Friday, May 07, 2004
BARRIE BARBER THE SAGINAW NEWS
Stargazers typically turn their eyes toward the heavens when they visit Imerman Memorial Park, but the state says they and anyone else who drops in should pay more attention to more earthly concerns.
State officials are urging Saginaw County to pull the plug on large events -- such as the annual stargazer party in August at the Saginaw Township park -- because of dioxin contamination.
County officials say they haven't made any decisions -- yet.
Thursday, the County Parks and Recreation Commission convened at Imerman and appointed a subcommittee to suggest what to do.
"It's a huge issue," said John P. Schmude, director of the commission that oversees the park on Midland near McCarty along the Tittabawassee River.
"There's too many things to consider" to make a snap judgment, he added.
The County Board of Commissioners would rule on a recommendation.
The environmental concerns disappointed Joe Bruessow, vice president of the Sunset Astronomical Society, which stages the annual "A Night Under the Stars" party.
"It's probably going to be grounds for us to find a new location," he said.
Some river basin residents have filed a lawsuit against Midland-based Dow Chemical Co. alleging the corporate giant was responsible for dioxin contamination on their property decades ago.
In an April letter from the state Department of Environmental Quality and Department of Community Health, officials urged school districts and others to plan activities outside of the flood plain at Imerman until the exposure risk from dioxin contamination is fully known and cleanup or mitigation completed.
"Activities that involve sitting or lying on the ground or could involve ground contact such as baseball, softball and soccer should not be scheduled," the letter said.
State officials say there aren't enough hand washing facilities or seating available to handle large crowds.
Heeding the word
Jerry L. Seese, Saginaw Township Community Schools superintendent, said his school district will follow the advice.
"We won't be using that park until we can find out more information," he said.
John D. Niederhauser, Saginaw County Department of Public Health officer, said as long as park users take precautions, the exposure risk remains low.
"If we thought there was an imminent health threat, we would take some fairly drastic action, rest assured," Niederhauser said.
State Department of Environmental Quality soil boring tests showed dioxin contamination ranged from a high of 2,400 parts per trillion at the rivershore to three to 37 parts per trillion near the area closest to a children's playground area in the front of the park. The playground had sand trucked in from outside Imerman, Schmude said.
State guidelines say 90 parts per trillion or less is considered acceptable, said Alan B. Taylor, a state senior geologist who has visited the park.
"If it's above 90, then you are beginning to become concerned about certain types of exposure," he said.
It's uncertain what health effects the highest concentrations might cause, he said.
"Any health impact would be directly related to the amount of exposure," state officials wrote in the letter. "Infrequent park users are expected to be at less risk than someone who frequents the park on a daily basis."
Experts disagree on the impact of long-term exposure to dioxin. Some say it could cause cancer while others argue the toxin has not produced long-lasting health effects in concentrations as high as 1,000 parts per trillion -- a federal standard.
Coming up with a plan
As part of an interim response action at Imerman, Dow paid to install three seasonal portable hand-wash stations, said Anne Ainsworth, a company spokeswoman. The county has replaced wood chips on walking trails, too.
Recreation officials said the county will seek reimbursement from Dow for hauling more than 200 cubic yards of contaminated soil to a landfill since floodwaters hit the park this spring, said Darin W. Kaschinske, assistant director of the Parks and Recreation Commission.
"It will all get paid for by Dow in the long run," he said.
The county had no cost estimates available because it had not received a bill, Kaschinske said.
Dow is awaiting a state OK on an interim action plan to reimburse some environmental-related expenses at Imerman, Ainsworth said.
Pending that approval, Dow has among other things offered to reimburse the future cost of stabilizing the riverbank, and installing fishing docks, she said.
Officials said the cost of the project would exceed $300,000.
Once it receives the nod, the company has pledged to plant turf at the entrance to Bark Park, a dog walking area, and other Imerman locations to minimize exposure to soil, she said.
The state also has called for clearer and bigger signs to replace small, yellow advisory signs that caution visitors about the dioxin contamination. t
Barrie Barber covers politics and government for The Saginaw News. You may reach him at 776-9725.
© 2004 Saginaw News.
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