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Proposed Agenda and Updates:
October 19, 2017
Pall/Gelman 1,4-Dioxane - Part 201 Meeting; Near Surface Groundwater Tests Not Planned
Near-Surface Groundwater Tests not Planned:
DEQ commented at a recent Town Hall meeting that they now will be continuing near-surface groundwater (NSG) tests on the near west side of town but there is still no word on when these tests will start. We are glad they have said they will continue doing these tests but no sign of actually doing the tests. We would like to see tests they agreed to do this past summer before they stopped testing, eg: West Park Ground Water flows in the Allen's Creek, and additional locations.
MDEQ Part 201 Revisions Meeting:
Members of CARD and ACWG did attend the MDEQ Part 201 discussion in Ann Arbor on October 11, last week.
'The DEQ, Remediation and Redevelopment Division (RRD), has prepared a revised comprehensive update to Part 201 Cleanup Criteria Rules that reflects revisions from previous public comments and stakeholder discussions.'
The meeting also included the Volatilization to Indoor Air Pathway (VIAP) revisions, including an opportunity for participants to observe how the VIAP Tiered Process addresses facility-specific site conditions. Currently called Vapor Intrusion (VI).
We asked at the meeting if 1,4 Dioxane will be included in the VIAP standards and was told yes by the MDEQ expert on VI. There was some comment in past meetings that 1,4 D was not like other VIAP compounds but MDEQ said this compound will be included.
DEQ staff commented to us after the end of the formal meeting that public comment from non-regulated community is needed to maintain the inclusion of the Child and Pregnant Mother exposures in any environmental analysis of exposure. Members of ACWG and CARD, some from U of M SPH, and Matt Naud AA City Environmental Coordinator attended the Rules Change Meetings in Lansing last 2 years and had a significant impact on the inclusion of these new exposure rules consideration. The regulated community is requesting removal of these proposed additions to the Part 201 changes.
The comment period for the Rule Changes will start sometime in late November.
MDEQ has made a special case of 1,4 Dioxane mainly because of exposure threats in Ann Arbor and the heightened concern for this compound in the regulatory community including US EPA.
Having residents exposed to the compound at the near and surface waters seems to violate even the very weak GOP's Part 201 Environmental standards in Michigan. The setting of a Prohibition Zone in the city was to isolate the compound and allow it to flow under the city to the river and dilute out on its way to Lake Erie. No comment at the last CARD meeting from DEQ representative when this was discussed. No comment at Town Hall meeting.
CARD has asked for months to have a 7.2 ppb map that is still not available, as this is the new standard not as is shown currently at 85 ppb.
We have soil concentrations at the Gelman site at about 2M ppb that are not being addressed by the DEQ.
A reliable source indicates that EPA will be giving notice in November on the whether they will proceed with Gelman Contamination as a Superfund. See past agenda items for details on EPA Superfund Process of acceptance.
CARD and ACWG pressed hard for NSG tests that showed 2 and 3 ppb near 8th St. across from Slawson School. Even with higher numbers for VI there is still a fear that this compound will be in NSG at levels of concern in years to come. The original 29 ppb value may be low but 1,900 ppb is no doubt way too high.
Lots of stores by Ryan Stanton in Ann Arbor News/MLive including this recent article 'DEQ signals shift in thinking about threats posed by dioxane'.
Links: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)-Gelman Project Site; Washtenaw County CARD Site; Scio Residents for Safe Water (SRSW)
More information about CARD, including the meeting calendar and a copy of the bylaws, is available on the CARD website by going to card.ewashtenaw.org. The CARD Group is working on setting up its own website to make access to information easier.
Allen('s) Creek Greenway/Allen Creek Tree Line Potential Property Sales - More Data Needed
Greenway Announcement Meeting, City of Ann Arbor
With the city talking about developing the city-owned properties in the floodplain and floodway along the proposed Greenway/Tree Line Trail we should have a better understanding of the flood risk to the community.
The DDA commissioned a sub-watershed study upstream of the city-owned 1st and William site when proposing a parking garage on this site which is in the floodway.
FTCH was commissioned to do this study with a DDA budget of $1/4 to $1/2M.
The ACWG FOIAed the results of this study when the DDA was not able to produce the report.
From the FOIA the ACWG was given the 'modeling results dataset' from the FTCH modeling runs but not the report.
It is time to produce the report to fully understand the flood hazard of these properties proposed to be sold and developed that are all in the floodway and floodplain.
The FTCH indicated they could only release the report to the DDA, but DDA did not request it. They also indicated that the results were surprising to them enough to check with a local expert to discuss the findings.
The DDA proposed 1st and William Parking Garage did not move forward at that time.
With larger storms caused by Global Warming, the city should be taking this opportunity to create a Greenway and reduce flood hazard. Ann Arbor has 100's of homes at risk of flooding in and near the floodplain with those in the floodplain paying higher flood insurance each year.
City officials are now discussing the sale of city-owned property in the floodplain that should be used as anchors for the Greenway. Keeping these sites open for the Greenway will make it a much more beneficial greenway and will reduce flood hazard. These open sections can be used to have green open space in the near downtown and, place benches and tables, and potentially Public Art Spaces.
The city staff has commented in previous public meetings that the FEMA Floodplain Maps are very loosely calibrated with very little real data used in the drawing of the maps. Even the FEMA consultants drawing the maps have made similar statements when the maps were presented to the city.
Building in and up to the floodplain and floodway should not be something our city should be allowing to happen.
Link to City of Ann Arbor The Treeline-Allen Creek Urban Trail Master Plan Project Web Page
Link to Allen Creek Greenway Conservancy/Allen Creek Tree Line ACGC
City of Ann Arbor Show Potential Use of Porous Pavement on High Traffic Access Roadways in One of the New Rail Road Station Design Options
Porous Pavement Access Roads Shown in Dark Red (Ann Arbor, Right Click for Larger View)
Great to see the city of Ann Arbor has shown the potential use of Porous Pavement access roads and bike/walkways in the new RR Station proposal.
See our Benefits of Porous Pavement in a separate Sidebar for this site with more information.*
With Global Warming, it is clear we will be experiencing larger rain events. Just this past weekend the Kalamazoo area experienced a 7-9 inch rain which caused extensive flooding in the area. Porous pavements have the potential to save money and greatly reduce property losses when used in an appropriate manner. Ann Arbor has several streets and parking lots that have been paved with porous pavement.
Salt use is causing surface and groundwater contamination according to published reports, the east coast is under EPA order to greatly reduce salt use on roadways, other regions are also on notice. Porous pavement can reduce salt use up to 80% saving the waterways and road funds. Porous pavements also last longer saving road funds, and are up to 80% quieter, some install it just to make their community quieter.
Below are comments from a recent article regarding Porous Pavement use in roadways.
Porous Pavement 4 Lane Roadway - Beach Road, Lake George, NY (Right Click for Larger View)
(For Construction Pros Web Site)
Civil Engineering Magazine - THE MAGAZINE OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS
https://www.asce.org/magazine/20151006-porous-pavement-helps-protect-beach-water-quality/
From the Article:
'Beach Road will undergo a three-year monitoring program to measure runoff volumes and quality of the discharge.
