Michigan residents have until May 3 to provide comment on the relicensing of aboveground hazardous waste operations at the Republic Industrial and Energy Services (RIES) hazardous waste facility in Romulus. The public comment period was reopened by officials from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).
Written comments on the aboveground hazardous waste activities and the draft renewal license can be submitted to Ronda L. Blayer, Environmental Engineering Specialist, at BlayerR@Michigan.gov or EGLE, MMD, Hazardous Waste Section, P.O. Box 30241, Lansing, MI 48909. Written comments must be postmarked no later than May 3, and include the writer's name, address, and email; a concise statement of the basis for the comments and the supporting relevant facts upon which the comments are based, according to rules posted by EGLE.
The original public comment period continued from Dec. 30, 2022, to Feb. 16, 2023, and included a public informational meeting and a public hearing. No public comments were received during that period, however recent events including the delivery of waste from the Ohio train derailment have generated significant public interest in the facility, according to a statement from EGLE officials.
EGLE officials stressed that comments must be on the technical and compliance elements of the proposed relicensing. The agency does not have authority under the law to approve or deny the relicensing based on support or opposition alone, nor to decide based on lack of need.
