Re: E-M:/ RE: / Hamtramck Incinerator and the "new" Steve Chester MDEQ

[RobC313@aol.com]

Dear Enviro-Mich Readers wishing to comment on the Hamtramck Incinerator

 

I am deeply grateful for Mr. Roher's suggestion that anyone not able to attend Thursdays Hearing send an e-mail to Steve Chester but as many of you may have read, e-mails will not be made part of the Public Hearing Record (thus not effective) as they must be mailed or hand delivered. And any statement made to Mr Chester will not be part of the Hearing.

 

So, I suggest three options

 

1- Attend the hearing and speak your mind (preferred) Its less than a mile off I-75 and easy to find.

 

2- Mail comments to the Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division, P.O. Box 30260, Lansing, Michigan, 48909, to the attention of the Permit Section Supervisor.  All
statements received by January 7, 2005 will be considered by the decision maker prior to final permit action. 

 

3- If you can only e-mail, then e-mail me your comments at RobC313@aol.com  ASAP (but certainly before the Jan deadline) and I will print and forward them. Be sure to include your full name and address just like an actual letter. However, As many of you may not be able to "sign" your e-mails this may not be as effective as options 1 or 2.

 

In addition, although it will not be an official part of the Hearing Process, I can only assume that Mr Chester would welcome hearing from you regarding this issue. I have always found him to be receptive and concerned when it comes to such blatent issues of noncompliance. We are all counting on his department to do the the right thing by denying this permit.

 

Thank you for your concern

 

Rob Cedar

Director- HEAT- Hamtramck Environmental Action Team

President pro tem - Hamtramck City Council

 

 

In a message dated 12/1/2004 9:14:49 AM Eastern Standard Time, rohre1tk@cmich.edu writes:

Enviro-Mich Readers:

 

For those who cannot attend the hearing in Hamtramck, it might be helpful to send a quick email note directly to Steve Chester expressing your concerns as outlined by Rob Cedar in his message below.  Director Chester’s email address at the MDEQ is chesters@michigan.gov

 

Ask that your comments be made part of the permanent hearing record. 

 

“Carbon” copy your state legislators (email addresses available for all of them at www.michigan.gov) and H.E.A.T. (RobC313@aol.com).

 

Under the air pollution control section of the Michigan Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (P.A. 451 of 1994, as amended—Part 55) the MDEQ can deny new permits or revoke existing permits for cause such as repeated violations or a bad compliance history.  The water pollution portions of the act contain similar provisions as do the applicable federal regulatory laws. 

 

Excerpt from Part 55 follows:

 

MCL 324.5503 Powers of department.

Sec. 5503.

The department may do 1 or more of the following:

(a) Promulgate rules to establish standards for ambient air quality and for emissions.

(b) Issue permits for the construction and operation of sources, processes, and process equipment, subject to enforceable emission limitations and standards and other conditions reasonably necessary to assure compliance with all applicable requirements of this part, rules promulgated under this part, and the clean air act.

(c) In accordance with this part and rules promulgated under this part, deny, terminate, modify, or revoke and reissue permits for cause……<emphasis added>  <snip>