The roadway is not susceptible to frost heaving and potholes since there is no moisture trapped just below the surface to freeze and expand. “We also do not seal cracks like in conventional pavement,” says Baird. “Unlike conventional asphalt, we invite the water into this roadway. We don't try to keep it out.
“We anticipate enhanced life with this porous pavement,” concludes Baird. “Minor patchwork is just a fact of the typical life of a roadway, however the porous asphalt on Beach Road should hold up for more than 20 years — twice as long as traditional impervious pavement.” ' (bold by us)
Porous Pavement Concrete Sample
Upcoming Ann Arbor City Council Elections November 7th
Vote Nov 7th
On Tuesday November 7th Ann Arbor will have General Election Voting. Please vote.
With all the building in the Allen's Creek Floodplain and the Allen's Creek Greenway Master Plan in its final stages, there is a lot at stake.
We have three great long time Allen's Creek, and citywide, watershed supporting candidates which we hope you will support:
Jack Eaton 4th Ward Democrat Incumbent, MI Sierra Club Endorsed, Supports EPA Superfund Status
Anne Bannister 1st Ward Democrat
Jane Lumm 2nd Ward Independent Incumbent
Proposed Agenda and Updates:
September 21, 2017
Pall/Gelman 1,4-Dioxane - Near Surface Groundwater Tests To Continue; Town Hall Discussions
Town Hall Meeting on Gelman Plume Update 8-30-17 Ann Arbor Library:
Town Hall Meeting had overflow crowd with US House Representative Debbie Dingle and most local political representatives in attendance, as were two MDEQ representatives.
DEQ commented at the meeting that they now will be continuing near-surface groundwater (NSG) tests on the west side of town. We are glad they have said they will continue doing these tests. We would like to see tests they agreed to do this past summer before they stopped testing, eg: West Park Ground Water flows in the Allen's Creek, and additional locations.
Comments by DEQ also left it unclear if Danaher does not feel it is the owner of the contamination and is not the Responsible Party (RP). Seemed to indicate Gelman as a funded entity of Danaher is the RP.
See Roger Rayle's (SRSW.ORG, CARD) great video posting of the meeting (CTN could not tape this meeting):
Screen Shot of Town Hall Meeting (Roger Rayle Video: SRSW.ORG, CARD)
YouTube Video of 08/30/2017 Town Hall Meeting - Dioxane Plume Update (https://youtu.be/fSOjmx_Sdz0)
See Ann Arbor News MLive Report: Ryan Stanton MLive on the Town Hall with links to additional recent Ann Arbor News MLive articles on Gelman: "Realtor says Gelman dioxane plume hurting property values" by Ryan Stanton Ann Arbor News MLive
Having residents exposed to the compound at the near and surface waters seems to violate even the very weak GOP's Part 201 Environmental standards in Michigan. The setting of a Prohibition Zone in the city was to isolate the compound and allow it to flow under the city to the river and dilute out on its way to Lake Erie. No comment at the last CARD meeting from DEQ representative when this was discussed. No comment at Town Hall meeting.
CARD has asked for months to have a 7.2 ppb map that is still not available, as this is the new standard not as is shown currently at 85 ppb.
We have soil concentrations at the Gelman site at about 2M ppb that are not being addressed by the DEQ.
All indications are that EPA will accept the Gelman Contamination as a Superfund. See past agenda items for details on EPA Superfund Process of acceptance.
EPA is still evaluating this site for Superfund status. We continue to send information to EPA to assist in the evaluation. Published reports indicate that EPA Superfund is not an agency the federal government is planning to make major cuts to as it is widely supported in the country as a major supporter of environmental cleanups with 'deep-pocketed' federal support.
CARD and ACWG pressed hard for NSG tests that showed 2 and 3 ppb near 8th St. across from Slawson School. Even with higher numbers for VI there is still a fear that this compound will be in NSG at levels of concern in years to come. The original 29 ppb value may be low but 1,900 ppb is no doubt way too high.
Lots of stores by Ryan Stanton in Ann Arbor News/MLive including this recent article 'DEQ signals shift in thinking about threats posed by dioxane'.
Links: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)-Gelman Project Site; Washtenaw County CARD Site; Scio Residents for Safe Water (SRSW)
More information about CARD, including the meeting calendar and a copy of the bylaws, is available on the CARD website by going to card.ewashtenaw.org. The CARD Group is working on setting up its own website to make access to information easier.
Allen('s) Creek Greenway/Allen Creek Tree Line Citywide Meeting
The Citywide Master Plan Meeting next month -
Greenway City-wide Public Meeting 3
October 4, 2017; 6:30- 8:30 P.M.
In the Council Chambers at City Hall
Open to the public
The U of M has declined to say it will allow a Greenway Trail along the Campus adjacent to the Athletic Campus.
Fans walking to UM Football game last Saturday (Click for Larger View) (ACWG)
U of M representative at this meeting asked to discuss with ACWG the recent additions to the campus of significant stormwater management projects and planned projects which we would be glad to attend. They said they have added many Green Roofs, porous pavement and infiltration designs in recent years to reduce flooding and pollution loading to the Huron River; and plans to add many more in construction and design phases.
With larger storms caused by Global Warming, the city should be taking this opportunity to create a Greenway and reduce flood hazard. Ann Arbor has 100's of homes at risk of flooding in and near the floodplain with those in the floodplain paying higher flood insurance each year.
City officials are now discussing the sale of city-owned property in the floodplain that should be used as anchors for the Greenway. Keeping these sites open for the Greenway will make it a much more beneficial greenway and will reduce flood hazard. These open sections can be used to have green open space in the near downtown and, place benches and tables, and potentially Public Art Spaces.
The city staff has commented in previous public meetings that the FEMA Floodplain Maps are very loosely calibrated with very little real data used in the drawing of the maps. Even the FEMA consultants drawing the maps have made similar statements when the maps were presented to the city.
Building in and up to the floodplain and floodway should not be something our city should be allowing to happen.
Link to City of Ann Arbor The Treeline-Allen Creek Urban Trail Master Plan Project Web Page
Link to Allen Creek Greenway Conservancy/ Allen Creek Tree Line ACGC
Just a 1.2" Rain Floods 2 Streets that have New Development Approved and Under Construction in the Floodplain
W Kingsley St. & N 1st St 1.2" total rain 9-4-17 (Click for Larger View) (ACWG)
Felch St. & N Ashley St. 1.2" total rain 9-4-17 (Click for Larger View) (ACWG)
Ann Arbor had a 1.2" rain event on September 4th that resulted in impassable flooding of streets, the city has approved nearly 100 new homes on that are in the floodplain, many are in these areas of the city.
With this relatively small rainfall event, it seems clear that the much larger rain events will prove problematic for these areas.
With the city approved Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan (FHMP) we should following its recommendation and be reducing flood hazard by shrinking the floodplain and not building in it.
The city in the last few years has applied and received FEMA funds to remove homes in the floodplain yet allowing new homes in the floodplain seems to violate the intent of the FHMP.
Building in the floodplain will also affect flood insurance rates and may jeopardize the city's flood hazard rating which could affect later flood mitigation grant funding.
