Is Dow Chemical Company seeking to pull off a holiday surprise and bail itself out of huge liabilities for dioxin contamination reaching into the Saginaw River and Saginaw Bay? No one yet knows what those liabilities are, and they may be less than supposed, but recent evidence suggests there are serious environmental and health risks (and multi-million cleanup costs) from dioxin all the way out into the Bay. If there is going to be an agreement between the state and Dow anytime soon, let it be one that preserves the state's role as a defender of the public trust and the public health, one that does not set a "price certain" for contamination that is as yet uncertain in scope. And let it not be an agreement purchased with corporate intimidation. Principle must govern; the people shall rule.
For a refresher course on how Dow tries to manage government agencies in Michigan, go here:
"Michigan Gov. John Engler's administration has abandoned efforts to significantly ease state standards for toxic dioxin pollution that would likely have allowed Dow Chemical Co. to avoid huge cleanup costs near its Midland, Mich., plant."
Posted by Dave at December 15, 2004 02:27 AM