Dow Chemical a step closer to disposing sediment from dioxin cleanup in Midland landfill

The Dow Chemical Co. is one step closer to being able to dispose of more than 200,000 tons of river sediment and flood plain soils from the Tittabawassee River dioxin clean-up.

In 2001, Midland County adopted the Midland County Solid Waste plan stating that no waste other than material used for daily cover as specified in the plan may enter or leave Midland County. Earlier this year, Dow requested to import up to 227,000 tons per year of sediment and floodplain material from Saginaw County, requiring an amendment to the plan.

“Their reasoning is the landfill is closer to the cleanup sites, saving on fuel and transportation expense and we have a very good relationship with them and I think they feel more comfortable placing it here than in private sector landfills,” City of Midland Utilities Director Noel Bush said.

The county board needed to appoint a 14-member committee to review the recommended amendments and make a recommendation back to the Midland County Board of Commissioners for approval. That recommendation was unanimously approved this week.

The amended plan now goes to each local government entity for approval.

“Once we have 67 percent of those bodies’ approval, we can then forward it to the MDEQ for approval and inclusion into the state solid waste management plan,” Bush said.

The 14-member committee included representatives from the following companies: Bierlein, Billy’s Contracting and Servinski Sod, along with Scott O’Laughlin, Midland Landfill superintendent. Other members included: Esther Williams, Midland Recyclers; Brady News or CM Rubber recycling volunteer; County Health Director Mike Krecek; Bush; Lincoln Township Supervisor Kevin Wray; Republic Waste or Waste Management designee; Kip Cosan, The Dow Chemical Co.; contractors Jason Long and Jeff Weckesser; and Walter Kienbaum from Bear Carpet & Restoration Services.

In other business, county commissioners:

• Approved funding of $4,000 to develop a shared environmental health Geographic Information System (GIS) project data system. The data will primarily be property information for wells, septic tanks and suspected underground contamination areas. The total cost of the project will be $32,000. However, a grant of $25,500 has been secured from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Bay, Saginaw and Mid-Michigan (Clinton, Gratiot and Montcalm counties) health departments will also contribute $4,000 each. The remaining $9,500 may be used for other project priorities that are mutually agreed upon.

Reappointed the following people:

• City of Midland Councilman Thomas Adams to the Midland County Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board as the council representative. His second term will run from Jan. 1, 2016 through Dec. 31, 2017.

• County Administrator/Controller Bridgette Gransden to the Midland County Building Authority for a sixth term, with the term to be Jan. 1, 2016 through Dec. 31, 2018. The commission also reappointed her to the Central Dispatch Authority Administrative Policy Board for a second term, from Feb. 1, 2016 through Jan. 31, 2019.

• Craig Gosen to represent the Northwest Quadrant and Larry Leach to represent the Southeast Quadrant on the Midland County Board of Public Works. Both appointments will be for a third term, running from Jan. 1, 2016 through Dec. 31, 2018.

• Elizabeth Kline to the Midland County Juvenile Care Center Advisory Board as the Mental Health Professional representative for a second term, with the term to be Jan. 1, 2016 through Dec. 31, 2018.

• Sheriff Scott Stephenson to the Midland County Juvenile Care Center Advisory Board as the Law Enforcement representative for a second term, with the term to be Jan. 1, 2016 through Dec. 31, 2018.