With Global Warming more intense rain events are predicted then the current floodplain maps have used to predict flood hazard for Ann Arbor.
Eberwhite Woods Committee Intrested in Reducing the Destruction of the Woods by Excessive Flows in an Open Section(s) of the Allen's Creek in the Woods
Eberwhite Woods, AAPS (Right Click for Larger View)
Members of the Eberwhite Woods Committee have contacted and toured the Eberwhite woods with the ACWG earlier this month to discuss the options to reduce the excessive flows into the woods that is causing tree loss and habitat destruction.
We agreed to meet with the full committee to discuss the potential options. They also will have discussions with U of M forestry staff.
We did look at the maps of Allen's Creek flows reaching the woods to discern options to reduce flows.
These woods are the largest woodland on the west side of town and a real gem to the community and wildlife and, need to be preserved in as natural a state as possible.
August 2017: No Meeting due to Vacation and Travel Schedules
Watershed Issues of Interest:
Update:
Town Hall Meeting on Gelman Plume Update 8-30-17 Ann Arbor Library:
Town Hall Meeting had overflow crowd with US House Representative Debbie Dingle and most local political representatives in attendance, as was two MDEQ representatives.
DEQ commented at the meeting that they now will be continuing near-surface groundwater (NSG) tests on the west side of town. Comments by DEQ also left it unclear if Danaher does not feel it is the owner of the contamination and is not the Responsible Party (RP). Seemed to indicate Gelman as a funded entity of Danaher is the RP.
See Roger Rayle's (SRSW.ORG, CARD) great video posting of the meeting (CTN could not tape this meeting):
Screen Shot of Town Hall Meeting (Roger Rayle Video: SRSW.ORG, CARD)
YouTube Video of 08/30/2017 Town Hall Meeting - Dioxane Plume Update
(https://youtu.be/fSOjmx_Sdz0)
See Ann Arbor News MLive Report: Ryan Stanton MLive on the Town Hall with links to additional recent Ann Arbor News MLive articles on Gelman:
"Realtor says Gelman dioxane plume hurting property values" by Ryan Stanton Ann Arbor News MLive
Al Gore's 'An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power' Now Playing till Aug. 17 Mich. Theater.
Ann Arbor Solar Panel Tax is Wrong for Ann Arbor and Wrong for the Environment and, Health and Safety!
'Rain Bomb', Phoenix, Arizona 2015 (An Inconvenient Sequel)
Al Gore's movie included an extensive discussion and videos on Rain Bombs hitting the US with increasing frequency with devastating effect on communities due to increases in carbon emissions and Global Warming!
The videos of recent Rain Bombs in the US in the movie will be a shock to some.
One example of new threats to Michigan was when Holland MI was hit with a 500 Year Storm that washed out 13 bridges and destroyed over 1,500 autos in the recent past. Manistee MI was hit by two 100 Year Storms in three days flooding most of the downtown twice also washing out many bridges including on M31 a major access point to the city. Lawton Neighborhood was hit by 5-6" record storm in 2012 flooding many homes. Warren has a 500-year storm in 2014 causing over $2B in property damage, a storm that first passed over Ann Arbor on its way to dumping flooding rains on Warren.
While the vast majority of MI communities do not tax solar panels Ann Arbor does. City officials say it is a State Law but no so for the vast majority of our state.
We need to move to low carbon energy sources and make it advantageous for folks to do this now.
No Solar Tax Ann Arbor. We have options like the Stormwater rebate for green solutions. We could have a tax rebate every year you have solar panels on your home that are functional to 70% or 60% of the installed efficiency.
Or we could discontinue the Solar Panel Tax altogether.
"Sierra Club's Huron Valley Group has joined the debate over whether Ann Arbor should be raising people's taxes for going solar, something the city argues it has no choice but to do under state law.
In a statement shared with members of the Ann Arbor Solar Users Network, the club's leaders said they are greatly disappointed it appears the city will continue raising residents' property assessments for adding solar panels to their homes, without any form of local mitigation or offset for the increases." (bold by us) MLive
Ann Arbor Tax Assessment on Home Solar Panels is Legally Wrong: James Carter
James J. Carter, Published February 25, 2016 in GLREA.ORG
"The Michigan Tax Tribunal has held that a solar system is personal property, not real property, and therefore should be taxed as personal property. Schmitt v. Charleston Township, decided December 21, 2012. This case was not appealed to the Michigan Court of Appeals, and therefore is the current law for Michigan.
Since homeowners are not taxed on their personal property, no homeowner's tax assessment should increase as a result of installing a solar system. Commercial and industrial taxpayers will be taxed in the same manner they are taxed on other business personal property. There are many exceptions for business personal property.
Local tax assessors generally do not have a legal background. They rely on their understanding of what is real property, and for years they have applied the common law doctrine that tangible movable property which becomes attached to the real estate, with the intention that it stay attached, is considered a fixture and is therefore real estate and assessable (for example, a deck). The Tax Tribunal rejected the argument that the common law (law from judicial decisions) applied and based their decision on a Michigan statute that defined a solar photovoltaic system as personal property. The common law has been changed many times by statute, and that happened in this case.
A real property owner, either residential, commercial or industrial, should appeal any increase in assessment that is based on a solar installation." (bold by us)
James Carter died in Summer of 2016, he was recent past Board President of the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association, GLREA, Juris Doctorate in 1968, practiced law in Ann Arbor
Pall/Gelman 1,4-Dioxane - CARD Group Votes to Request DEQ Additional Near Surface Groundwater Tests in Ann Arbor
CARD will be submitting a formal complaint to MEDQ that additional testing is needed and required and, should not be paid for by the state but by Gelman.
In the recent past, it was communicated to the Coalition for Action on Remediation of Dioxane (CARD) group that samples could be collected at the West Park Allen's Creek and other locations. City staff indicated to us they would assist in sampling at West Park. West Park has very high groundwater flows through the stormwater drain that picks up many underground springs west of West Park and ACWG and CARD Group are asking for an additional test there.
At the last CARD meeting, we were told by the DEQ that no additional near-surface groundwater (NSG) tests we made by the DEQ.
After finding 1,4 Dioxane in the near surface waters at about 8th St on the west side of town the DEQ said they will do more testing to determine more clearly where the exposure is. Now, in past weeks the DEQ has told the CARD Group they will not do any more testing because they are changing the action level of exposure to basements from the current 29 ppb to 1,900 ppb, in all likelihood. They said the lower standard was quickly determined and now they find it is much too low.
City officials have been mum on this for some reason. No city officials have been at the last two CARD monthly meetings with DEQ in attendance.
Having residents exposed to the compound at the near and surface waters seems to violate even the very weak GOP's Part 201 Environmental standards in Michigan. The setting of a Prohibition Zone in the city was to isolate the compound and allow it to flow under the city to the river and dilute out on its way to Lake Erie. No comment at the last CARD meeting from DEQ representative when this was discussed.
CARD has asked for months to have a 7.2 ppb map that is still not available, as this is the new standard not as is shown currently at 85 ppb.
We have soil concentrations at the Gelman site at about 2M ppb that are not being addressed by the DEQ.
