Document k9z735xEQjDdL0wvqw6B69mob

Midland Daily News, Midland, Michigan EPA urges Hebert By KATHY GRAY situation in Midland is complex and Daily News staff writer many of the issues are emotionally The Environmental Protection charged. It is, therefore,.incumbent Agency has asked a local environ on all parties to act responsibly and mentalist to act responsibily when to engage in a dialogue based on making allegations against public facts." agencies and the Dow Chemical Co. The EPA responded to 10 issues In a nine-page letter to Environ contained in Herbert's letter, five of mental Congress of Mid- Michigan which dealt with the EPA's sam director Diane Herbert, the EPA re pling ofsoils for the presence of diox sponded to an April letter from Her- in both inside and outside the Dow oert and outlined 10 instances in Chemical plant. In at least one .vhich her information concerning claim, Hebert alleges Dow unfairly :he dioxin issue was either false or influenced the sampling survey. misleading. "I am particularly disturbed by The letter was copied to 14 other your implications regarding this ndividuals and agencies, including Agency's integrity in this matter," 3ov. James Blanchard, U.S. Sena Levin wrote. "Dow Chemical did not tors, congressmen, local officials, and will not influence the studies we ind officials of the Department of are undertaking in Midland. Their Natural Resources, Michigan De- cooperation has been sought and has jartm ent of Public Health, state proved helpful. We have, however, attorney general's office, and the as an Agency carried out our mis Atlanta Centers for Disease Control sion uncompromised and in the pub "At the outset let me express my lic interest." disappointment in the number of in In addition to soil sampling, Levin accurate allegations contained in told Herbert that the EPA is con murletter," the letter, which was ducting sampling from water, was iigned by acting Regional V admi- tewater, fish and river sediment and listrator Alan Levin, said. "The incinerator and ambient air. 1, (T 'srS Section 0 Page 3, t o `a c t re sp o n sib ly ' Herbert also claimed that the EPA is not adequately protecting the public health; is not concerned about groundwater contamination; hasn't released information from previous studies; and should work with the Center for Disease Control to conduct broad studies looking at alleged health problems in Midland. The EPA responded by saying cur rent data doesn't warrant emergen cy action concerning possible groundwater contamination. "But the possibility of groundwater con tamination is a major concern of this Agency." Results from previous studies, the letter stated, will be released when data from current studies is com piled and added to previous reports. Health studies aren't warranted, according to an attached letter from the CDC, because the occurance of cleft palates, allegedly linked to dioxin contamination, has been low since 1975. Herbert also said congress should investigate the EPA's lack of action in Midland. "Region V's record in Midland over the past two years and before has been characterized by high pro fessional standards. We are perfect ly willing, at any time, to have our records reviewed by Congress or the public," EPA officials responded. Herbert has not responded to the letter yet, but said "I laughed when I go it." She stands by the allegations made in her letter and hopes a re quested congressional investigation will shed light on the claims she has made against the EPA. "Their answers (to the claims in her original letter) are outrageous and deficient," she said. "I think now they just want me to go away." EPA's director of public affairs Jon Grand said Thursday the agen-' cy is willing to work with Herbert, but "we would prefer to work with the real issues instead of the peripheral or smoke screens. "This is not an attempt to close off diaglogue." he added. "W hether they are the right answers depends' on where you sit on these issues."