Document 7R3YBXaxKaqk8gD3QwRy78xnE
Tittabawassee River and Floodplain Cleanup
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Site Overview
--Defined as: Tittabawassee River and its floodplain, Saginaw River and its floodplain, and portions of Saginaw Bay
Tittabawassee River & Banks - 24 miles Tittabawassee River Floodplain - ~4,500 acres Saginaw River - 22 miles
--Primary constituent of concern: furans (a chemical in the dioxin family)
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Background
Early 1900's, is when the furans were released to the river
Dow's early manufacturing used an electrolysis process to produce bleaching powders and bromides
-- Electric current was used to initiate a chemical reaction - Graphitic carbon anodes/rods were used to introduce the
electric current
Facility started with 9 bromine cells and grew to 16 cell buildings with 2 million graphitic carbon anodes by 1913
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Background
The tar binding agent in the graphitic carbon contained furans
Small particles of the graphitic carbon would flake off and settle in the cells, requiring frequent cleaning
Prior to the construction of Waste Management Ponds around 1920, the solids were washed to the Tittabawassee River
Furans were primarily discharged to the river prior to the 1920's
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Extensive Investigation Activities
Essential to understand where contamination was and where it wasn't
From 2006 to 2009:
- 10,000 samples floodplain and bank soils - 8,000 samples of in-channel sediments
Since 2010, over 1,000 samples have been collected to inform remedy selection and design
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Critical Elements for Success:
Early Cleanup Process Collaboration Adaptive Management Innovative and Sustainable Approaches Community Engagement
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Early Cleanup Process
Superfund Alternative Process Early clean-up approach Prioritized, targeted cleanup actions Residual risk assessment to come later
- Element of risk for Dow
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Collaboration with EPA and MDEQ
Pragmatic and flexible approach by EPA, MDEQ and Dow teams
Strong commitment to the process
-- Work in real time -- Face-to-face monthly meetings -- Common goal to meet the aggressive timeline -- Over 250 major documents submitted to
Agencies, that require review and approval
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Adaptive Management Approach
Learn by doing and improvement as you go along
-- Numerous pilot trials of remedies -- Lessons learned in one phase of the cleanup
inform the next -- Facilitates continuous improvement and
innovation -- Results in faster and more effective cleanups
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Innovative and Sustainable Approaches
Cleanup designed specifically for the characteristics of the Tittawassee River
Development of technologies and specialized equipment for remedy implementation
Used green technologies to minimize impact
DNAPL removal - 4,500 gallons removed without any environmental releases or worker exposures
Natural capping utilizing Geoweb technology Bank stability using green bioengineering techniques
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Community Engagement
Extensive outreach to property owners and community
-- EPA Information Sessions -- Public Meetings -- Community Advisory Group (CAG)
Ongoing communications with property owners on all project stages and activities
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Aggressive Timeline
Following the EPA's systematic process, working from upstream to downstream
-- AOC signed in 2010; work began same year -- Currently working on Segment 4 -- Expect to complete Tittabawassee River and floodplain
work in 2020 -- Saginaw River efforts will begin prior to 2020
Would not be this far along with traditional approaches
Need to continue on path with EPA
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Implementation
Examples of Remedy Implementation Activities
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DNAPL Removal
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SMA 1-2 Initial Recovery Well Locations
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Bank Removal
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Reach J/K Bank Removal
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Reach J/K Bank Removal
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Reach J/K Bank Removal
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Reach J/K Bank Removal
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Reach J/K Bank Removal
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Bank Stabilization
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Reach M Bank Treatment-Upper M
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Reach M Bank Treatment-Upper M
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Reach M Bank Treatment-Upper M
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Reach 0 Bank Stabilization
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Reach 0 Bank Stabilization
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Reach 0 Bank Stabilization
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Reach M Bank Treatment-Lower M
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BMA 2-4 - Bank smoothing/shaping
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BMA 2-4 - Treatment installation
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BMA 2-4 - Treatment installation
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Reach 0 Bank Stabilization
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Reach 0 Bank Stabilization
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BMA 2-3 - Enkamat Treatment installation
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BMA 2-3 - Trees planted and irrigation
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BMA 2-4 - Seed germination
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BMA 2-4 - Cover vegetation establishing
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Reach M Bank Treatment-Lower M
Geoweb vegetated
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Reach M Bank Treatment-Lower M
Vegetated Coconut Blanket
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Reach M Bank Treatment-Upper M
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Cellular Confinemen
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ditional Capping
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Dry Dredging
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BMA 2-3 In-Channel Removal
BMA 2-3 In-Channel Removal
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BMA 2-3 In-Channel Removal
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BMA 2-3 In-Channel Removal
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BMA 2-3 In-Channel Removal
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Floodplain Removal
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Tittabawassee River Conservation Program
Voluntary program offered by Dow Helps ensure long-term effectiveness of the
remedy Keeps the natural areas from becoming
maintained
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Risk Assessment
Required for Project to be completed Collaborative effort between Dow and the Agencies to
evaluate: -- Risk for humans engaged in activities around the
Tittabawassee River and floodplain -- Risk for wildlife living in and near the Tittabawassee
River and floodplain
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Human Exposure Study
University of Michigan Dioxin Exposure Study (UMDES) funded by an unrestricted grant from Dow
Scientific Advisory Board that provided guidance to the study included a representative from the EPA, Dr. Linda Birnbaum
Featured at international conferences and in 17 publications
Concluded that there was no correlation between living on soils with elevated concentrations of dioxin and people's blood dioxin levels
"The Study found no direct exposure pathway by which dioxins in soils and sediments have accumulated in bodies o f residents inhabiting Midland and Saginaw."
- Principal Investigator Dr. David Garabrant
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Risk Assessment:
Ecology Study
Michigan State University Wildlife Study
Seven-year study funded by an unrestricted grant from Dow concluded that there were no adverse effects on wildlife in the Tittabawassee River basin from exposure to dioxins and furans:
"Despite more than 20,000 person-hours in the field and the conscription o f more than 6,350 animals, we were unable to identify the presence of any adverse effects associated with exposure to the contaminants of concern."
- Principal Investigator Dr. Matt Zwiernik
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Risk Assessment
The risk assessment will ultimately determine the success of this project.
A realistic and pragmatic approach utilizing the site specific data with the risk assessment is needed to get to a Record of Decision.
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Questions
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Caldwell Boat Launch
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