VBT Environmental committee briefly discusses landfill leaks

By Diane Madigan
Independent Special Writer
Two leaks in a liner at the EQ (Environmental Quality) landfill on the North I-94 Service Drive in Van Buren Township that were first reported in June 2012 were discussed briefly at the Dec. 18 meeting of the VBT Environmental Committee.
According to the committee minutes, EQ representative Mike Takacs attended the October 2012 meeting with a report and then came back again in June 2013.
Takacs said EQ had an anomalous field measurement at the end of June 2012 and they presented a work plan to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) in October 2012 and contacted the township to provide full disclosure.
He said there was no threat to groundwater as a result of this reading.
Takacs said the MDEQ should approve their work plan by Oct. 19, 2012 and they should have a report on their dye testing in 60 days.
They promised to keep the township informed.
In June 2013, Takacs again attended the Environmental Committee meeting and explained two potential sources for the leak, noting several steps were made to resolve the issue and he would report back to the committee when the work was completed.
At the September meeting, Arthur Mullen, Director of Planning and Economic Development, gave a brief update on two leaks in the lining, stating a report would be submitted to MDEQ and an update would be provided at a future meeting.
The October and November committee meetings were cancelled.
Expecting there would be a report from EQ that the work had been completed, the Independent attended the December meeting and asked Mullen for an update on corrective measures taken to the reported leaks in the liner.
“EQ had found a leak in the top edge of the liner that was running down the side of the hill. They completed their clean-up and changed their protocols and feel it will make a big improvement to prevent possible leaks in the future,” Mullen said.
Wayne Disposal, Inc. is a 500-acre EQ facility located next to Willow Run Airport off the North I-94 Service Dr. in VBT. It opened in 1957.
It is the only commercial hazardous-waste landfill in Michigan and one of only seven of its type in the United States.
The landfill takes waste containing dangerous materials such as heavy metals. Most of which it receives comes from clean-up projects for industrial waste. No nuclear waste or radioactive waste is accepted.
Annual elections were held at the Dec. 18 committee meeting and chairman David Merritt and vice-chairman Norm DeBuck were re-elected.