Waste Ponds

May 13, 2004 Addition

Information has been added concerning two chemical wastes ponds at Dow's Midland site that were filled-in and used for production plants,  warehouses and office buildings.  The extent of chemical exposure that still may be occurring to employees working in the area is unknown.

More information is available in the section below.

For almost 50 years, Dow operated a number of chemical waste ponds that contained toxic chemicals that were released to the Tittabawassee River without treatment other than settling of solids and particulates.

Dow operated at lease three types of chemical wastes ponds that were emptied into the river during different times of the year.  The ponds were used to store not only dilute aqueous wastes but also waste tars that were primarily organic compounds.

Dow has carried out studies that demonstrated that dioxins and furans can form in chemical reactions catalyzed by sunlight.  The possible formation of high levels of dioxins and furans in the chemical waste ponds will be examined.

The chemical wastes ponds were of earthen construction and over the years, the ponds began to leak heavier-than-water wastes to the river. 

Thick layers of viscous black tars have been located by excavation and heavily contaminated soils have been removed from the riverbank on the eastside of the Midland plant.  The excavated soils were stored in a hazardous waste storage area until the wastes could be disposed of in Dow's hazardous waste incinerator.

The MDEQ has raised concerns that the release of toxic chemicals to the river may still be ongoing.  It is believed that the potential ongoing release of toxic pollutants will be addressed in the revised Scope of Work for the Tittabawassee River.

Reclaimed Waste Tar Ponds

During research on Dow's historic waste facilities and waste procedures, an aerial photograph, taken in 1949, was discovered that clearly shows the presence of two waste ponds east of the C&O Railroad tracks that divide the Midland site into two sections. The ponds extended from the RR tracks to Saginaw Road and, possibly north from N Street to H Street.

Information on historic waste facilities, ponds and landfills, used by the author as the basis for the 1980 submittal for a RCRA operating permit, did not contain any information that suggested that chemical waste ponds had been located in this area prior to 1980.

The 1949 aerial photograph was reviewed with the MDEQ.  The MDEQ indicated that Dow had installed a collection system along its Saginaw Road boundary to collect contaminated groundwater that could be moving off-site in an easterly direction.  The MDEQ indicated that Dow had provided little information as to why the collection system was necessary.

The presence of a chemical tar layer approximately 12 inches thick in this area indicates that the ponds had been used to store chemical wastes in earlier years. 

The construction of buildings and other structures over a reclaimed chemical waste pond could subject the employees that worked (and continue to work) in the area to exposure from chemicals that could be migrating to the surface. 

A letter was sent to Mr. Larry J. Washington, Dow's Corporate Vice President for Health and Environmental Safety informing Dow of the waste ponds and of concerns associated with potential employee exposure from chemicals that underlie plants and buildings constructed over the ponds.  The MDEQ and the Michigan Department of Community Health were also informed of the ponds and the possible risk to human health.

Additional information on the reclaimed waste ponds (including three aerial photographs) are available via the links below.

     Link to Dow May 10, 2004 Letter

     Link to 1949 Aerial Photograph

     Link to 1962 Aerial Photograph  (Poor quality)

     Link to 1998 Aerial Photograph

Any visitor that has additional information on these chemical waste ponds is encouraged to contact DioxinSpin.com via the various Contact links on the web site.

Please be patient as this section of the website is completed.