It was revealed today that EQ Holding Company [apparently the current incarnation of Envotech Ltd. Partners] has formally withdrawn its application to build the Envotech Resource Center in southern Washtenaw County. After a decade of trying to build what was once the second largest hazardous waste management facility in the United States, the company has apparently called it quits.

On the last day of 1997, EQ Holding Company notified the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, (MDEQ) that it wished to withdraw its construction application for the project that at one time included a hazardous waste landfill, hazardous waste incinerator, and two deep injection wells. In response to that letter, MDEQ Permit Officer, Kenneth Burda confirmed that the MDEQ Waste Management Division "will not process the application any further." and that "this apparently precludes the development of a hazardous waste landfill on the property."

Burda's letter went on to acknowledge that Augusta Township, Washtenaw County and EQ Holding Company had "reached agreement on a mutually acceptable land use plan for the property." This is perhaps in reference to the Washtenaw County Development Authority negotiations that began over a year ago to develop a Planned Unit Development (PUD) that was to find alternatives to any commercial waste handling facilities, hazardous or otherwise.

The letter appears to bring to a close a long struggle between the violation-plagued hazardous waste handler, and a relentless grassroots citizens opposition. Eight years ago, Michigan Citizens Against Toxic Substances, known popularly as MCATS, was founded largely to oppose this project.

"A lot of good people have dedicated a huge part of our lives to fighting this terrible idea," said Rodney Hill, MCATS spokesperson. "It is wonderful to contemplate a future without it hanging over our heads." He went on to point out "MCATS had dedicated itself to learning everything there was to know about hazardous waste landfills, and we've come to the inescapable conclusion that landfills are a horrendously flawed approach to dealing with hazardous waste. All landfills eventually leak, and this project in particular would be an environmental disaster."

The facility would have been located on a 1800 acre parcel of land that is regarded as "environmentally fragile" by Washtenaw County due to the presence of registered wetlands. The entire property has groundwater at or within four feet of the surface. The project would have been located next door to another Envotech operation, the Arkona Road Landfill, once regarded "the most contaminated site in Washtenaw County."

NO TOXICS NO TOXICS