Lone Tree Council

P.o. 1251, Bay City, Michigan 48706

(Fighting for environmental justice since 1978)

Ms. Susan Bodine

Assistant Administrator
OSWER
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Mr. Granata Nakayam

OCEA
United States Environmental Protection Agency

April 13, 2008

Dear Ms. Bodine and Mr. Nakayama:

Greetings. I want to share with you some concems held by myself and my colleagues regarding Dow
Chemical's dioxin contamination in the Saginaw Bay Watershed. As you may know the local of Chamber
of Commerce has called for EPA to re-enter into negotiations with Dow, so too has a legislator and most
'f
recently the SaginawCounty Board of Commissioners. It is also our understanding that Dow has retained
the services of Mr. Steven Herman, former EPA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Enforcement and
Compliance Assurance, who is currently with Beverage and Diamond PC. Having significant knowledge
of how this company operates we would assume Dow is continuing to pursue an arrangement with EPA
headquarters to alter the corrective action process. To that end Dow is building support for negotiation
with EPA at the local level by engaging various entities and local units of government. I might add, Dow
has also retained Mr. Jeff Martin, formerly with Governor Granholm's office, to move their agenda locally.

As we stated in our February meeting with you and your staff, we strongly agree with EPA headquarter's
positiofl that MDEQ maintain the lead on this RCRA corrective action with EPA Region V in place for
support. And it remains our position that RCRA is not ambiguous. that is clearly states the obligations of
Dow Chemical to address this contamination. RCRA also requires pUblic input and transparency;
components of the law,. which we strongly feel, will facilitate the best cleanup.

This company's penchant for closed-door negotiations. shopping around for the best deal and
manipulating the regulatory process is legendary. But it is always to the detriment of resources. public
health protection and cleanup.

We would very much be interested in knowing if Dow Chemical is pursuing additional meetings or any
particular agenda or regulatory changes with/from EPA headquarters. We are most concerned that Dow
is once again attempting to alter the course of their cleanup. We look forwC!rd to hearing from you on this
matter. -

Best regards.

Michelle Hurd Riddick

Lone Tree Council .
2421 Kipling
Saginaw, MI48602
Michdave@aol.com

Cc Tracey Easthope Ecology Center