Preliminary report completed on chemical firm’s Paritutu site
Chemical giant Dow has submitted a draft preliminary site report to the Taranaki Regional Council on its Paritutu site as the latest stage of remediation work continues.
New Zealand-based contaminated land experts Tonkin + Taylor released an update on behalf of Dow Australia and environmental remediation company Camillo Coladonato on the progress of the work on Wednesday.
The update provided no specific details about what was contained in the report, which was described as a desktop investigation to document historical activities and to recommend whether further field investigation was warranted.
“This is a major step and contributes significantlyto identifying potential remedial options for the site in the future,” the update said.
It also reported that Taranaki Regional Council had selected a “well-regarded peer reviewer” to provide independent oversight for delivery of the remediation project.
As a result of the findings from the draft investigation, a sampling and analysis plan was being prepared by Tonkin + Taylor.
The plan would outline proposed sampling methodologies and locations across the site.
After it was drafted, the plan would be independently examined by the peer reviewer.
From the 1960s through to 1987, Ivon Watkins (later Ivon Watkins-dow) made the herbicide 2,4, 5-T – which contained the toxic dioxin TCDD – at Paritutu.
The herbicide was a key component of Agent Orange – the defoliant used by the United States military in the Vietnam War – and has been linked to cancers and birth defects.