Document ZB0w3d23wXegDbJmNyG4DR3ep
4>EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency
For more information
You can view documents related to the Tittabawassee River. Saginaw River & Bay site in information repositories set up by EPAand DNRE. The repositories are located in the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library. 1710W. Saint Andrews St.. Midland: the Hoyt Main Library. 505 Janes Ave.. Saginaw: and the Alice and Jack Wirt Public Library. 500 Center Ave.. Bay City.
Information office EPA has opened a community information office in the Saginaw County Courthouse, 111 S. Michigan Ave.. Saginaw. Or call 989-790-5215.
On the Web EPA dioxin investigation: http://www.epa.gov/region5/sites/ dowchemical
Michigan dioxin information: http://www.michigan.gov/ deqdioxin
Sign up for the listserv If you would I ike to bee-mailed site updates, send a blank message to: dow_dioxin-subscribe@lists. epa.gov
Contacts These EPA community involvement coordinators can answer questions:
Patricia Krause 312-886-9506 krause.patricia@epa.gov
Don de Blasio 312-886-4360 deblasio.don@spa.gov
Region 5 toll free: 800-621-8431.9:30 am. - 5:30 p.m.. weekdays
At DNRE contact:
Cheryl Howe 517-373-9881 howec@michigan.gov
Signed Agreement Triggers
Cleanup Plan and Work
Tittabawassee River, Saginaw River & Bay Site Midland/Saginaw/Bay City Region, Michigan
July 2010
In January 2010, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (formerly the Department of Environmental Qual ity) and the Dow Chemical Co. signed a settlement agreement regarding the Tittabawassee River, Saginaw River and Bay Superfund site.
In addition to initiating cleanup plans and work, the agreement increased activities to engage the community and involve residents in education about the site. This enhanced community involvement includes formation of theSaginaw-Tittabawassee Rivers Contamination Community Advisory Group, a draft community involvement plan and funding for a technical expert under a technical assistance plan.
The Settlement Agreement
The January settlement set out requirements for Dow to perform investigations and develop and design cleanup options selected by EPA, in consultation with Michigan DNRE, for the Tittabawassee River, Saginaw River and Bay site. The overarching goal for this project is to achieve protective, comprehensive cleanup of the Tittabawassee and Saginaw Rivers and Saginaw Bay. Critical activities for the site fall into three categories:
Continuing to address high-use properties along the rivers through early actions
Continuing to address movement of highly contaminated soil and sediment through early actions
Developing comprehensive cleanup options in an upstream-to-downstream fashion for the Tittabawassee River, Saginaw River and Saginaw Bay over the longer term
Work under the agreement is ongoing. Updates on the work and the projected comple tion dates for these critical activities at the site are outlined below. These key tasks are being conducted concurrently so that significant work can be accomplished on an accelerated schedule while recognizing the size and complexity of the site.
Addressing High-Use Properties
Potential exposure of people to highly contaminated, heavily used properties along the floodplains isaconcern. Exposures on high-use properties are being evaluated and will be addressed, as needed, on an accelerated schedule. Key milestones include:
Spring 2010 through summer 2011 -- in phases: assess high-use properties for potential exposure risks (This work is under way.)
Fall 2010 through fall 2011 -- in phases: seek public comment on exposure con trols identified for high-use properties
Winter 2010/2011 through winter 2011/2012--in phases: selection by EPA of exposure control approaches
Fall 2011 through fall 2012--in phases: implement designed and selected expo sure controls
Addressing Movement of Highly Contaminated Soil and Sediment
Potential movement of highly contaminated sediment and river bank soil to other areas of the site is also a concern. Highly contaminated banks and sediment are being assessed and wi 11 be addressed, as needed, on an accelerated sehedu le. Key mi lestones include:
Spring 2010 through spring 2011 -- in phases: assess highly contaminated banks and sediment for potential movement (This work is under way.)
Late summer 2010: accelerate activities at a contaminated sediment deposit at Reach J/K, about one mile downstream of the Dow plant, and conduct a pilot capping study (Planning is under way and this work will be ahead of EPA's original schedule.)
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Late summer 2010: accelerate activitiesat acontaminated bank at Reach O, about three miles downstream of the Dow plant, and stabilize the eroding bank (Planning is under way and th is work wi 11 be ahead of EPA's original schedule.)
Spring 2011 through winter 2011 -- in phases: seek public comment on cleanup options to address contaminated bank and sediment movement
Summer 2011 through spring 2012--in phases: selection by EPA of cleanup approaches
Fall 2011 through fail 2012--in phases: implement designed and selected cleanups
Comprehensive Cleanup Options
Longer term, comprehensive cleanupof the site will be achieved best by applying an approach that requires making cleanup decisions, implementing cleanups and monitoring results. The Tittabawasseeand upper Saginaw River (about 30 miles overall) have been divided into eight segments ranging from about 3-5 miles each. ERA expects work to be staged to allow continuous construction upstream to downstream, segment-by-segment, ensuring that all components of each segment (e.g., floodplains, banks and in-channel sediment) are addressed. Monitoring the results will be critical for evaluating the effectiveness of remedies, ensuring that protection of hu
man health and the environment is achieved and guiding the development of cleanup options as cleanup moves upstream to downstream. Key milestones include:
Spring 2010 through winter 2010: assess the first river segment (This work is under way.)
Spring 2011: seek public comment on cleanup options for the first river segment
Summer 2011: selection by EPA of cleanup approach for the fi rst river segment
Fail 2012: selected cleanup for the first river segment designed and ready to implement.
