MDEQ Cuts Dangerous
Deals with Dow Chemical
Department Rolls Over on its Own Policies to Appease Known
Polluter
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For
Immediate Release:
Frebruary 28, 2002
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Contact:
James Clift - (517) 487 9539
Terry Miller (989) 686-6386
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MEC's Dow Consent Order
Comments
The Michigan Department
of Environmental Quality's (MDEQ) decision to ignore known
health threats-as well as its own policy on enforcement-has
environmental groups calling for the department to abandon
a proposed consent order that incorporates "another sweetheart
deal" for Dow Chemical.
"MDEQ's decisions overrule
staff and not uphold its own standards, at the request of
a known violator, is part of a pattern of failure when it
comes to enforcement," said James Clift, Policy Director
of the Michigan Environmental Council. "MDEQ leaders
failure to make Dow Chemical comply with environmental laws
not only undermines confidence in the department but is placing
the public at risk."
The consent order arises out
of violation of the Clean Air Act and waste management laws
that occurred between February 15, 2001 and August 1, 2001.
The MDEQ penalty summary lists violations that subject Dow
Chemical to up to $4.5 million in penalties. The consent order
propose settling with Dow for only $400,000, plus Supplemental
Environmental Projects that are supposed to provide benefits
to the local environment beyond what Dow is required by to
do.
MDEQ staff along with the Department
of Attorney General recommended rejection of Dow Chemical's
Supplemental Environment Project (SEP) to treat on-site groundwater
for failing to meet department SEP policy. Dow would receive
$400,000 credit toward the settlement for conducting the project
that only benefits Dow and not the environment.
In a separate incident earlier
this week, after promising not to weaken regulatory standards
on dioxin until E.P.A. studies are completed later this year,
MDEQ director Russell Harding filled a request by Dow to relax
Michigan's dioxin cleanup standard for residential areas from
90 parts per trillion to 150 parts per trillion. "The
department is ignoring the potential public health risks that
are posed by the release of contaminates and failing to enforce
environmental that would require testing of the area, and
the removal of contaminants at unsafe levels in the community,"
stated Terry Miller, Chair of the Lone Tree Council.
A public hearing is scheduled
tonight in Midland in the Garden Room of the Midland Center
for the Arts at 7:00 p.m.
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