Conservation News
By Bob Carstens, V.P. Environment
Grand Vision Update
The Grand Vision is a land use and transportation study process aimed at providing a framework for propelling the Grand Traverse region for the next 50 years and beyond. To obtain a comprehensive understanding of what is happening concerning the Grand Vision please go to this website: http://www.thegrandvision.org/
For those wishing directions as to what is next on the Grand Vision timeline of proposed events calling for community participation:
The regional transportation workshop that was originally scheduled for February 27th has been RESCHEDULED to March 20, 2008. The event will be held at the Civic Center in Traverse City at 6:30 p.m. There will be no meeting on February 27th.
Williamsburg Receiving And Storage
In January of 2007 the lawsuit brought by a NMEAC supported citizens group of Whitewater Township against Williamsburg Receiving and Storage, a maraschino cherry processing plant, was settled. Terms of the settlement hammered out by Olson, Bzdok, and Howard, representing the citizens, and the attorneys for WRS were: payment of $350,000 to the citizen’s group, in installments; installment of effective air, ground and water pollution prevention technology as an integral part of their fruit processing; and a system to monitor the air, water, and soil of WRS and surrounding properties to ensure that clean-up as well as the newly installed technology was/is effective. Reportedly, the citizens were pleasantly surprised and pleased that settlement installments have been paid on time. Though the “smell police” system has left something to be desired, on the whole, air quality in 2007 has improved markedly. Moreover, in December 2007, MacTec, the Environmental Consultants hired by WRS, began their Delineation Study of the Groundwater Pollution Plumes originating from the WRS property.
Grand Traverse Overall Supply Co. Site Clean-up
Until 1977, Grand Traverse Overall Supply Co. discharged wastewater from its dry-cleaning and laundry operation into on-site lagoons and nearby Cedar Creek. The lagoon areas at the northern end of the property were cleaned up in the late 1970s, and in 1992 the agency decided no further clean-up was necessary.
The EPA never looked under the building, where a private party discovered contamination in 1996. Apparently there is considerable solvent saturated soil that extends to a depth of 12 to 15 feet from the surface.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it will demolish the former Grand Traverse Overall Supply Co. building in Elmwood Township so it can remove soil contaminated with carcinogenic solvents. The former industrial laundry is next to Norris Elementary School at the corner of Cherry Bend Road and M-22.
The cost of demolition, further testing and soil excavation is approximately $2 million. Additional long-term cleanup, including pumping and treatment of contaminated groundwater, is estimated at $2.3 million.
Clous/Mitchell Creek Wetland Violations
The major enforcement actions of the 2004 agreement have been completed, but two items continue to drag on three years later, including easement signage and sediment traps to preserve a creek. "They need to comply and finish the job," said Michigan Attorney General spokesman Matt Frendewey. "If they continue to fail to comply, we'll go to court to force them to comply, including (financial) penalties."
Officials said the consent agreement did not spell out a specific time frame for accomplishing the tasks, but the work should still be completed in "reasonable time."
-Page Updated March 2008
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