Dow Chemical agreed to a $77 million environmental remediation agreement

Dow Chemical Co has agreed to settle an environmental remediation project in Central Michigan, paying about $77 million to compensate for wildlife damage caused by the Midland based chemical plant According to a press release from the U.S attorney's office in the Eastern District of Michigan, the settlement, announced on November 8, will "compensate the public for harm to natural resources" and receive public comment and approval Dow merged with DuPont, based in Wilmington, Delaware, in 2017 and has reached a settlement agreement with the Saginaw Chippewa Indian tribes in Michigan and Michigan Federal, state and tribal agencies filed complaints alleging the release of dioxin related compounds and other substances by Dow, "with adverse effects on fish, invertebrates, birds and mammals," and resulting in restrictions on hunting, fishing and park use Since its opening in 1897, the Dow plant has released dioxins and other harmful substances to rivers and river basins for decades As part of the compensation, the company agreed to fund eight natural resource restoration projects across Midland, Saginaw and Gulf county It also agreed to fund the restoration account, which will be used to support other projects identified by the natural resources trustees, including the Department of fish and wildlife of the United States of America, the Department of natural resources of Michigan, the Department of energy and environment of the Great Lakes region, the chief legal officer and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian tribe In a statement to crane, Dow said it was "committed to working with these institutions" to advance its five-year plan "Overall, the proposed project is expected to add, improve and protect about 8000 acres of natural habitat in the Great Lakes Bay area, which will benefit fish, birds, mammals and other wildlife, while creating more entertainment and education opportunities for the area." The public statement said In addition to the implementation and supervision of natural resources projects and the establishment of project funds, the $77 million includes the cost of Dow's previous emissions of natural damage and the cost of assessing the company, the press release said "Through this settlement, the natural resources of the Saginaw Bay area will be restored through the creation of natural habitats, nature reserves, foot and bicycle paths and more fishing, hunting and canoeing," said Matthew Schneider, US prosecutor The news said Restoration projects include: - creation and improvement of habitats in and around the tittabawassassee, Saginaw and Saginaw bays - Construction of fish spawning areas in Saginaw Bay - Construction of rock ramps to facilitate increased fish throughput on the dam of the Dow Midland plant - improvement of water control structures in the Shiite National Wildlife Refuge - a public meeting on the proposed settlement of the expansion of ships at the mouth of the Saginaw river will be held on 21 November at 7 p.m at the Sheraton Hotel in the town of Saginaw.