Summer of 2011 but no later than summer of 2012: assess second river segment
Winter 2011/2012 but no later than winter 2012/2013: seek public comment on cleanup options for the second river segment
Spring 2012 but no later than spring 2013: selection by ERA of the cleanup approach for the second river segment
Fall 2013 but no later than fail 2014: implement designed and selected cleanups for the second river segment
The lower Saginaw River and Saginaw Bay will require addi tional studies. However, because this part of the site is expected to be affected by cleanup upstream, comprehensive clean up work in the lower Saginaw River and Bay wi 11 be initiated
Enforceable Agreements
2007 I 2008 I 2009 | 20(10 I 2011 2012 2013 | 2014 | 2015 2016 | 2017 | 2018 ^_____ ^ AOC goes into effect on Jan. 21, 2010
Addressing High-Use
Properties
Completed and ongoing IRAs
Evaluation of
Cleanup optic ns and
properties begins activities as reeded
Addressing Movement of Highly Contaminated Soil
and Sediment
Completed and ongoing IRAs
Evalu; tion begins Cleanup optic ns and activities as r eeded
I
Comprehensive Tittabawassee River
Cleanup
I
Divide river into 8 segments Se jment
segment i
Segment 3
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.--...-............----..-
Tic:
Development of cleanup options "and cleanup activities continue,.
Comprehensive Saginaw River & Bay
Cleanup
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Initiation of investigation will be based on results from any early actions and/or upstream cleanup actions.
This portion of the timeline is x highlighted in Figure 2.
Figure 1. This timeline shows long-term plans for cleanup on the rivers and bay, but goes only as far as 2018. Current activities and plans are highlighted in the banded area near the center of the chart. Those activities are shown in more detail in the figure on the next page.
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2010
Divide EUs into phases & planning
July 19
2011
2012
Phase 1
Develop options as needed
Select option
/
Implement
Property use assessments
Public commentXDesi9n and Plan on options
Phase 2 Phases 3 & 4
Develop options
Select option
as needed
/
Implement
*> ' mu
Property use
\
assessments Public comment
Design and plan
on options
Start in 2011
Identify areas of interest
mSSSKSSOSKISMm
Reach O Bank
Identified for accelerated , activities
Work planning Monitoring
B
Construction
Reach J/K Sediment Deposit
Identified for accelerated , activities --'
Work planning Monitorjng
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Construction
Other Areas: Phase 1
Other Areas: Phase 2
Develop options Selectoptjon
as needed
^ H
Implement
3 erosion and chemistry
Design and plan Public comment
on options
Start in 2011
Segmenting the site
Segment 1
Develop options Select option
Compile data, data gaps, develop objectives
Public comment Desi9" a P|an
Implement cleanup
Segment 2
Develop options
i x
Compile data, data gaps, develop objectives
Implement cleanup Select option
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B1
Publ,^comment Deai9n a P|an
III
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Figure 2. This timeline shows short-term cleanup plans and related activities in more detail from 2010 through 2012. Note that the
public will have several opportunities to be involved. Public comments on proposed options will be considered by EPA and DNRE
before deciding on exposure controls, stabilization activities and final cleanup plans.
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after substantial upstream cleanup has occurred. Early work to address high use properties and contamination movement is ongoing as noted above. Site-wide monitoring will begin in 2010, continue during all phases of work and will be used to assess conditions throughout the site as work progresses.
Community Involvement
Community Involvement Plan: Since the settlement agree ment was signed in January 2010, EPA and Michigan DNRE have been laying the groundwork for effective communication in the years to come. As part of those communication efforts, in June 2009 EPA released an "interim community involve ment plan" detailing a number of activities the agency would take to keep communities informed and engaged at the site. In June 2010, EPA shared an early draft of a more complete CIP with the community advisory group for feedback. A draft final CIPwill be shared with the broader community for comments and suggestions before it is completed. However, even though the CIP will be released as "final," it is a document that will be modified continuously as necessary to meet community needs and concerns.
Information Office: In June 2009, EPA opened a temporary office in the Saginaw County Courthouse. A permanent space wi11 be arranged before the end of the year. Once this new space is ready, it will provide comfortable meeting space and room for reviewing site documents as well as a place you can drop in for information.
The office staff--a remedial project manager and a commun ity involvement assistant--have been reaching out to the com munity through participation in several area activities. A few highlights:
Saginaw Medical Society Health Fair
Timberdoodle Festival
Bay City State Recreation Area Bald Eagle School Program
Michigan Department of Community Health Fish Smart Eat Smart Program
EPA staff will be participating in other appropriate community events to keep residents informed and aware of cleanup activi ties on the rivers and bay.
Community Advisory Group: EPA and Michigan DNRE have worked closely with the commun ity advisory group that formed in November 2009. The CAG has been meeting on the third Monday of each month. CAG meetings are open to the public and announced through newspaper ads and the listserv about a week in advance.
One highlight was a 5-hour pontoon-boat tour of parts of the Tittabawassee and upper Saginaw rivers to provide CAG members a reference for ongoing discussions.
Monthly topics have included updates on the settlement agreement, ongoing work, and presentations about site-related topics. The presentations can be viewed on EPA's website.
Technical Assistance Plan: The settlement agreement required Dow to provide technical assistance to the community through a "technical assistance plan." This TAP will start off with $50,000, with more funding available as needed. In June, Dow published an ad seeking applications for the TAP. Applications were due July 5. EPA and Dow will review the applications to seek the group that best represents all the different viewpoints in the commun ity.
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