These NSG tests should be expedited given the fact we have found 1,4 Dioxane in the west side of town in recent past tests.
CARD and ACWG pressed hard for NSG tests that showed 2 and 3 ppb near 8th St. across from Slawson School. Even with higher numbers for VI there is still a fear that this compound will be in NSG at levels of concern in years to come. The original 29 ppb value may be low but 1,900 ppb is no doubt way too high.
MLive article 'Court of Appeals rejects polluter's request in Gelman plume case'.
MLive also has an article on VI issues the state is currently trying to decide on in including it in the Part 201 statute or not. 'Poison vapor funds trapped in debate over how DEQ pays for cleanups'.
EPA is still evaluating this site for Superfund status. We continue to send information to EPA to assist in the evaluation. Published reports indicate that EPA Superfund is not an agency the federal government is planning to make major cuts to as it is widely supported in the country as a major supporter of environmental cleanups with 'deep pocked' federal support.
All indications are that EPA will accept the Gelman Contamination as a Superfund. See past agenda items for details on EPA Superfund Process of acceptance.
More information about CARD, including the meeting calendar and a copy of the bylaws, is available on the CARD website by going to card.ewashtenaw.org. The CARD Group is working on setting up its own web site to make access to information easier.
Links: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)-Gelman Project Site; Washtenaw County CARD Site; Scio Residents for Safe Water (SRSW)
Lots of stores by Ryan Stanton in Ann Arbor News/MLive including this recent article 'DEQ signals shift in thinking about threats posed by dioxane'.
Allen('s) Creek Greenway Citizen Advisory Committee - Meeting September 13th
Upcoming Greenway Master Plan Meetings:
Greenway CAC Public Meeting
Citizen Advisory Committee Meeting 6:
September 13, 2017; 8:30-10:30 A.M. City Hall Council Chambers
Community-wide Meeting 3: October 4, 2017; 6:30- 8:30 P.M. (Loc TBD)
Citizen Advisory Committee Meeting Public welcome, general public comments up to 3 minutes can be made toward the end of the meeting.
Many Greenway attendees have commented that we hope the Greenway has major Green Space Included as part of the plan.
Building new homes in the floodplain next to the Greenway is not a progressive plan for Ann Arbor. This already is occurring in the floodplain, with over 100 new homes in the Allen's Creek floodplain, in about the past year.
Some have commented, and I would agree, we do not need a $50M sidewalk next to the railroad track with buildings up against the sidewalk in Ann Arbor and call it a Greenway.
The ACWG has worked for decades to advise against building in the floodplain floodway and create a Greenway to reduce the size of the floodway and greatly reduce flood hazard in Ann Arbor near Westside, as has been shown in many MI communities already.
Recent discussions by city officials of building out the floodplain along the Greenway are very short sited and clearly benefit a few at the cost of many.
The Greenway should be used to help reduce flood hazard for the 100's if not well over 1,000's of homes and businesses at real risk of flooding. This project should be used in this manner with little extra costs involved due to the fact that much of the work will occur in the floodplain and floodway. This should not be an opportunity lost and leave residents, businesses and the environment at risk to fend for themselves with little regard to expert predictions of future Flood Hazard risk in SEM.
MLive has an article 'New renderings of future urban trail in Ann Arbor set to be unveiled'.
There are many examples where a Greenway has produced benefits for the environment, reduced flood hazard and created higher property values and much higher tax base, and created a real signature amenity for the community. One needs not look any further than the K-DDA lead Arcadia Creek Greenway in Kalamazoo or Dequindre Cut near Detroit.
Link to City of Ann Arbor Allen Creek Greenway Master Plan Project Web Page
Link to Allen Creek Greenway Conservancy ACGC
July 2017 - No Meeting due to Vacation and Travel Schedules
Watershed Issues of Interest:
Pall/Gelman 1,4-Dioxane - No Additional Near Surface Groundwater Tests
In discussions with the Sierra Club HVG Ann Arbor in June CM Ackerman commented to us that he was sure DEQ was doing basement testing for 1,4 Dioxane. I asked him if he was sure and he said he was. Comments from DEQ at the past two CARD meetings do not support this statement. They have not and do not plan to do basement testing for the foreseeable future and have never said they are doing basement testing in Ann Arbor.
In the recent past it was communicated to the Coalition for Action on Remediation of Dioxane (CARD) group that samples could be collected at the West Park Allen's Creek and other locations. City staff indicated to us they would assist in sampling at West Park. West Park has very high groundwater flows through the stormwater drain that picks up many underground springs west of West Park and ACWG and CARD Group are asking for an additional test there.
At the last CARD meeting, we were told by the DEQ that no additional near-surface groundwater (NSG) tests will be made by the DEQ.
After finding 1,4 Dioxane in the near surface waters at about 8th St on the west side of town the DEQ said they will do more testing to determine more clearly where the exposure is. Now this past week the DEQ has now told the CARD Group they will not do any more testing because they are changing the action level of exposure to basements from the current 29 ppb to 1,900 ppb, in all likelihood. They said the lower standard was quickly determined and now they find it is much too low.
City officials have been mum on this for some reason. No city officials have been at the last two CARD monthly meetings with DEQ in attendance.
Having residents exposed to the compound at the near and surface waters seems to violate even the very weak GOP's Part 201 Environmental standards in Michigan. The setting of a Prohibition Zone in the city was to isolate the compound and allow it to flow under the city to the river and dilute out on its way to Lake Erie. No comment at the last CARD meeting from DEQ representative when this was discussed.
CARD has asked for months to have a 7.2 ppb map that is still not available, as this is the new standard not as is shown currently at 85 ppb.
We have soil concentrations at the Gelman site at about 2M ppb that are not being addressed by the DEQ.
These NSG tests should be expedited given the fact we have found 1,4 Dioxane in the west side of town in recent past tests.
CARD and ACWG pressed hard for NSG tests that showed 2 and 3 ppb near 8th St. across from Slawson School. Even with higher numbers for VI there is still a fear that this compound will be in NSG in levels of concern in years to come. The original 29 ppb value may be low but 1,900 ppb is no doubt way to high.
CARD has a resolution in support of more NSG tests and an Action Plan to deal with it, that will be voted on for approval and sent in soon.
New MLive article 'Court of Appeals rejects polluter's request in Gelman plume case'.
MLive also has a recent article on VI issues the state is currently trying to decide on in including it in the Part 201 statute or not. 'Poison vapor funds trapped in debate over how DEQ pays for cleanups'.
EPA is still evaluating this site for Superfund status. We continue to send information to EPA to assist in the evaluation. Published reports indicate that EPA Superfund is not an agency the federal government is planning to make major cuts to as it is widely supported in the country as a major supporter of environmental cleanups with 'deep pocked' federal support.
More information about CARD, including the meeting calendar and a copy of the bylaws, is available on the CARD website by going to card.ewashtenaw.org. The CARD Group is working on setting up its own web site to make access to information easier.
Links: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)-Gelman Project Site;Washtenaw County CARD Site;Scio Residents for Safe Water (SRSW)
Lots of stores by Ryan Stanton in Ann Arbor News/MLive including this recent article 'DEQ signals shift in thinking about threats posed by dioxane'.
