her office and EPA Region 5 to meet with groups and report back about concerns and options for addressing the site. EPA has suspended the negotiation process. Administrator Jackson will make a decision on how to proceed.
EPA Administrator Jackson letter re: dioxin contamination in Saginaw Bay Watershed (PDF ) (2pp, 92K)
March 2009
Dow Chemical will start cleanup at Saginaw Township’s West Michigan Park and nearby properties in April. West Michigan Park is located three miles upstream from where the Tittabawassee and Shiawassee rivers flow together. As a result of flooding, dioxin contaminated river sediment has settled in the area. Cleanup and restoration activities are expected completed with the park re-opening in June.
Dow will give EPA a detailed work plan by March 13 and if EPA approves the plan, it will oversee Dow’s cleanup of the 5-acre park. Cleanup actions will include digging up 12 inches of soil, backfilling with clean soil, paving the park’s driveway and parking lot, and elevating playground equipment. Cleanup work will also address contaminated “hot spots” at River Forest Condominium complex to the west and several residential lots east of the park.
Additionally, as part of the agreement, Dow will perform a limited study on how residents use the southern portion of their property in the floodplain of the river and near the shoreline. Results of the study will be reviewed by EPA, the Agency for Toxic Substances, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, and the Michigan Department of Community Health. If EPA and partners determine that the southern portion of property exposes residents to dioxin-contaminated soil, a barrier control plan will be developed and put in place to minimize this pathway of exposure.
January 2009
EPA, MDEQ and The Dow Chemical Company are involved in negotiations to investigate and then clean up dioxin and other contaminants lying in sediment in and along the banks of the Tittabawassee and Saginaw rivers and in Saginaw Bay in Lake Huron.
EPA issued a Special Notice Letter (PDF) (9pp, 152K) December 15, 2008, calling on parties to negotiate a process that can be used to develop a comprehensive cleanup for the Tittabawassee and Saginaw rivers as well as Saginaw Bay. The talks will be taking place over the next 60 days, but the timeline can be extended by an additional 30 days if progress is being made.
EPA and MDEQ hosted an open meeting on Thursday, January 15 at Saginaw Valley State University as an opportunity for the public to learn more about what is being done about contamination in the Tittabawassee and Saginaw rivers and in Saginaw Bay.
- Tri-Cities Dioxin Cleanup Presentation, Saginaw Valley State University (PDF) (33pp, 339K) January 15, 2009
- New Talks Will Explore Dioxin Cleanup Process (PDF) (2pp, 141 K) December 2008
- Special Notice Letter for the Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Michigan, Tittabawassee River Dioxin Spill Site (PDF) (9pp, 152K) December 15, 2008
- Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent (PDF) (58pp, 1MB) December 15, 2008
- Statement of Work for Remedial Investigation, Feasibility Study (PDF) (55pp, 1MB) December 15, 2008
News Releases (view more)
- EPA to oversee Dow dioxin cleanup at Saginaw Township's West Michigan Park March 3, 2009
- Tri-Cities dioxin cleanup meeting Jan. 15, 7 P.M. January 5, 2009
- Dow Chemical to clean up dioxin contamination in Saginaw's Riverside Boulevard neighborhood July 15, 2008
- Dow to seek immediate cleanup of dioxin contamination in riverside residential area May 28, 2008
- EPA, MDEQ to sample Saginaw residential area for dioxin contamination April 2, 2008
- EPA hosts meeting on Saginaw Bay environmental issues Jan. 31, 7 p.m. Jan. 23, 2008
- EPA terminates negotiations with Dow Chemical on river cleanups Jan. 4, 2008
Fact Sheets
- New Talks Will Explore Dioxin Cleanup Process (PDF) (2pp, 141 K) December 2008
Presentations
- Tittabawasee River Residential Floodplain Sampling (PDF) (13pp, 559K) August 2008
- Presentations from community meeting in Saginaw, MI, January 31, 2008
- Tittabawassee River Dioxin Interim Response Activities (PDF) (6pp, 393K)
- Tittabawassee/Saginaw River and Bay Chemical Contamination & RCRA Corrective Action (PDF) (25pp, 1.2MB)
- Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay Watershed (PDF) (30pp, 1.8MB)
- EPA Presentation, Tri-Cities Dioxin Community Meeting, Nov. 28, 2007
Superfund Removal Actions (Cleanups)
In 2007 Dow cleaned up four dioxin hot spots in the Tittabawassee and Saginaw Rivers downstream of Dow’s plant in Midland. In July 2008 Dow began cleaning up dioxin contaminated yards, homes, and paving road surfaces in the Riverside Boulevard neighborhood of Saginaw. Both cleanups were done with EPA oversight. Residential yards were dug up and backfilled with clean soil, interiors of homes were cleaned, and surfaces on Riverside Boulevard were paved.
