Residents concerned about a storage area used by the City of the Village of Clarkston near the stream in Depot Park have nothing to worry about, City Manager Carol Eberhardt said.
The city Department of Public Works cleaned the site up anyway.
“Every year in the spring when Jason (Miller) gets equipment back there, he cleans it up,” Eberhardt said. “It was part of our work schedule ? it just happened to coincide with (Mark McCloy’s) complaint.”
The city piles material from road work and other projects during the winter,
The storage area just south of the playground equipment in the park was approved by the Department of Natural Resources, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Oakland County and the Michigan Municipal League Insurance Liability Pool.
Asphault milling material, tires, and other items stored in the area are not hazardous, she said.
McCloy and Tammie Heazlit, both Independence Township residents, and others complained about storing the materials near the water.
‘Mr. McCloy suggested a storage area be moved from Depot Park.? said Eberhardt. ‘There is no factual or rational for McCloy’s recommendation.?
Millings placed on land require no special permit or provisions. Andy Hartz from MDEQ said asphalt millings pose no threat because they are cured, unless the asphalt was contaminated before it was removed.
Hartz said millings are ‘assumed? to be free of contamination.
Some materials do require a permit, if dumped in a wetland, but if the material is near the water, no permit is mandated, Hartz informed.