Allen('s) Creek Greenway Citizen Advisory Committee - Meeting July 19
Greenway Announcement Meeting, City of Ann Arbor
UPDATE: at this meeting is was commented on by city staff, ACGC members and a CAC member that developing the city owned parcels in the floodway and floodplain would be a way to fund the Greenway. My comment was the ACWG does not support the development of the floodplain due to the inherent danger of floodplains especially with Global Warming increasing flood threat. Funds are available for communities to remove structures from the floodplain and floodway that need to be applied for now to reduce flood hazard risk.
Many more flooding events are now occurring in the Midwest that will cause more threat to life and heath, and, damage private and public buildings and infrastructure.
"Climate change increases the probability of some types of weather. Recent heavy rains and flooding in the Northeast, Midwest, and Great Plains are consistent with a warming planet, and such events are expected to become more common over time." Union of Concerned Scientists
The link below will have new renderings presented at the meeting of potential Greenway path designs in different locations along the route.
The Greenway Master Plan Meeting
Greenway CAC Public Meeting
Wednesday, 8:30 am to 10:30 am, July 19 In the Council Chambers at City Hall
Public welcome, general public comments up to 3 minutes can be made toward the end of the meeting.
At the Joint Session recently of City Council and Planning Commission on Greenway Master Plan progress, it was commented on by some on the panel, including the city manager Howard Lazarus, that building in the floodplain next to the Greenway would be an option that will be discussed in planning for the Greenway. As the ACWG has said and lobbied for in the last 20 years building in the floodplain is not a progressive planning model and should not be used in Ann Arbor especially with the new flood threats from Global Warming and quickly rising flood insurance rates for those in the floodplain and floodway.
The Greenway should be used to help reduce flood hazard for the 100's if not well over 1,000's of homes and businesses at real risk of flooding. This project should be used in this manner with little extra costs involved due to the fact that much of the work will occur in the floodplain and floodway. This should not be an opportunity lost and leave residents, businesses and the environment at risk to fend for themselves with little regard to expert predictions of future Flood Hazard risk in SEM.
MLive has a new article 'New renderings of future urban trail in Ann Arbor set to be unveiled'.
There are many examples where a Greenway has produced benefits for the environment, reduced flood hazard and created higher property values and much higher tax base, and created a real signature amenity for the community. One needs not look and further than the K-DDA lead Arcadia Creek Greenway in Kalamazoo or Dequindre Cut near Detroit.
Link to City of Ann Arbor Allen Creek Greenway Master Plan Project Web Page
Link to Allen Creek Greenway Conservancy ACGC
Upcoming Ann Arbor City Council Primaries August 8th
Vote Aug 8th
On August 8th Ann Arbor will have Primary Election Voting. Please vote.
With all the building in the Allen's Creek Floodplain and the Allen's Creek Greenway Master Plan in its final stages, there is a lot at stake.
We have four great long time Allen's Creek, and city wide, watershed supporting candidates which we hope you will support:
Jack Eaton 4th Ward Democrat Incumbent, MI Sierra Club Endorsed, Supports EPA Superfund Status
Stephen Kunselman 3rd Ward Democrat Past Council Member, MI Sierra Club Endorsed, Supports EPA Superfund Status
Anne Bannister 1st Ward Democrat
The Lake Erie Forecast - Another Major Algae Bloom Forcast for Later This Summer
Lake Erie Algae Bloom is caused by preventable farm and urban runoff.
20 Million in US and Canada use Lake Erie as a major drinking water source, recreation, and fishing.
‘The Lake Erie forecast was released Thursday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which funds the research.’ ‘Cyanobacteria is fed by runoff from farmers’ fields and urban sources.’
‘Western Lake Erie may see the third largest cyanobacterial bloom in the past 15 years this summer. The Lake Erie forecast was released [last] Thursday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which funds the research.’
Link: https://michiganradio.org/post/significant-bloom-expected-western-lake-erie-next-few-months
FEMA Teams Surveying Flood Damage in Mid-Michigan, Record 7 Inch Rain Fall Recorded
Midland Flooding (Photo: WUOM)
'The Federal Emergency Management Agency has eight teams surveying damage in four mid-Michigan counties hard hit by flooding last month.
More than seven inches of rain fell on parts of Isabella, Midland, Bay and Gladwin counties last month. Homes were flooded. Roads washed away. Even buildings at Central Michigan University sustained heavy damage. Local officials peg the damage in the tens of millions of dollars.
Storms dumped more than seven inches of rain on parts of mid-Michigan last week, flooding homes and washing out roads."
"In Midland County alone, there’s been 116 roads affected,” says Mark Bone, president of the Midland County Board of Commissioners. “There’s a lot of roads out there we’re still gathering the information, but there’s a lot of damage.”
“Flooding takes days, weeks, months, sometimes years to recover from it. 'Cause you lose a lot of your stuff,” [FEMA spokesman Paul Corah says].'
Link: https://michiganradio.org/post/fema-teams-surveying-flood-damage-mid-michigan
Record Rain Hits North of Chicago, 7 inches in 6 Hours; Wisconsin 8 inches;
'Illinois officials said Friday some 6,800 buildings have been affected by "unprecedented" flooding north of Chicago, and the damage is expected to worsen this weekend as water flows down rivers into the state from Wisconsin.
Officials predict there could be 5,800 submerged structures before the waters recede, he said.'
Wisconsin also experienced record rain fall and major flooding in this same storm, with over 8 inches in some locations.
Proposed Agenda and Updates:
June 15, 2017
Pall/Gelman 1,4-Dioxane - Near Surface Groundwater Tests
It was communicated to the Coalition for Action on Remediation of Dioxane (CARD) group that samples could be collected at the West Park Allen's Creek and other locations. City staff indicated to us they would assist in sampling at West Park. West Park has very high groundwater flows through the stormwater drain that picks up many underground springs west of West Park and ACWG and CARD Group are asking for an additional test there.
We have not received word that West Park and other tests were collected as of today.
These NSG tests should be expedited given the fact we have found 1,4 Dioxane in the west side of town in recent past tests.
CARD and ACWG pressed hard for near-surface groundwater (NSG) tests that showed 2 and 3 ppb near 8th St. across from Slawson School. Even with higher numbers for VI there is still a fear that this compound will be in NSG in levels of concern in years to come. The original 29 ppb value may be low but 1,900 ppb is no doubt way to high.
MLive has a recent article on VI issues the state is currently trying to decide on in including it in the Part 201 statute or not. 'Poison vapor funds trapped in debate over how DEQ pays for cleanups'.
EPA is still evaluating this site for Superfund status. EPA Superfund manager was in town past weeks and expected back soon to further gather information to interview the Superfund petitioners including me and others about this option. They still have concerns including the delay in soil cleanup and VI exposures. We continue to send information to EPA to assist in the evaluation. Published reports indicate that EPA Superfund is not an agency the federal government is planning to make major cuts to as it is widely supported in the country as a major supporter of environmental cleanups with 'deep pocked' federal support.
