Document kD2kB3ND3gp17dKMJ1JKkvnjB

t o'Of rDdoewrsw' ahsatletedwatetesrt * t CHICAGO (UPI) -- An Environ resigned Friday, allowed Dow to mental Protection Agency investi suggest changes in a staff report gator said Friday the Chicago FPA that blamed the company lor dioxin office was ordered to drop waste contamination in the Midland area. writer tests at Dow Chemical Co.'s The final version of the report made Midland, Mich., plant that might no mention of Dow. have found dioxin. Officials at the Michigan Depart .Ion Barney, chemical engineer ment of Natural Resources told The with the EPA's water division in New York Times they also were Chicago, said agency officials in forced to withdraw from a study of Chicago were prevented from doing the discharges from the plant. the Complete study they had set out "We had problems with head to do. quarters at every step of the way," Barney said the regional officials Sandra Gardebring, former chief of were allowed to place fish in the the enforcement division at the re Tittabawasee River upstream and gional office, told the Times. "The downstream from the plant and decision to drop the water study were allowed to analyze the final was made noton our own behest," discharge of water from the plant. Part of the study also called for catching fish that might be living in the tertiary pond, which is the final holding pond for plant discharge be fore it is released into the river. Barney said inspectors wanted to Meanwhile, DNR Director How ard Tanner said Friday Michigan is a national leader in the identifica tion of dioxins, but he believes the toxic substance will be found nationwide. place the fish in cages for 28 days in Tanner made the comment after the channel coming out of the terti returning from Washington where ary pond or in the pond itself. The he met with top EPA officials and fish flesh would then be analyzed U.S. Rep. Donald Albosta, D-Mich. for accumulation of cancer-causing There, plans for a $2.5 million re dioxin or other chemicals. search and monitoring study were He said they were prevented from discussed. doing that part of the study when "Once again, the state of Michi Dow ^objected. Shortly after that^ gan is in the forefront of toxic sub the regional office received orders stance control," Tanner said. to drop it, he said.' "Dioxins and dibenzofurans are Officials of EPA's Chicago office likely present in other areas of the have told Congress that Acting EPA country but haven't been detected Administator John Hernandez, who yet."