The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has begun a public notice period regarding the City of Marshall’s application for final approval of a new Michigan Industrial Pretreatment Program (IPP). This program would be implemented at the Marshall Wastewater Treatment Plant under National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit No. MI0023540.
Residents can access the full public notice and related documents through EGLE’s website at https://mienviro.michigan.gov/ncore/external/publicnotice/info/6706122826908544397/details or by searching “Public Notice Search” on https://mienviro.michigan.gov/ncore/external/home using either MI0023540 or Marshall WWTP.
The IPP is a state-administered, federally regulated initiative designed to protect local wastewater systems and the environment from industrial pollutants. According to the City, “Industrial pretreatment originated with the Clean Water Act of 1972.” The City previously operated an IPP in the 1990s but discontinued it due to reduced industrial activity. In recent years, increased industrial usage has led city officials to seek reestablishment of the program.
As outlined by city representatives, “The IPP is designed to ensure the municipality can: • Protect the wastewater treatment system from harmful pollutants • Ensure worker and public safety • Promote environmental stewardship by reducing pollutant discharges into local waterways.”
The program will affect commercial and industrial facilities that discharge wastewater into Marshall’s public sewer system. Requirements will include permitting, monitoring, inspections, and reporting for specific dischargers. Residential users are not subject to these requirements but may benefit from greater protection of community health and safety as well as improved quality of life.
If approved by EGLE, implementation will begin with outreach efforts directed at all commercial and industrial users connected to the municipal collection system.
For further questions about this process or program details, residents may contact R. Fain at FainR@michigan.gov or Terri Shattuck, Kalamazoo District IPP Coordinator, at ShattuckT@michigan.gov.
