KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The State’s Environmental watchdog agency has just slapped another violation on the Graphics Packaging plant for annoying odors.
A week ago on Wednesday, December 14, acting on a complaint, investigators from the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s (EGLE), Air Quality Division detected odors in the area Krom, Burdick, Union and Rose Streets that were of “sufficient intensity” to be a violation of Rule 901.
“Rule 901 prohibits sources from emitting odors that unreasonably interfere with comfortable enjoyment of life and property, more generally called nuisance odors,” said EGLE’s Jason Wolf.
The paperboard recycling firm has 21 days to respond with an explanation of why the violation occurred and what they are doing to avoid future violations. Failure to comply could result in fines and mandated repairs.
Just last month EGLE slapped the firm with fines for similar violations that took place a couple of years ago.
The violation was mailed just before Kalamazoo Utility Director Jim Baker presented his update on the city’s effort to eradicate the big stink on the city’s north side to City Commissioners. He was reluctant to say whether its working.
“It appears that the numbers are starting to trend down, but we don’t have a finite report that quantifies that,” stated Baker who also said that data from multiple monitoring stations that have been recording the odors emanating from Graphics Packaging and the city wastewater plant is available to the public online.
“Each one of the sensor locations will give you a readout in real time. You can click on that sensor location, and it will give you a trend,” said Baker.
It’s now estimated that a comprehensive report from state and federal health and environmental agencies on whether its causing health problems will be out next month.
Reporting by: John McNeill
