Beginning in 1979, the residents of Dafter and the surrounding communities have tried to prevent a landfill from being constructed. Dafter Township is an environmentally very sensitive area located over an artesian aquifer percolating through brittle glacial soils. This aquifer not only provides the drinking water to the residents of the area but also is hydraulically connected to the rivers in the Lake Superior basin. Damage to this aquifer therefore could be far reaching and disastrous, as has been demonstrated by a previous highway construction project. In the ensuing years the matter was repeatedly in the courts, but never the less the landfill was constructed and started operating. Meanwhile injunctions and court orders were issued, lifted and reissued, but the Reid landfill continued to operate!
In 1983, the township hired an engineering firm to conduct an environmental assessment of the area, which confirmed the people's concerns. This environmental study was presented to MERB (Michigan Environmental Review Board) in July 1983, and in September the DNR issued the operating permit and again the Reid Landfill continued to operate!
In 1984, Governor Blanchard expressed concern and called the problem "startling" and DNR director Ronald Scoog promised personal attention to the Dafter township situation. Not only did the Reid landfill continue to operate, but started accepting out-of-county wastes, some of it as far away as Wisconsin
In 1986, the Dafter township supervisor Mr. Cryderman was advised by Mr. La Rose from the Michigan Township Association about court rulings based on Act 641 which state: "...a site located in one county, but serving another shall be identified in both counties plans...". This ruling had not deterred the waste generator (the city of Marquette, which had not developed a plan), the waste hauler Mr. Peterson and the landfill owner Mr. Reid from making a deal to dump Marquette's waste into Dafter township's Reid landfill. This arrangement arrogantly disregarded Chippewa county's (where Dafter is located) solid waste plan and contemptuously ignored the provisions of Act 641, and of course, the Reid landfill continued to operate
By now the people of Dafter had exhausted all avenues, both at the state and federal level. On March 9, 1988 during a hearing with DNR staff, the landfill operator and a representative from the city of Marquette the Reid landfill was cited for various violations and it was recommended to deny reissuance of the operating license. While this is being appealed, the Reid landfill continues to operate.
This is not a situation unique to Dafter township in Chippewa county. Similar problems exist at the Kettlewell landfill near Port Huron in St. Clair county, and possibly in other areas. Could yours be one of these? Let us know please. Although Act 641 was enacted by the State of Michigan to protect communities and the environment from landfill abuses, this does not necessarily occur when government officials at all levels ignore their own rules. These people need our help. They do not want any more garbage from out-or-state nor any waste from counties not included in their Act 641 Tri-County plan of Chippewa, Luce and Mackinac counties. Most of all they want the Reid landfill closed and any environment damage remediated.