EPA Superfund Status, Comments from Senator Stabenow to me during the Sierra Club 50 Anniversary event June 10:
Senator Debbie Stabenow indicated to me when asked that Superfund Cleanup is not proposed to see major cuts in funding in D.C. She agreed with published reports that it seems EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt does not propose major changes in Superfund Cleanup funding.
Senator Gary Peters was also in attendance but I did not get a chance to ask him the same question.
Generally EPA Superfund has a very good record of Superfund fully funding from a Responsible Party if one is available and has said if accepted they will make every effort to restore the township and city's groundwater to a drinkable standard. Not a Remediation but a Clean Up.
More information about CARD, including the meeting calendar and a copy of the bylaws, is available on the CARD website by going to card.ewashtenaw.org. The CARD Group is working on setting up its own web site to make access to information easier.
Links: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)-Gelman Project Site;Washtenaw County CARD Site;Scio Residents for Safe Water (SRSW)
Lots of stores by Ryan Stanton in Ann Arbor News/MLive including this recent article 'DEQ signals shift in thinking about threats posed by dioxane'.
312 Glendale Memory Care (MC) Proposal - Comments to Questions on Council Chooses not to do a Reconsideration of this Vote Due to Misrepresentations
Results of residents neighborhood survey in 2013;
Site is to left in dark olive tone with Legend, stormwater flow to the right
Water Resources Commissioner (WRC) send an email questioning past comments I and others made regarding the 312 Glendale Memory Care Center Proposal before the Planning Commission and City Council (CC).
Here are the comments from our Agenda and my follow-ups in Red.
I do think the 220% retention on site was an important improvement on the plan but the overriding issues still remained. It is as important or more important to maintain or improve existing TAX BASE as it is to add new tax base. 10's if not 100 or more homes are at real risk just downstream of this project of flood hazard and this project will make matters worse not better given past history of flooding and court finding with money damages to residents, resident survey showing about 50% with fresh rain runoff water and sanitary sewage problems, $2M study results, Globel Warming and no green space upstream to mitigate the flood risk.
City rules clearly state Life Health and Safty are Paramount in any City Actions and take president.
All these comments listed below were expertly captured on video by CTN in the Planning Commission and City Council meetings.
False or misleading statements by staff:
WRCO: The curb will block the huge flows off unmitigated Hillside Terrace (HT) from all major rain events onto this site.
This is not true it will overwhelm the stormwater (SW) system for the MC in a 10 or 20 year event overwhelming the MC SW system causing more flooding downstream. These street curb flood conditions in Ann Arbor have been discussed extensively in city meetings repeatedly, that I have attended in the past 20 years.
This comment was made to PC during questions from the PC to WRCO Scott Miller
WRCO: The neighborhood really is not one of the few target neighborhoods for SW mitigation.
This is not true as shown in the $2M “Ann City of Ann Arbor Stormwater Model Calibration and Analysis Project”, June 1, 2015 section ‘C, viii. Glendale/Charlton, page 62’.
In this study they propose detention upstream of Glendale, which clearly could be the orchard.
This comment was made by the WRCO to CC
The orchard has sheet flow and no rainfall runoff infiltration now, this will be mitigated by the development.
This is not true as the orchard, where this proposed building will go, captures much if not all the unmitigated runoff from HT. We have videos and eye witness to attest to this. This will be lost with this development making flood hazard worse for the neighborhood and overwhelm the MC SW system.
This comment was made by various members of staff to PC. Videos show no such flows in large rains, the runoff is captured in the area now proposed building site. These videos may not have been 100 year (1% chance) events but the videos do show major street flooding in the neighborhood while no runoff is occurring off the orchard.
WRCO: ‘Vince Caruso did a survey of neighbors’. As a lead in to question its results.
This is not true. I was not involved in the survey, and this seems to be an attempt to ‘tar’ and ‘belittle’ the extensive and important effort. The city took it seriously enough to do 100’s of hours of work in the neighborhood to mitigate the flood hazard since the survey was first presented.
This comment was made by WRCO Evan Pratt during comments to CC
This new development will improve SW handling. We have been told for over 30 years that new development like this will be the major way we improve SW handling in Ann Arbor.
Not true as this proposal will make it worse causing more flooding downstream into an overtaxed neighborhood.
These comments have been made repeatedly over the last 30 years by CC, Planning Staff and Commissioners, and WRCO and Drain Commissioners Office before that, which the ACWG has questioned repeatedly as being an invalid way to put off dealing with flooding and pollution issues in the region.
Allen('s) Creek Greenway Citizen Advisory Committee - Meeting July 19
Greenway Announcement Meeting, City of Ann Arbor
The Greenway Master Plan Meeting next month
Greenway City-wide Public Meeting
Wednesday, 8:30 am to 10:30 am, July 19 In the Council Chambers at City Hall
Public welcome, general public comments up to 3 minutes can be made toward the end of the meeting.
At the Joint Session last night of City Council and Planning Commission on Greenway Master Plan progress, it was commented on by some on the panel, including the city manager Howard Lazarus, that building in the floodplain next to the Greenway would be an option that will be discussed in planning for the Greenway. As the ACWG has said and lobbied for in the last 20 years building in the floodplain is not a progressive planning model and should not be used in Ann Arbor especially with the new flood threats from Globel Warming and quickly rising flood insurance rates for those in the floodplain and floodway.
The Greenway should be used to help reduce flood hazard for the 100's if not well over 1,000's of homes and businesses at real risk of flooding. This project should be used in this manner with little extra costs involved due to the fact that much of the work will occur in the floodplain and floodway. This should not be an opportunity lost and leave residents, businesses and the environment at risk to fend for themselves with little regard to expert predictions of future Flood Hazard risk in SEM.
There are many examples where a Greenway has produced benefits for the environment, reduced flood hazard and created higher property values and much higher tax base, and created a real signature amenity for the community. One needs not look and further than the K-DDA lead Arcadia Creek Greenway in Kalamazoo or Dequindre Cut near Detroit.
Link to City of Ann Arbor Allen Creek Greenway Master Plan Project Web Page
Link to Allen Creek Greenway Conservancy ACGC
City of Ann Arbor Water And Sewer Values Survey Till June 30th
This message from Jennifer Lawson City of Ann Arbor:
"The City of Ann Arbor is undertaking a Water and Sewer Values Survey to aid in the City’s Water and Sewer Rate Study.
If you have a few minutes, please fill out the survey – open to all City of Ann Arbor residents, and customers of A2 Water.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/B333HNH
In addition – please feel free to forward to any of your colleagues, friends or neighbors that live in Ann Arbor. Please let me know if you have questions, comments, or concerns!"
Jennifer E. Lawson, CSM
Water Quality Manager; Public Services Area - Systems Planning Unit
City of Ann Arbor; jlawson@a2gov.org
Miller Ave Rain Garden just after Installation - EWashtenaw.Org
This message from Harry Sheehan Washtenaw County Water Resources Office:
"The City of Ann Arbor’s 2018-2023 Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) identifies major stormwater projects expected to take place in the coming 6 fiscal years. Some of these projects will be financed via the State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF). These SRF loans are based on 2.5%, 20 year bonds that often include some type of principal forgiveness.
