F Flint Water Crisis Public Archive

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Brad Wurfel William Creal

NPR Interview-Road Salt

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Today | was interviewed by Rebecca Thiele of public radio WKAR-Kalamazoo. The interview was prompted by the findings of Western Michigan University, Carla Koretsky, regarding the impact of road salt on a small deep kettle lake within the City of Kalamazoo. We are funding a CMI monitoring grant for Dr. Koretsky to conduct additional assessment of several urban lakes and the associated watersheds. | provided the reporter with the 2 attached reports and the link for a another report prepared by the USGS These reports all have sections devoted to chlorides and correlate high chloride concentrations in lakes and streams with urban land use. Questions-roughly & answers- briefly-no particular order 1. From the 2007 NLA report, Mi lakes have higher conductivities and chloride concentrations than lakes nationally and within the upper Midwest ecoregion. Why? Speculated that compared to the rest of nation, particularly compared to the southern states, we have more sources including road salt. Compared to other states in the upper Midwest ecoregion we have more lakes in urbanized watersheds. 2. Will monitoring be conducted at other Kettle Lakes with urbanized watersheds to document the extent of the problem? Acknowledged that elevated chloride levels have been documented in urbanized areas of Michigan and concentrations in Woods Lake in Kalamazoo are problematic which is why we are funding additional work to document the extent of the problem and sources. We will routinely continue to monitor Michigan’s resources for chlorides but the site specific nature of the problem precludes specific sampling for the issue. We do not have a Water Quality Standard for chloride but we have not identified toxicity issues where elevated concentrations have been found. 3. Will construction of roadside retention ditches solve the problem? Explained that best management practices for the typical NPS pollutants our agency addresses may not be appropriate for salt. | made sure the reporter had a contact in MDOT. Air date for the story is unknown. Mike Walterhouse, Environmental Quality Specialist Lake Michigan Unit Surface Water Assessment Section Water Resources Division, MDEQ 517-284-5548 xxxEND_PAGE:executiveofficeemails21_b0311_0647_0648_2

Media contact

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Phone interview with Mr. Randy Conath, TV12 Flint, 8/20/2014, 4:05p. Mr Conath was specifically interested in today’s incident which occurred at the 3 Ave PS. The discharge of raw sewage began at 5:20a and lasted until 2:15p, with an estimated discharge of 3.75 MG. He was reporting from the site so he actually just wanted me to verify a few of the details which he already knew. | did say that residents would normally want to avoid bodily contact with the river, but that the county Health Department makes that determination. He was aware also that this incident occurred downstream of the Flint drinking water plant intake and that the integrity of that system was not affected by this incident. Charles Bennett, PE DEQ Water Resources Division Lansing District Office [email protected] ph 517-284-6659; fax 517-241-3571

Flint Journal contact

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Ron Fonger for the Flint Journal inquired about an SSO event in Flint (8/11&12/2014). Flint just sent us the final report listing discharge volume at 12.3 MG, a significantly large event that occurred due to heavy rainfall. Apparently treatment and storage capacity is being discussed again at city council meetings. Mr. Fonger wanted to know what the consequences of this discharge are for Flint. Is it permitted, etc? The discharge is not permitted and xxxEND_PAGE:deq03_b605_3253_3717_382 corrections are addressed in the NPDES permit, although much more work needs to be done to improve their collection system. | shared with Mr. Fonger that we also received a report this morning that Flint is experiencing a power outage at the Third Ave Pump Station (Flint’s primary pump station) and discharging sewage to the river at this time. The power failure appears to be the result of local problems (accident or fire?) with the Consumers Energy electrical distribution system. | have spoken with the Flint WWTP Superintendent and directed him to contact me as soon as he learns that power has been restored. chuck Charles Bennett, PE DEQ Water Resources Division Lansing District Office [email protected] ph 517-284-6659; fax 517-241-3571 xxxEND_PAGE:deq03_b605_3253_3717_383 Rennaker, Joanne (DEQ)

2014 Communications planning: NEED YOUR HELP

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Importance: High Greetings, all. We’re moving toward a great 2014, where we will be doing more strategic communication and impactful storytelling. As we prepare the departmental communications plan, | need your input. The Director has tasked me with collecting 2013 Accomplishments from each of the divisions and districts. | don’t need a book. Half a dozen of your top accomplishments on the year would be very helpful. One liner with a few sentences. | need these by Dec. 6, in preparation for an off-site planning meeting Dec. 9. If you have questions, please get in touch with me directly. THANK YOU, and happy holidays. Brad Wurfel Communications Director Michigan Department of Environmental Quality xxxEND_PAGE:deq26_b052_0712_0715_3 PLEASE NOTE NEW DESK PHONE: 517-284-6713 — office xxxEND_PAGE:deq26_b052_0712_0715_4