| Tittabawassee River Cleanup | Saginaw River Cleanup | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reach D in progress |
Reach JK complete |
Reach O complete |
Riverside Boulevard complete |
West Michigan Park |
Wickes Park - Saginaw River complete |
Maps
- West Michigan Park Area (PDF) (1pg., 1.5MB)
- Overview map (PDF) (1pg, 128K)
- Reach overview aerial photo Upper Tittabawassee River Project (PDF) (1pg, 213K) June 1, 2006
- Reach overview aerial photo Middle Tittabawassee River Project (PDF) (1pg, 135K) June 2007
Letters to the Editor
Legal Documents
2009
- Administrative Order on Consent for Exposure Unit 002 (West Michigan Park and adjacent properties) (PDF) (39pp., 597K) February 2009
- Enforcement Action Memo for Exposure Unit 002 (West Michigan Park and adjacent properties) (PDF) (28pp., 979K) February 2009
- Administrative Record Index and maps and photos for Exposure Unit 002 (PDF) (44pp., 4.8M) February 2009
2008
- Special Notice Letter for the Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Michigan, Tittabawassee River Dioxin Spill Site (PDF) (9pp, 152K) December 15, 2008
- Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent (PDF) (58pp, 1MB) December 15, 2008
- Statement of Work for Remedial Investigation, Feasibility Study (PDF) (55pp, 1MB) December 15, 2008
- Administrative Settlement Agreement And Order On Consent For Removal Action - Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI (PDF) (51pp, 2.0MB) July 15, 2008
- Attachment A: Site map EU 001 Properties - residential floodplain sampling (PDF) (1pg, 11"x17", 3.3MB)
- Attachment B: Site areas map of EU 001 Areas - residential floodplain sampling (PDF) (1pg, 11" x 17", 3.3MB)
- Attachment C: Enforcement Action Memorandum: Determination of an imminent and substantial threat to public health and the environment at the Riverside Boulevard Area of the Tittabawassee River Dioxin Spill Site, Saginaw County, MI
(PDF) (34pp, 1.18MB) July 2008
- Attachment 3: Site areas map of EU 001 Areas - residential floodplain sampling (PDF) (1pg, 11" x 17", 3.3MB)
- Attachment 4: Map of final TEQs for EU 001 (PDF) (1pg, 145K)
2007
- Confidentiality Agreement (PDF) (6pp, 615K) Oct. 23, 2007
- Special Notice Letter for The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Michigan Tittabawassee River Dioxin Spill Site (PDF) (9pp, 273K) Oct. 10, 2007
- Requests for Information Pursuant to Section 104 of CERCLA:
- to Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr, and Huber (PDF) (13pp, 534K) Aug. 31, 2007
- to Miller Canfield, Paddock, and Stone, P.L.C. (PDF) (13pp, 531K) Aug. 31, 2007
- to the City of Midland, MI (PDF) (13pp, 538K) Aug. 31, 2007
- to the Dow Chemical Company (PDF) (38pp, 2.0MB) Aug. 13, 2007
- to the Dow Chemical Company (PDF) (16pp, 873K) Aug. 10, 2007
- General Notice of Potential Liability to the Dow Chemical Company (PDF) (3pp, 244K) Jun. 27, 2007
Technical Documents
- The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has a draft version of the Areas of Concern report available on its Web site. The full title is: Public Health Implications of Hazardous Substances in the Twenty-Six U.S. Great Lakes Areas of Concern . In 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007, EPA contributed expert review comments which are also available on ATSDR's Web site.
Public Meetings
- EPA and MDEQ will host an open meeting on Thursday, January 15, 2009, 6:30 p.m. at Saginaw Valley State University, Curtiss Hall Seminar Rooms, 7400 Bay Road, Saginaw as an opportunity for the public to learn more about what is being done about contamination in the Tittabawassee and Saginaw rivers and in Saginaw Bay.