Please join us next Tuesday evening for a public hearing to learn about SRF funding for the coming cycle of projects identified in the CIP.
SRF Public Hearing
Tuesday, June 13 at 6:30
1100 N. Main Street, Ann Arbor, 2nd Floor
If you would like a copy of the presentation beforehand, or if you would like to review the draft document, please email me. Thanks!"
Harry Sheehan
Deputy of Environmental Services; Washtenaw County Water Resources
705 N. Zeeb Road, PO Box 8645; Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8645
(734) 222-6851; sheehanh@ewashtenaw.org
Proposed Agenda and Updates:
May 18, 2017
Pall/Gelman 1,4-Dioxane - Near Surface Groundwater Test of Allen's Creek
Results of the Allen's Creek water test were Non-Detect (ND) for 1,4 Dioxane. Results were sent by Dan Hamel MDEQ to ACWG 4-20-17. ND is at least below the 1 ppb reporting limit. All other compounds were below Target Detection Limit. Full report sent to the ACWG is available on request.
Additional sample could be collected at the West Park Allen's Creek. City staff indicated to us they would assist in sampling at West Park. West Park has very high groundwater flows though the stormwater drain that picks up many underground springs west of West Park and ACWG and CARD Group are asking for additional test there.
The state has removed vapor intrusion (VI) from the last state budget. The state is not clear on how it will deal with this type of exposure to the community. UPDATE: state funding is still not clear on VI.
CARD and ACWG pressed hard for near surface groundwater (NSG) tests that showed 2 and 3 ppb near 8th St. across from Slawson School. Even with higher numbers for VI there is still a fear that this compound will be in NSG in levels of concern in years to come. The original 29 ppb value may be low but 1,900 ppb is no doubt way to high.
Seems the DEQ should be on top of the VI issue with all the time that has elapsed since we knew VI could be an issue. This is just one of the issues the townships and Sierra Club Huron Valley Group raised when asking for EPA Superfund evaluation, which the city and county have still yet to join in on. Even 1,900 pbb is not not very far off as this plume moves through the city with Vet's Park already at 1,000 ppb. At the last CARD meeting it was discussed that we had readings of 2M ppb at the core area after many truck loads of contaminated soil were removed. Soil cleanup is not being addressed at all currently.
CARD had folks in Lansing, two toxicologists, and other locals at the Part 201 discussions that were also pushing for VI inclusion. Lots of push back from the Regulated Community, that obviously now have an upper hand that pressured the state to remove VI from the last budget bill. VI is a major issue all over MI not just Ann Arbor and clearly should be part of the Part 201 state environmental cleanup regulations. This is why EPA is really needed to 'watch the backs' of MI communities that the state officials have little regard for.
EPA is still evaluating this site for Superfund status. EPA Superfund manager was in town last week to interview the Superfund petitioners including me and others about this option. They still have concerns including the delay in soil cleanup and VI exposures. We continue to send information to EPA to assist in the evaluation. Published reports indicate that EPA Superfund is not an agency the federal government is planning to make major cuts to as it is widely supported in the country as a major supporter of environmental cleanups with 'deep pocked' federal support.
More information about CARD, including the meeting calendar and a copy of the bylaws, is available on the CARD website by going to card.ewashtenaw.org. The CARD Group is working on setting up its own web site to make access to information easier.
Links: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)-Gelman Project Site;Washtenaw County CARD Site;Scio Residents for Safe Water (SRSW)
Lots of stores by Ryan Stanton in Ann Arbor News/MLive including this recent article 'DEQ signals shift in thinking about threats posed by dioxane' and has links to past stories.
312 Glendale Memory Care (MC) Proposal - Council Chooses not to do a Reconsideration of this Vote Due to Misrepresentations
Results of residents neighborhood survey in 2013;
Site is to left in dark olive tone with Legend, stormwater flow to the right
Council has of now decided not to Reconsider this vote even with the false and misleading comments to the Planning Commission and City Council. This is very troubling as it shows a disregard for factual decision making in our city government. The neighborhood residents are considering their options in response.
Council approved plans for the MC at 312 Glendale on April 3rd in a 6-3 vote.
A council member or members needed to bring this vote up for reconsideration before council to fully discuss the issues that were falsely or misleadingly presented to City Council and/or Planning Commission including the Water Resources Commissioner’s Office.
Allen Creek Railroad Berm Opening Project
Proposed Berm Opening (City of Ann Arbor)
May 15 Council Resolution to Approve a Design Phase Agreement with the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) for $97,020.00 for Review of Design Plans for the Allen Creek Railroad Berm Opening Project.
This will allow flood water to flow to the river under the berm which currently acts as a dam. This will greatly reduce flood hazard in the area. Many of the homes in the area that now flood may not have flooding with this opening to the river in the 100 year (1% chance) rain event.
This will allow a much needed connection with the Greenway to the B2B trail.
Pollution levels on the north east side of the track [up to the Allen's Creek Outlet] need to be tested and the pollution needs to be cleaned up. Pollution levels near the Allen's Creek outlet are very high and not clearly shown on this map. Pollution at this site is no doubt polluting the groundwater and river and, during a major flood will be washed into the Huron River. Why our state, city, county, Huron River Watershed Council and DTE are not dealing with this pollution is a major issue.
Access to the berm opening does not seem to be clearly defined. During public meetings about this project the First Martin building owners near the opening were not interested in a trail near the building. The berm will greatly enhance the value of the First Martin building lowing the floodplain by a large amount.
The ACWG has petitioned for many years for this project with the benefits discussed above, and attended many public meetings over the past few years to lobby for this to be funded.
Celebrating 50 Years of Sierra Club in Michigan
The Sierra Club Michigan Chapter will mark its 50th Anniversary on June 10.
Washtenaw Community College, Morris Lawrence Bldg-Atrium.
Live Music • Cash Bar • Dinner
Senators Gary Peters Keynote Speaker and National Sierra Club Exec. Dir. Michael Brune
$50/person, $15/student with ID, includes dinner
Contact our local Sierra Club member Ginny Maturen for currently available seats at $40 till the day of the event.
Sierra Club Huron Valley Group will have many members attending.
Proposed Agenda and Updates:
April 20, 2017
Pall/Gelman 1,4-Dioxane - Near Surface Groundwater Test of Allen's Creek
MDEQ Staff Collecting Creek Water Samples On Allen's Creek
between Glendale and Liberty St's on 4-5-17 (ACWG.ORG)
Update: Results of the Allen's Creek water test were Non-Detect (ND) for 1,4 Dioxane. Results were sent by Dan Hamel MDEQ to ACWG 4-20-17. ND is at least below the 1 ppb reporting limit. All other compounds were below Target Detection Limit. Full report sent to the ACWG is available on request.
MDEQ did collect additional near surface groundwater (NSG) tests at Allen's Creek between Glendale and Liberty St's on April 5. Results not returned yet.
We were told that additional sample could be collected at the West Park Allen's Creek if the city would allow. City staff indicated to us they would assist in sampling at West Park. West Park has very high groundwater flows though the stormwater drain that picks up many underground springs west of West Park and ACWG and CARD Group are asking for additional test there.
