vvEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Public meeting & hearing EPA is seeking further comments on the Holcomb 1-22 well, draft permit number MI-035-2R-0034. Thursday, July 25 Public meeting 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Public hearing 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Clare High School 201 E. State St. Clare, Michigan How to comment New comments can be submitted by mail, email, or in person at the public hearing. If you already submitted a comment, you do not need to resubmit. Send new comments to: William Tong U.S. EPA, Water Division UIC Branch (WU-16J) 77 W. Jackson Blvd. Chicago, IL 60604-3590 Email: tong.william@epa.gov New comment period EPA will accept written comments until July 28 (midnight postmark). The original comment period ended in March. Right to appeal You have the right to appeal any final permit decision if you make an official comment during the comment period or participate in the public hearing. The first appeal must be made to the Environmental Appeals Board. On the Web To learn more about EPA's Underground Injection Control program, or to join our mailing list: http://go.usa.gov/3JwFP EPA Public Hearing on Draft Underground Injection Permit Muskegon Development Company Clare County, Michigan June 2017 The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to allow Muskegon Development Company, 1425 South Mission Road, Mount Pleasant, Michigan to inject fluid underground by approving the company's application for what EPA calls a Class II injection well permit. M-0354R-00M E Townllne Lake Rd Existing Holcomb #1-22 well ^v- E Clarence Rd Clara Co; 0 0.25 0 5 1 1.5 2 M If EPA makes its approval final, Muskegon Development Company may inject fresh water for enhanced oil recovery into a rock formation 4948 feet below the surface through the Holcomb 1-22 injection well near N. Athey and E. Townline Lake Roads in Hamilton Township of Clare County. Muskegon Development Company has also applied for a permit from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). EPA received requests for a public hearing on this proposed permit approval. EPA will hold a public meeting and hearing Tuesday, July 25 (see box, left). During the hearing, you will have an opportunity to make oral comments or submit written comments. EPA will consider all comments it receives, and then issue a final decision along with a response to the significant comments. The new public comment period ends Friday, July 28. This exceeds the required 30-day period and includes the additional three days for any delay caused by mailing. Legal authority The Safe Drinking Water Act requires EPA to regulate the underground injection of fluids through wells to protect the quality of underground sources of drinking water. Issuing permits is one way EPA does this. You can find the regulations governing underground injection wells at Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 144 and 146. EPA does not have the authority to change the surface location of the injection well. If you have questions or concerns about the well's location, contact the MDEQ, P.O. Box 30256, Lansing, Michigan 48909 and phone number (517) 241-1515. continued on back ... ------- Figure 1: The permit process Permit Application Received -k: Technical Evaluation Draft Decision & ^Public Comment Period Evaluate & Respond to Comments -Public Notice -Public Meeting S. Hearing -Cum merits Accepted FINAL DECISION Opportunity to Appeal 7 v FINAL DECISION Based on Appeal Outcome ... continued from front What is the role of the EPA? EPA must make sure that injection wells will not harm drinking water. The Safe Drinking Water Act requires companies that want to drill these wells to apply for and receive a permit from EPA. The permits include conditions to ensure that the wells will not have a negative impact on drinking water. To make sure that the wells will not harm drinking water, EPA looks at a number of things, including: • Location of underground drinking water sources • Rock type and suitability for injection • Wells in the area that may accidentally leak EPA also looks at the way the well will be operated, including: • Pressure used to inject the fluid in the well • Monitoring the well when it is in use • Closing the well when it is no longer in use What is the permit process? EPA must review the permit application and make sure it is complete. The application must meet the Safe Drinking Water Act requirements for this type of well. After reviewing the application, EPA issues a draft decision approving or denying the permit. The draft decision is announced for public comments. Based on the comments, EPA may notify the public of a public meeting and hearing on the decision. At the public meeting EPA will provide information and answer questions about the permit. At the public hearing people can provide comments to EPA for the record. Comments can also be given in writing or by email. EPA will review comments and then make a final decision. EPA will respond to all of the significant comments that were received. The final permit decision may be appealed to the Environmental Appeals Board by anyone who commented during the comment period or participated in the hearing. More information available You may view the draft permit and public hearing fact sheet at: Harrison District Library 105 East Main Street, Harrison, Michigan You may also view related documents at EPA's Chicago office. Please contact: William Tong (312)886-4235 Tong.william@epa.gov. You may call toll-free, 800-621-8431, weekdays, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time Or visit http://go.usa.gov/3JwFP ------- |