Northville - January 4, 2020
State of Michigan Environmental News - Arbor Hills Landfill
The Conservancy Initiative has received some feedback that our letter writing is getting some attention in Lansing, but to date, we have not received a formal response. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), as well as the Attorney General and Governor, are currently feeling pressure from the local media and citizens over the “Green Ooze” found on I696 during the holidays. There have been some interesting quotes in the news recently.
Attorney General Dana Nessel pledged Monday that her "department will do everything in our power" to help the Whitmer administration and is "creating a Criminal Unit that will focus specifically on environmental prosecutions." https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2019/12/30/whitmer-considers-legal-action-contaminated-ooze/2777108001/
A Quote from Governor Whitmer, "...Today I also directed EGLE to conduct a formal review of its pollution inspection procedures to strengthen enforcement and accountability." https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2019/12/31/michigan-epa-march-ooze-sites-risk-spreading-pollution-low/2777313001/
The Conservancy Initiative believes that now is an excellent time to reach out to our elected officials in Lansing. We have pre-addressed postcards available to share your thoughts with the Governor and/or the Attorney General. To obtain pre-addressed postcards, please contact The Conservancy Initiative at mailto:info@theconservancyinitiative.org
Although the “Green Ooze” makes good TV and photos, the invisible air emissions from Arbor Hills pose a much greater risk, and Advanced Disposal Services (ADS) is a very profitable company as opposed to the defunct company responsible for the “Green Ooze”. ADS must be held accountable for their issues before they merge with Waste Management.
November 2019 Odor Violations
The community observed and submitted over 1,100 odor complaints in November which prompted EGLE to conduct two community odor assessments. Violations notices were issued on both occasions. ADS’s response to the violations did not reveal a company that is committed to solving the problem. Their response documented very few actions taken and made no significant commitments for future improvements. Below is a review of the ADS response, and a chart showing odor complaints and ADS’s actions is attached.
ADS acknowledged low level gas odors.
TCI Comment: LOW LEVEL??; over 1,100 complaints! Odors were observed from as far away as downtown Northville, Novi, and Plymouth. Even landfill friendly officials from Salem Township conceded they observed terrible odors in downtown Northville.
ADS could not determine the time and duration of the odor violations.
TCI Comment: TRY HARDER, look at the data!
The first corrective action was taken on Nov 15th. ADS worked until Midnight.
TCI Comment: Violations were issued on 11/2 and 11/19; odors began 10/22. Was anything done before 11/15?
On 11/25 ADS hired a contractor to lay down additional cover.
TCI Comment: This was one month after the odors began.
Additional remedies taken were on-going actions.
TCI Comment: Nothing new was implemented to correct these odors.
ADS’s proposed actions make no commitment and propose no timetable for completion.
TCI Comment: ADS “may do something.” This may be ADS’s weakest proposed corrective actions ever.
ADS claims they are committed to minimizing off-site odors and in the same paragraph states that periodic odors are unavoidable.
TCI Comment: This doesn’t sound like much of a commitment.
TCI Summary Comment: ADS’s response is completely UNACCEPTABLE!!!
December 2019 Odor Complaint Scorecards
The updated odor complaint scorecard data is available on The Conservancy Initiative website. The trend for odor complaints continues to increase.
