The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set a public meeting and hearing on Wednesday, April 19 at the Hastings Public Library, 227 East State Street in Hastings. The meeting is on EPA plans to allow a Traverse City company to inject brine 2,000 feet below the surface in a well in Johnstown Township.

 

The public meeting will be from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., the public hearing from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Arbor Operating has applied for a Class II injection well permit, that the EPA plans to approve.

The public notice said the EPA received requests for a public hearing on the proposed permit approval. The new comment period for written comments ends Friday, April 21, at midnight, exceeding the 30-day period and including an additional three days for any delay caused by mailing. The original public comment period ended in October, 2016.

 

If the EPA makes its approval final, Arbor Operating will inject brine into the Swanson well located about a quarter mile from Manning Lake and Bristol roads in Johnstown Township, according to the notice.

 

New comments can be submitted to by mail to:

Jeffrey Wawczak,

U.S. EPA Region 5 (WU-161)

77 West Jackson Boulevard

Chicago, IL. 60604-3590.

 

Comments can be submitted by e-mail (wawczak.jeffery@epa.gov) or in person at the public hearing.The EPA will consider all comments it receives and then issue a final decision, along with a response to significant comments. Those who make an official comment during the comment period or at the public hearing have the right to appeal any final permit decision by appealing first to the Environmental Appeals Board.

 

For more on the EPA’s Underground Injection Control program, or join its mailing list, go to http://go.usa.gov/3JwFP.

For questions about the location of wells, contact: MDEQ, P.O. Box 30256, Lansing, MI, 48909, or call 517-241-1515.