April 14, 2004

The Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven E. Chester announced today that a settlement was reached with the Fuller Bresnahan Septic Service Company (Fuller), regarding violations of Part 117, Septage Waste Servicers, of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, as amended (NREPA).

The settlement reached with Fuller was executed through an Administrative Consent Order and requires a permanent revocation of all licenses and site authorizations previously granted to Fuller by the DEQ, including a payment of $4,000 to recover DEQ costs for investigations. The revocation of Fuller’s license was pursued only after previous enforcement actions had failed to prevent continuing violations.

Fuller is a septage waste hauling and disposal business located in Lowell and started operations in 1979. Since this time, Fuller has engaged in the land application of septage waste as a means of disposal at various locations in Kent and Ionia Counties. The disposal of septage waste is regulated under both Part 117 of the NREPA and federal law (40 USC 503). The DEQ administers the septage program with the assistance of a majority of local county health departments. Formal investigations and enforcement actions are conducted by the DEQ, Water Division. Over the course of Fuller’s operations, the DEQ has logged an extensive list of complaints and documented numerous violations including: application of septage to frozen soils without a permit; failure to obtain necessary site authorizations and approvals; failure to apply septage at agronomic rates; failure to comply with isolation distances; and failure to meet vector and pathogen control requirements. The proper disposal of septage waste is necessary to protect public health and the environment from disease organisms and other pollutants contained in this waste.

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

Revised April 14, 2004 by Pat Watson