EPA v. DOW CORNING CORP

Case summary

Dow Corning and EPA reached an agreement in principle for violations of CAA, RCRA, EPCRA/CERCLA, and CWA non-compliance. Settlement covers the Midland, Michigan chemical plant. The basic terms include a cash penalty of $3.231 million ($2.29 million CAA/EPCRA/CERCLA, $941k CWA/RCRA); with another $1.615 million in SEPs. Injunctive relief includes: a site-wide enhanced LDAR program; new emergency response notification procedures; waste characterization/sampling; and SWPP revisions. SEPs include: Dow Corning will monitor and repair connector components, resulting in 77 tpy of VOC reductions. Improvements to pumps and agitators, resulting in 1,600 pounds per year of VOC reductions. Dow Corning will be purchasing/using a live plume modeling computer program. Portable detection units will be purchased for site, as well as local first responders. Dow Corning will also perform projects for lead abatement in communities encompassing Midland: Saginaw, Bay City, and Flint.

Defendants (1)

• DOW CORNING CORPNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (12)

• DOW SILICONES CORPORATION-MIDLAND SITE

  3901 SOUTH SAGINAW ROAD, MIDLAND, MI, 48640

  Registry ID: 110070828554

• DOW SILICONES CORPORATION-MIDLAND SITE

  3901 SOUTH SAGINAW ROAD, MIDLAND, MI, 48640

  Registry ID: 110070828554

• DOW SILICONES CORPORATION-MIDLAND SITE

  3901 SOUTH SAGINAW ROAD, MIDLAND, MI, 48640

  Registry ID: 110070828554

• DOW SILICONES CORPORATION

  3901 SOUTH SAGINAW ROAD, MIDLAND, MI, 48640

  Registry ID: 110070828554

• DOW SILICONES CORPORATION

  3901 SOUTH SAGINAW ROAD, MIDLAND, MI, 48640

  Registry ID: 110070828554

• DOW SILICONES CORPORATION

  3901 SOUTH SAGINAW ROAD, MIDLAND, MI, 48640

  Registry ID: 110070828554

• DOW SILICONES CORPORATION-MIDLAND SITE

  3901 SOUTH SAGINAW ROAD, MIDLAND, MI, 48640

  Registry ID: 110070828554

• DOW SILICONES CORPORATION

  3901 SOUTH SAGINAW ROAD, MIDLAND, MI, 48640

  Registry ID: 110070828554

• DOW SILICONES CORPORATION

  3901 SOUTH SAGINAW ROAD, MIDLAND, MI, 48640

  Registry ID: 110070828554

• DOW SILICONES CORPORATION-MIDLAND SITE

  3901 SOUTH SAGINAW ROAD, MIDLAND, MI, 48640

  Registry ID: 110070828554

• DOW SILICONES CORPORATION-MIDLAND SITE

  3901 SOUTH SAGINAW ROAD, MIDLAND, MI, 48640

  Registry ID: 110070828554

• DOW SILICONES CORPORATION

  3901 SOUTH SAGINAW ROAD, MIDLAND, MI, 48640

  Registry ID: 110070828554

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 103A — Notification of Hazardous Reportable Quantity Release
• CAA 112 — Hazardous Air Pollutants
• CAA 112D — MACT Standards
• RCRA 3004 — Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Standards
• EPCRA 304 — Emergency Release Notification Section 313 Program
• CAA 110 — Implementation Plan for National Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• DOW CORNING CORPentered 2020-01-24

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $3,590,000 · SEP: $5,141,340

Timeline (8 milestones)

• 2011-09-15Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2011-09-21Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2012-09-18Supplemental Referral-Adding parties, counts
• 2019-06-25Final Order Lodged
• 2019-06-25Complaint Filed With Court
• 2020-01-24Final Order Entered
• 2026-01-29Enforcement Action Closed
• 2026-01-29Air Resolved