West Michigan Communities Call for EPA Hearing on Wastewater Injection Plan
Local authorities in West Michigan are advocating for a public discussion on Consumers Energy’s proposal to manage wastewater by injecting it deep underground. This request, directed at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), centers on the utility’s strategy for handling wastewater from its final coal-burning facility once it ceases operations.
The J.H. Campbell plant, which was slated for closure, remains operational due to directives from the Trump administration, as reported by Michigan Public and WZZM13. The facility currently mixes its coal ash landfill wastewater with cooling water, discharging it into Lake Michigan. Once the plant closes, a new disposal method is required.
Consumers Energy proposes storing this leachate, which they claim is non-hazardous, about a mile beneath the earth’s surface within a steel and cement casing. “This technology has been used for nearly a century and has been widely approved by state and federal agencies for use in Michigan,” stated a company spokesperson via email.
According to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Michigan has over 30 active deep injection well permits, and approximately 900 such wells operate across the United States. Consumers Energy already utilizes two deep injection wells at its Zeeland generating station, operational since 2002, without any reported issues or violations.
Despite these assurances, environmental worries persist among local residents. Both the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners and Port Sheldon Township have formally requested the EPA to conduct a public hearing.
Port Sheldon Township Supervisor Michael Sabatino articulated these concerns in a letter to the EPA, emphasizing that “The potential long-term implications of such a facility, involving environmental considerations, groundwater protection, and overall public confidence, warrant a transparent and accessible forum for information sharing and public input.”
Editor’s note: Consumers Energy is among Michigan Public’s corporate sponsors
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