RESIDENT RESPONSE SURVEY RESULTS

FROM COMMUNITY MEETING ON DIOXIN NOW AVAILABLE

An overwhelming number of Midland residents voiced support for a dioxin health study while expressing frustration with the MDEQ at a community meeting on dioxin sponsored by the City of Midland last Wednesday night at the Midland Center for the Arts.

Ninety-two percent of the Midland citizens who attended last Wednesday’s meeting and completed an exit survey indicated that they would like Midland City Council to continue seeking a dioxin health/exposure study prior to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) implementation of soil testing within the city.

Eighty-eight percent of the 658 surveys returned showed a dissatisfaction with the process that the MDEQ presented on the dioxin issue, and believe that the MDEQ is not adequately addressing citizens’ concerns about the issue.

Forty-one percent of the estimated 1600-plus people who attended the May 26 meeting held in Midland Center for the Arts main auditorium completed the survey and provided responses to the following statements:

· I believe the City Council should continue to seek a dioxin health/exposure study prior to the implementation of additional soil testing.

Yes 605 (92%)             

No 39 (6%)

No opinion/uncertain        14 (2%)

· I am satisfied with the process that the MDEQ has presented on the dioxin issue and believe that they are adequately addressing my concerns.

Yes                                53 (08%)            

No                                  577 (88%)

No opinion/uncertain 28 (04%)

Complete details of the survey are provided on the City’s website (www.midland-mi.org) by clicking on the Updates link under the What’s New heading.

City staff continue to work on providing answers to the hundreds of questions submitted via the City’s citizen comment phone line (837-3400), the cityhall@midland-mi.org e-mail, a form available at the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library, by postal mail and during the community meeting. Answers will be posted on the City’s website as soon as they are available.

Citizens wishing to ask additional questions or voice their concerns over the dioxin issue in Midland may continue to do so using any of the methods of communication listed above.

The Community Meeting was organized in response to community concerns about proposed dioxin soil testing that could raise serious issues about citizens’ health and property. Testing of at least four residential areas north and east of The Dow Chemical Company’s Michigan Operations manufacturing plant are slated to begin sometime this month. In addition, testing for the historic contaminant could eventually be conducted within a two-mile radius of the Dow plant. If dioxin levels were found to be above the MDEQ-determined residential standard of 90 parts per trillion (ppt), properties could be labeled hazardous facilities and be subject to remediation plans.

For more information, contact Midland City Hall at 989-837-3400 or visit the city’s website at www.midland-mi.org.