U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) today sent a letter to Lieutenant General Todd T. Semonite, commanding general and chief of engineers at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, regarding a proposal to ship large quantities of hazardous, contaminated material waste from Ohio to Michigan for disposal. Serious concerns and questions have been raised by local officials, and Dingell is seeking answers on behalf of the community to ensure they are fully informed and afforded the transparency and input they deserve.
“Every American deserves peace of mind in knowing their future health and safely is not in jeopardy, nor the environment, as we work to clean up contaminated sites of the past,” Dingell wrote. “Many local officials and the public are deeply concerned about the impacts of disposing contaminated waste in their backyard. As a matter of public and environmental health and safety, we look forward to receiving your response on this important issue facing so many across Southeast Michigan.”
The full letter can be read here and below.
April 6, 2017
Lieutenant General Todd T. Semonite
Commanding General and Chief of Engineers
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
441 G St NW
Washington, DC 20314
Dear Lieutenant General Semonite:
This letter is in regards to numerous reports that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has proposed actions to ship large quantities of hazardous, contaminated material waste from Ohio to Michigan for disposal. Serious concerns and questions have since been raised by local officials and communities in Michigan. While full remediation of contaminated sites across the United States—like the Lackey, Ohio site—is important work, we have a responsibility to ensure over the course of any cleanup that public health and the environment remain protected. We also have a responsibility to keep the public fully informed throughout the remediation process and foster collaboration at all levels. In this case, we are hearing many local officials were never informed.
Every American deserves peace of mind in knowing their future health and safely is not in jeopardy, nor the environment, as we work to clean up contaminated sites of the past. In order to ensure our communities fully understand your actions and are afforded the transparency and input they deserve, we are requesting a full briefing on the current proposal and answers to the following questions:
1. Why was U.S. Ecology Michigan selected as one of the two disposal sites for this contaminated waste?
2. How is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers working with federal, state, and local officials to ensure all stakeholders and the public are informed throughout this process? What actions are you taking now and in the future to ensure this process is safe for everyone involved, including the environment?
3. What resources, if any, does the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers need to ensure the remediation process and disposal of these contaminated material are one hundred percent safe?
4. What are the specific requirements outlined by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that need to be met when determining whether or not a disposal site is capable of handling hazardous or contaminated waste?
5. When is the contaminated waste scheduled to be transported from the Luckey, Ohio site to the U.S. Ecology Michigan landfill? Please provide a full timeline.
6. How much contaminated waste is being shipped for disposal in Michigan? What specific contaminated materials will be transported and disposed? What is the specific level of contamination of this waste?
7. How will the contaminated materials be safely disposed of to protect public health and our environment for future generations? And how long will it take to safely dispose of the materials? What oversight measures are in place to ensure hazardous materials are properly and safely disposed?
8. Is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers required to notify Congress, state, or local officials when moving hazardous materials across state lines, such as contaminated radioactive waste? Is Congress required to be notified when hazardous materials are going to be disposed of in a member’s district?
9. We are hearing from many that are concerned and worried. If the community decides they do not want the proposed contaminated waste to be disposed of at U.S. Ecology Michigan, what options are available to the public and local officials at this point?
Thank you for your prompt attention to these critical questions. Many local officials and the public are deeply concerned about the impacts of disposing contaminated waste in their backyard. As a matter of public and environmental health and safety, we look forward to receiving your response on this important issue facing so many across Southeast Michigan.
Sincerely,
Debbie Dingell
Member of Congress
CC: The Honorable Rick Snyder, Governor, State of Michigan
The Honorable Heidi Grether, Director, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
The Honorable Kevin McNamara, Supervisor, Van Buren Township
The Honorable Warren C. Evans, Wayne County Executive
