Saginaw
County Board of Commissioners
Indeed it was a sad day October 25th when 10
members of the Saginaw County Board of Commissioners supported the
resolution for HB 4617 to essentially lift the facility designation off
the frequently flooded areas of the floodplain. ( Read more below on the
impact).
One thing of interest. Several of the
residents who spoke in support of the legislation to remove the
"facility" from their properties also dismissed the toxicity of dioxin
and trivialized its human health impacts in their statements to the
commissioners. Yet many of these residents took advantage of their
properties being a "facility" and permitted contractors, this past
summer, to come into their homes and clean carpets, wash walls, clean
duct work and landscape their yards to minimize their exposure to a
chemical they are not worried about? They would, however, by supporting
HB 4617, deny the same interventions to other residents whose homes and
properties are contaminated.
Someone pointed out that the mission statement
of the board of commissioners charges them with the protection of the
health and safety of the people of Saginaw county. But heck, they were
worried some guy couldn't build a fire pit. If and when this facility
legislation is removed the remaining properties on the floodplain
designated a Priority One or Priority Two may not receive mitigation
activity because they will not be considered a facility...........to bad
for the mom with kids but we can all find comfort in knowing that fire
pit will get built. Special thanks to Commissioners Hadsell, Blaine,
Novak, O'Hare and Woods for voting against the resolution which hurts
public health, stalls cleanup and protects the polluter. You can find
your county commissioner at the link below.
What's the rush
Homeowners Fairness Act moving
through Senate
Midland Daily News - Kathie Marchlewski
Two snips:
If the bill makes it through the entire
Senate, it would amend Part 201 of the Natural Resources and
Environmental Protection Act, which designates properties having
hazardous substances as "facilities."
"This is an accountability measure,"
State Rep. John Moolenaar said. In response to local fears of
casting a negative stigma on mid-Michigan based on dioxin
contamination,....................
Everyone is accountable except Dow
Chemical.
This is nothing but designer legislation
for Dow Chemical and the City of Midland. The stigma is caused by
the dioxin not the facility. The "facility " is triggered by the
presence of high levels of dioxin. The " property rights" issue
being touted by Moolenaar and Goschka is a smoke screen. The real
intention is to rewrite Part 201 which governs Dow Chemical's
corrective action license. The properties listed as a facility are
subject to remedial investigation and clean up by law. Without the
"facility" no response may be required.
Moolenaar and Goschka's zeal to get this
done by the first of the year may have everything to do with Dow's
requirements to submit Remedial Work Plans for the Tittabawassee
River and Midland by Dec. 31st. HB 4617 is intended to limit the
authority and ability of DEQ to enforce Dow's license and pursue one
of the worst dioxin contaminations in the Midwest. It is once again
an attempt to relieve Dow of their liability along the river. The
best way for Dow avoid responsibility is to prevent individual
properties from being tested and this legislation accomplishes does
just that. HB 4617 will piecemeal properties being tested. By design
this legislation will impede any large scale cleanup efforts in
Michigan's largest watershed. How shameful.
HB 4617 doesn't take away any stigma.
It does nothing to restore properties or make them whole again. It
does nothing to address the economic impediments associated with
poisoned watersheds. This summer a young physician, anxious to move
away from the contamination with his children, did not voice concern
about any facility, he voiced concern about his kids exposure to
dioxin. No doubt the same was true for the Dow Chemical employee,
who, new to the area, contacted the DEQ for assistance in settling
in a community not on the Tittabawassee River. (
FOIA DEQ MEMO)
The provisions for the “facility” have
been in Dow’s license since the first public hearing in 2002 with no
objection from the sponsors of HB 4617. It wasn't until the DEQ
began enforcing the license and the law, that these legislators
became engaged. Now Moolenaar and Goschka and Kahn, hiding behind a
smokescreen of fairness, have decided to weigh in on the issue but
they have taken up the corner with polluter and special interest.
The heck with children, families and the potential for restoration
of our watershed. Remember that it was Moolenaar who came to Dow's
defense last year and threatened to gut the DEQ budget and eliminate
the division responsible for execution of Dow's license. All
because the DEQ insisted on soil samples. All because the DEQ was
doing its job.
DEQ's Bob
McCann is correct,"You don't put the administration of the law into
the hands of the person who broke it." HB 4617 does just that.
Stay Tuned
Things are moving wild and crazy on HB
4617. Senator Barcia, who was also a sponsor of this pathetic
legislation, is looking for a resolution and mechanism do fact
finding. Also, Senator Goschka offered an amended bill that is
more polluter friendly. As always feel free to share this
e-mail.
Regards to all,
Michelle Hurd Riddick
Lone Tree Council
" A popular government, without
popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue
to a farce or a tragedy or, perhaps, both. Knowledge will forever
govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own Governors
must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives."
James Madison