The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, has said in no uncertain terms that it will grant the renewal of the Wayne Disposal toxic landfill license in Van Buren Township unless it has reason to believe that should not be done.
They’ve said that the landfill qualifies under all the current laws and so they cannot deny the renewal. We imagine they would get sued by Republic Services, owner of Wayne Disposal, if they tried that.
They have told the protestors that the law is in place and the only thing that could change that is a different law. But protestors push against the evil EGLE for following the law. Go figure.
They need to work with their legislators to change the state law and Rep. Reggie Miller and Sen. Darin Camilleri have proposed laws in the system that are stuck in committee. At Monday’s press conference, Rep. Miller said to put pressure on the governor and the house speaker to move the laws forward.
Until then, the present law is in place and the public hearing at Wayne County Community College on Sept. 18 has been announced as part of the required steps in that law. People can go to the meeting and register their complaints in person or write them down and mail/email them to EGLE before Sept. 29. If EGLE thinks one of the ideas is enough to hold off, it can. You have to convince them – or work to change the law.
NOTE: On Aug. 20, EGLE extended the deadline for comments to Oct. 31.
I thought EGLE’s mission was to PROTECT the environment (and residents of Michigan)!