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May 21, 2020

Dam Disaster in Michigan Threatens to Flood Toxic Sites
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Michigan is facing a potential environmental disaster as floodwaters
from two breached dams threaten the headquarters of Dow Chemical and
nearby Superfund toxic cleanup sites. Dow has used the Midland,
Michigan, complex for decades to produce Saran Wrap, Styrofoam, Agent
Orange, mustard gas and other products. On Wednesday, Dow acknowledged
there were floodwaters commingling with on-site toxic containment ponds
at its facility. Dow's complex also houses a small nuclear reactor used
for research. The New York Times reports Dow filed an "unusual event"
report with the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission overnight citing
the heavy flooding. The crisis in Michigan began on Tuesday when a pair
of dams breached after two days of heavy rain.


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