Title
Resolution in Support for the Promulgation of 201 Cleanup Standards
Body
Whereas, The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has been working for several years to develop revised 201 cleanup standards that regulate the permissible levels of over 309 different chemicals;
Whereas, The chemical 1,4 Dioxane is one of the chemicals regulated in the 201 Standards;
Whereas, 1,4 Dioxane was released over a number of years from the Pall-Gelman site and has contaminated groundwater in Ann Arbor and surrounding townships;
Whereas, The dioxane plume which originated at the Pall-Gelman site is traveling in several directions including east toward the Huron River;
Whereas, The city has already stopped using a municipal supply well on the city's west side and will unlikely ever be able to use this groundwater;
Whereas, The city remains concerned that the contamination could flow north to Barton Pond, the primary source of drinking water for Ann Arbor and surrounding municipalities;
Whereas, The City has been working with the DEQ since 2013 to revise the 201 standards so that the permissible levels of 1,4 Dioxane reflect the best science and are in accordance with standards adopted by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency;
Whereas, The DEQ has continually delayed the adoption of these standards having postponed the release of revised standards several times, most recently postponing a December 31, 2015 deadline until January 29, 2016;
Whereas, Current best science identifies 1,4 Dioxane as a probable carcinogen with acceptable limits of 3.5 parts per billion (ppb) but the state standard allows 85 ppb of 1,4 Dioxane; and
Whereas, Michigan DEQ Director Keith Creagh will make a determination on promulgating new 201 standards any time;
RESOLVED, That the Ann Arbor City Council calls on Director Creagh and the DEQ to promulgate the new 201 standards and to reduce the permissible levels of 1,4 Dioxane to 3.5 ppb; and
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