Michiganders have until May 3 to provide comment on the relicensing of aboveground hazardous waste operations at the Republic Industrial and Energy Services hazardous waste facility in Romulus, following the reopening of the public comment period by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.
Written comments on the aboveground hazardous waste activities and the draft renewal license can be submitted to: Ronda Blayer, Environmental Engineering Specialist, Hazardous Waste Section, Materials Management Division, EGLE, at [email protected], 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.
The original public comment period ran 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. EGLE is responding to public requests for additional time.
EGLE officials stress 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.
Anyone wishing to be placed on the official RIES facility mailing list, maintained by MMD, to receive required notifications from both EGLE and RIES, can send a written request to Blayer at one of the addresses above.
To receive periodic updates from EGLE on the RIES facility via email, subscribe to the RIES Hazardous Waste Facility list.