ATTENTION people of the State of Michigan and those who share concerns regarding the potential further POLLUTION of the Great Lakes Basin and the CONTAMINATION of our environment.
In a blatant act of hypocrisy, the Michigan Department of Environment Quality (MDEQ) has announced a conference entitled Michigan Wetlands: Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Wetland Protection Act. This conference, in part sponsored by the MDEQ, is being planned for May 20-22, 2004 in Traverse City, Michigan. Tri-County Pollution Control (Tri-Copc) is also proudly celebrating its 25th anniversary actively opposing the destruction of wetlands and the unashamed pollution and contamination of our beautiful Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Below is a synopsis of the latest unthinkable contribution of the MDEQ to the downward spiral of clean water in Michigan.
On February 12, 2004, the MDEQ issued a Solid Waste Construction Permit (#4058) to allow for the huge expansion into wetlands of the Dafter Landfill in Chippewa County. This landfill permit was granted despite the knowledge that the garbage dump sits over an artesian aquifer that provides drinking water for Dafter, Michigan and surrounding areas. In addition, this aquifer feeds the ground waters of the Waiska River, which empties north into Lake Superior as well as the ground waters of the Munuscong River, which flows south into Munuscong Bay. These waters then flow into the lower St. Mary’s River and on into Lake Huron. The huge expansion extends into wetlands that feed the aquifer. Particularly disturbing is the fact that the permit was granted by our own DEQ which is presumed to be the protector of our waters and our environment. The permit was granted just prior to implementation of stronger laws in support of our wetlands. This expansion is a potential threat to our only source of drinking water and to the Great Lakes Basin.
On April 7, 2004 Mr. Tom Horton of Waste Management was quoted in the Sault Evening News that the system they have in place has been developed over the last two decades or so and INCLUDES ALL of NORTH AMERICA. “We will have the fewest number of processing facilities to handle all types of waste streams. The idea was let’s not build a bunch of these facilities. Let’s build as few as possible andHAUL THE WASTE TO THEM.” Considering the deliberate dumping of enormous amounts of imported trash into landfills that are situated over delicate aquifers, this statement does not bode well for the future of our State, which is defined by our water. Michigan’s water is a moving, life-giving and sustaining necessity, and by nature our ground water and our surface water interact as a single water course throughout the system of creeks, ponds, streams, aquifers, wetlands, marches, swamps, rivers, wells and lakes, into the Great Lakes Basin.
Unless we act to protect our lands and our waters, we will fail our future and the future of our children and grandchildren. Help us now by writing your politician’s and letting them know that you want to save Michigan’s water.