OVERFLIGHTS IRK DOW CHEMICAL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00806R000100370020-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 9, 2010
• Sequence Number: 20
• Publication Date: March 26, 1980
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/09: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100370020-8
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2 arch 1980
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Overflights irk Dow Chemical
Bay City. Mich.
The Dow Chemical Company has charged that the Environmental Pro-
tection Agency illegally conducted "remote searches" of Dow's Midland,
Mich., manufacturing facility through the use of US Air Force and Marine
Corps planes.
Dow, in a complaint filed in the US District Court in Bay City, Mich.,
asked for permanent injunctive relief and compensatory and punitive
damages against the agency. The company says that extremely high res-
olution photos taken by the military craft revealed Dow technology and
trade secrets which could become available to Dow's competitors
through the Freedom of Information Act.
Dow claims that the government flyovers are an infringement of its
Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights. The company charges that at least
50 or 60 flights have been made over its facilities. Furthermore, the com-
pany alleges the EPA "has been and is engaged in a continuing program
of search activities against US industry using highly sophisticated meth-
ods such as aerial photography, thermal infrared scanning, multispectral
scanning and light intensive direction and ranging." Dow says the infor-
mation is also made available to the CIA, Defense Intelliigency Agency,
National Security Agency, and the Department of Defense. Dow says it
has been unable to confirm this finding because of the government's
claim of "national security."
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/09: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100370020-8