DNRE hosted meeting to hear public concerns
PETOSKEY, MI -- Resident’s in the Bay Harbor area shared their opinions Thursday night on a new plan to treat and release mercury-contaminated water into Little Traverse Bay.
This is a story 7&4 news has been following for years.
CMS Land has been cleaning up for 5 years after an old cement plant.
Thursday night, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment accepted public comment on CMS’s latest plan.
The company wants a permit to treat water on site and release water with small amounts of mercury into the bay, rather than transport it to a deep-injection well in Johannesburg.
Several people for and several against the plan testified to the DNRE.
"I'm disturbed by our notion of taking the problem and dumping it on someone else, and taking it to another county, another group of people, and hoping in the long run that will be OK," said Bay Harbor resident Leonard Frescoln.
"Allowing this discharge collected into Little Traverse Bay is no solution. I strongly urge you to consider the monumental, long-lasting impacts this decision will have," said Marci Singer, Emmet County Resident.
"I believe CMS is very diligent and very honest in their effort to resolve this issue for all of us," said Nancy McKinstry, a Bay Harbor Resident.
“Thank God CMS Energy is working on this but I hope the DEQ will look at this and try to find a better solution,” said Emmet County Resident David Clink.
The DNRE did not make a decision Thursday night.
They'll review the statements made at the hearing and a decision should be made within the next 60 days.
