By Alicia St. Germaine and Ron Robinson
For too long, Macomb County residents have borne the cost of decisions made upstream. From the Red Run Drain to the Clinton River and Lake St. Clair, our waterways and our communities continue to be impacted by sewage discharges from Oakland County’s George W. Kuhn Retention Treatment Basin.
State Rep. Alicia St. Germaine, R-Harrison Township, shows some type of wipe she picked off of a bush last April at Red Run Drain in Warren, where sewage released from Oakland County passed.
PHOTO FROM ALICIA ST. GERMAINE VIDEO
That’s why we strongly support the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s decision to strengthen the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for the Kuhn Basin, and why we’re calling on the Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules to uphold it.
Michigan State Rep. Ron Robinson of Utica (PROVIDED PHOTO)
The change permit represents a reasonable, science-based step forward. It sets clear, achievable standards that help protect Michigan’s water quality and public health. Yet Oakland County’s Public Works Commissioner has petitioned to roll those requirements back, claiming they would unfairly burden ratepayers in Oakland County.
Let’s be clear: The real cost here isn’t something that should be measured in ratepayer dollars — it’s in the priceless damage being done to our water, our environment, and our communities downstream. Oakland County has discharged combined and sometimes raw sewage into waterways that flow directly into Macomb County for decades. Just this past April, the county released millions of gallons of untreated sewage into the system, violating the Clean Water Act. Even more troubling, Macomb County wasn’t notified for weeks.
Alicia St. Germaine
Those discharges put our residents and businesses at risk, and they damage a shared natural resource that defines life in southeast Michigan. We’re talking about the same water where our family’s fish, boat, and swim, and where the drain runs through some backyards.
Oakland County is Michigan’s wealthiest county. Its public works office has the resources to meet these environmental standards and be a good regional neighbor. Instead, they’ve chosen to fight them.
EGLE’s permit requirements are not extreme. They are modern, practical measures designed to reduce pollution and improve the operation of the George W. Kuhn facility. Even some of Oakland County’s own elected officials have recognized that the permit represents a step in the right direction.
The people of Macomb County and all Michiganders deserve water infrastructure that protects public health and the environment. That means adopting best practices, investing in new technology, and following the law. It also means standing firm against efforts to weaken or delay the progress we’ve already made.
Our state’s waterways don’t stop at county lines. When Oakland County pollutes, Macomb County pays the price. When one community fails to act responsibly, the consequences ripple through every community downstream.
As state representatives, we will continue working to ensure that all levels of government are held accountable for protecting Michigan’s most valuable resource, our water. We urge the Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules to reject Oakland County’s petition and uphold EGLE’s permit for the George W. Kuhn Basin in full.
Macomb residents have waited long enough for clean water and real accountability. Let’s finally make sure both are delivered.
Alicia St. Germaine (R-Harrison Twp.) and Ron Robinson (R-Utica) represent Macomb County districts in the Michigan House of Representatives.