January 9, 2006

The Department of Environmental Quality announced today that it has denied the air use permit application submitted by Michigan Waste Services for its medical waste autoclave located in Hamtramck. The decision was reached after careful consideration of comments received during the public comment period, a public hearing, and Michigan Waste Services’ past performance at the site.

“This company has simply not demonstrated the effort to comply with the same environmental safeguards that all other businesses in Michigan operate under,” said G. Vinson Hellwig, Chief of the DEQ’s Air Quality Division and decision maker on the permit application denial. “While we all share a goal of helping businesses grow in Michigan, we cannot put the health of a community at risk in the process.”

The DEQ received a number of comments on the proposed permit, including comments from neighboring residents expressing concern over the company's history of noncompliance with environmental regulations. In April 2005, the DEQ began the process to revoke Michigan Waste Services’ operating license due to similar compliance problems and concerns from the community.

The DEQ may deny a permit application if the equipment for which the permit is sought will not operate in compliance with the rules of the DEQ or state law.

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 January 9, 2006 by Pat Watson