Published: April 23, 2009 06:55 am      

EPA to hold hearings on wells

WILLIAMSBURG -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hold back-to-back public hearings about proposals that involve deep-injection disposal wells in Grand Traverse County.

O.I.L. Energy Corp., of Traverse City, applied to the EPA to use an existing injection well for liquid waste from a local cherry processing company, as well as to construct and operate a new injection well for oil and gas wastewater. The existing well is off Munro Road between Angell and Gay roads in Whitewater Township, while the proposed site for a new well is off U.S. 31 between Kesner and Brackett roads in Acme Township.

A public meeting about the wells will be May 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Mill Creek Elementary School, 9039 Old M-72 in Williamsburg. Two public hearings will follow, from 7 to 8 p.m. on the existing well and from 8 to 9 p.m. on the proposed new well.

Copies of the proposed permits are available online at www.epa.gov/region5/water/uic/uicpub.htm#pubnotice. The documents also are available at the Traverse Area District Library, 610 Woodmere Ave., in Traverse City.