State Rep. Doug Wozniak on Monday called for the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE) to withhold approval of a pending discharge permit renewal application submitted by Oakland County until it agrees to separate its current combined sewage system and eliminates its release of untreated and partially treated sewage into the Red Run Drain, which flows into the Clinton River and then Lake St. Clair.

Oakland County’s discharge permit expired last year. However, state law allows it to continue operating its wastewater treatment system under the expired permit until DEGLE approves or denies its pending application for a new one. 

“We cannot continue letting Oakland County dump millions of gallons of sewage into Macomb County surface waters,” said Wozniak, R-Shelby Township. “Our next-door neighbor – one of the wealthiest counties in the country, has been glossing over this problem for decades, and the state has permitted it! Nothing is stopping Oakland County from committing resources to the wastewater system. If more of its residents knew what they were doing to Michigan’s waters, they would demand that the county take corrective action.” 

Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller and County Commission Chair Don Brown have joined with Wozniak and other members of Macomb County’s legislative delegation to try to convince Governor Whitmer and her administration to stop issuing permits to Oakland County until a plan to correct the situation and clean up Michigan’s waters.

“This is a matter to which the state has turned a blind eye for far too long,” Wozniak said. “This is a public health and environmental issue of incredible magnitude. It must be addressed.” 

Wozniak is working on legislation on the state level to prohibit EGLE from approving Oakland County’s current permit request but would like to see the department take action without waiting for the legislative process.  

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