Macomb Today

State Representative Alicia St. Germaine has expressed her approval of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) for their enforcement actions against Oakland County due to repeated illegal sewage discharges into Macomb County's Red Run Drain.

On June 27, EGLE issued an enforcement notice to the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner’s Office for violations of the state's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act. These violations include a significant discharge of 1.18 million gallons of untreated sewage in April and over 2 million gallons in August last year. The state plans to implement an Administrative Consent Order that will require corrective measures, financial penalties, and possibly further legal action if violations persist.

“I want to thank EGLE for standing up for Macomb County residents and our environment,” said St. Germaine. “This is long overdue. Oakland County has been allowed to pollute our waterways and threaten the health of our families for far too long."

The George W. Kuhn Drainage District in Oakland County has been responsible for multiple discharges of untreated or partially treated sewage into the Red Run Drain, a crucial waterway that flows through Macomb communities into Lake St. Clair.

“Macomb County has carried the burden of these discharges for years, and I’m glad to see EGLE finally stepping in with real consequences,” said St. Germaine.

St. Germaine emphasized the importance of maintaining clean water resources given Lake St. Clair's recent recognition as one of the top fishing destinations globally.

“I stand with Commissioner Miller and our bipartisan group of local lawmakers in urging continued oversight and strong enforcement until Oakland County meets its obligations," she stated.

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