February 7, 2008

The Department of Environmental Quality and United States Environmental Protection Agency announced today their decisions to issue permits for an underground injection well that will be used to dispose of treated groundwater discharging from Bay Harbor, located west of Petoskey. The water is required to be treated prior to disposal to reduce its alkalinity and concentrations of metals to below hazardous waste levels.

The disposal well is to be located about 30 miles from Bay Harbor, near Alba, in eastern Antrim County. The project will dispose of the treated groundwater in a limestone formation at a depth of 2,150 feet. The formation is overlain by several layers of impervious rock that will contain the injected fluids within the formation and protect shallower ground water and surface water from the disposed liquids.

The permits were issued to Beeland Group, LLC, a subsidiary of CMS Land Company. CMS is a former partner in developing the Bay Harbor property and has taken responsibility for addressing the contamination problem. The company is currently evaluating long-term options for treatment and disposal, but intends on using the Alba well in the near-term in order to have a dedicated disposal well closer to the source of the problem. CMS currently disposes the treated water at the Grand Traverse Wastewater Treatment Plant and in a commercial disposal well located about 50 miles from Bay Harbor and 15 miles east of Gaylord.

"Our decision affirms that this proposal meets all existing environmental standards, however, we will continue to work with CMS to explore long-term disposal options," said DEQ Director Steven E. Chester. "The contamination at Bay Harbor must be remediated to protect human health and the environment in a manner that is best for Michigan."

The permit can be viewed in PDF format at www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/ogs-BeelandPermit_224009_7.pdf.

The Response to Comments document is also available at www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/Beeland_Response_to_Comments_1-28-08_223918_7.pdf.

Editor's note: DEQ news releases are available on the department's Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

"Protecting Michigan's Environment, Ensuring Michigan's Future"

Revised February 7, 2008 by Pat Watson