State hosts public meeting in Ann Arbor to explain changes to Dioxane plume clean-up plan
Those with questions about recent changes to a contamination clean-up plan in Ann Arbor will have the opportunity to hear answers tonight.
Under a clean-up plan amended March 8, at least six homes in the Evergreen subdivision will switch from well to city water under changes to the clean-up plan for a plume of contaminated groundwater under parts of Ann Arbor.
Because some properties exist as township islands within the city of Ann Arbor, the switchover to the municipal water supply means the homes will be annexed to the city and the residents will pay the taxes associated with city life.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment will host public hearing explaining these and other changes to the clean-up plan 7 p.m. today at Abbot Elementary School, 2670 Sequoia Parkway, Ann Arbor.
Currently, thousands of households in the prohibition zone in the northwest section of Ann Arbor can’t use groundwater or dig wells due to concerns over dioxane pollution. Changes to the clean-up plan expanded that zone.
These and other changes were enacted following a court-directed dispute resolution process between the MDNRE and Pall Life Sciences over how to move forward with clean up of the decades-old contamination under Ann Arbor.
Pall inherited the responsibility to clean 1,4 dioxane pollution created by Gelman Sciences between the mid-1960s and the mid-1980s when Pall purchased the company in 1997. Dioxane is an industrial solvent that was used to manufacture medical filters at Gelman. Representatives from Pall are not expected to attend the hearing.
Juliana Keeping covers general assignment and health and the environment for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at julianakeeping@annarbor.com or 734-623-2528. Follow Juliana Keeping on Twitter
Comments
Epengar
Thu, Mar 31, 2011 : 2:49 a.m.
What, hold polluters responsible for the costs of their pollution? Why, we couldn't do that, it would be unfriendly to business!
Bertha Venation
Thu, Mar 31, 2011 : 7:07 p.m.
HA HA! Good one, Ep! I see your "point."
Bertha Venation
Wed, Mar 30, 2011 : 8:05 p.m.
Shouldn't the responsible party for causing the pollution pay for the six homes to move into the city, and pay the difference in City and County taxes? What have the residents done to be punished??