This shallow groundwater exposure is a clear and present danger to the community and needs immediate evaluation by state and local officials and, plans made to stop the potential exposure to the west side residents through their basements and other exposure points.
With the poor quantity, and in some cases quality, of tests done to date the city is left with very little information of the risks to exposure to residents.
Several blocks west of the previous 2 near surface tests, with 2 and 3 ppb, is a deep groundwater well showing 320 ppb and moving east. At Vet's Park several blocks farther west we have deep groundwater well with readings over 1,000 ppb.
The ACWG was instrumental in getting official to agree to do near surface and surface ground water tests, and it is important to gain an understanding of the flow of the plume and if it will be coming to the surface and where.
At the last CARD meeting we did discuss the option to have the DEQ contract or do 'Geo Prob's on the city west side to quickly map the NSG.
DEQ have indicate to the CARD group the they are now doing modeling for Vapor Intrusion (VI) of 1,4D as they said is necessary for including VI in the new emergency site regulatory statute. This data would be necessary to determine the level of exposure in basements that may occur. This compound VI profile would be different than most other VI compounds of concerns as it would enter structures with water and then evaporate with the water into the air. This special modeling may not have been done for any compound or just a few. U of M VI research scientists have expressed interest in studying this uncommon exposure modeling.
The action level for 1,4 D is 29 ppb within about 10 feet of a basement. This may change with the VI modeling of the compound as the 29 ppb is based roughly on other volatal compounds commonly found in contaminated sites.
Michigan has set new standard at 7.2 ppb with 32 years exposure (less 2 weeks/yr vacations) 1 in 100K, not the EPA standard of 70 years exposure (no vacations) which would result in a 3.5 ppb standard. A 1 in 1M risk, 70 year exposure would result in a .35 ppb standard according to EPA.
EPA considers 1,4-dioxane a respiratory and nervous system hazard, skin irritant, an animal carcinogen and a probable human carcinogen.
CARD has voted to form a Board and Adpot Bylaws at its last meeting, March 7th:
The first CARD officers are:
Chair: Roger Rayle; Co-Founder & Chair, Scio Residents for Safe Water
Vice Chair: Mike Moran; Supervisor, Ann Arbor Charter Township
Secretary: Shana Milkie; Citizen, City of Ann Arbor
Treasurer: Vince Caruso; Coordinating Member, Allen’s Creek Watershed Group; Sierra Club Huron Valley Group Exe. Committee
The officers elected Jennifer Conn, Washtenaw County Environmental Analyst, to be CARD’s Executive Director
More information about CARD, including the meeting calendar and a copy of the bylaws, is available on the CARD website by going to card.ewashtenaw.org.
Links: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)-Gelman Project Site; Washtenaw County CARD Site; Scio Residents for Safe Water (SRSW)
312 Glendale Memory Care (MC) Proposal - Council Needs to do a Reconsideration of this Vote Due to Misrepresentations:
Results of residents neighborhood survey in 2013;
Site is to left in dark olive tone with Legend, stormwater flow to the right
Update: Council has of now decided not to Reconsider this vote even with the false and misleading comments to the Planning Commission and City Council. This is very troubling as it shows a disregard for factual decision making in our city government. The neighborhood residents are considering their options in response.
Council approved plans for the MC at 312 Glendale on April 3rd in a 6-3 vote.
A council member or members need to bring this vote up for reconsideration before council to fully discuss the issues that were falsely or misleadingly presented to City Council and/or Planning Commission including the Water Resources Commissioner’s Office (WRCO).
False or misleading statements by staff:
WRCO: The curb will block the huge flows off unmitigated Hillside Terrace (HT) from all major rain events onto this site.
This is not true it will overwhelm the stormwater (SW) system for the MC in a 10 or 20 year event overwhelming the MC SW system causing more flooding downstream. These types of street curb flood conditions in Ann Arbor have been discussed extensively in city meetings repeatedly, that I have attended in the past 20 years.
WRCO: The neighborhood really is not one of the few target neighborhoods for SW mitigation.
This is not true as shown in the $2M “Ann City of Ann Arbor Stormwater Model Calibration and Analysis Project”, June 1, 2015 section ‘C, viii. Glendale/Charlton, page 62’.
In this study they propose detention upstream of Glendale, which which clearly could be the orchard.
The orchard has sheet flow and no rainfall runoff infiltration now, this will be mitigated by the development.
This is not true as the orchard, where this proposed building will go, captures much if not all the unmitigated runoff from HT. We have videos and eye witness to attest to this. This will be lost with this development making flood hazard worse for the neighborhood and overwhelm the MC SW system.
WRCO: ‘Vince Caruso did a survey of neighbors’. As a lead in to question its results.
This is not true. I was not involved in the survey, and this seems to be an attempt to ‘tar’ and ‘belittle’ the extensive and important effort. The city took it seriously enough to do 100’s of hours of work in the neighborhood to mitigate the flood hazard since the survey was first presented.
This new development will improve SW handling. We have been told for over 30 years that new development like this will be the major way we improve SW handling in Ann Arbor.
Not true as this proposal will make it worse causing more flooding downstream into an over taxed neighborhood.
The neighborhood had many conversations and communications with council and staff on these issues. Our own Fifth Ward Council Members are particularly egregious for not commenting on these issues.
This proposal is much too large for residential neighborhood with the back facing existing single family residential. It will have a Glendale address and the back will face Glendale. This will be ugly and lower the value of Glendale homes.
Health and safety of the neighborhood should not come in second behind developer wishes for large profits, sometimes in the tens of millions.
Health and safety should not just be considered unless severe health effects and death has been shown in recent past, zoning and codes take precedence.
Our city attorney tells council not to get into a fight with developers who may go to court. This is what a city attorney does.
Existing well established and proven tax base of hundreds(?) of existing homes at risk should really matter to the city. About 80% of the tax base in Ann Arbor is from the residential community.
The value of homes to the homeowners really does matter and should not be ignored.
Flooding from the HT site occurred when first built in the 1970's. Downstream homeowners settled out of court for money damages. Adding a new building and imperiousness in this area will cause flooding.
A park with stormwater detention is the best option for the site to handle non-mitigated up stream flows including HT that are putting more and more homes at risk of flooding, a health, safety and welfare risk, and property devaluation. This is recommended for this neighborhood by the 2015 study. This opportunity should not be allowed to be missed. No other green space is west, upstream, of this site.
Record heat in the Gulf of Mexico waters this year is setting up for major record storms in the Midwest including SEM.
Global Warming Climate Deniers in our city government, hard to believe. Council has voted for 102 new homes in the Allen’s Creek Floodplain in about the past year.
In the Lawton neighborhood of 100’s of homes at risk, the city will end up paying well over $7M in the next few years to try to fix the mess in that neighborhood, and bail out a really bad developer and really bad city planning, and this neighborhood will still be a sitting target for the next big rain event that may happen any day. A very large part of their $7M “mitigation” is loss of a neighborhood park, loss of a very dense separating woodland and hill that is a critical buffer for many homes from noise on the nearby I94, for SW detention.
HRWC and UM/MSU/MI Dept of Health recent published studies say we should be planning now for 500 year (0.2% chance) not 100 year storms due to Global Warming (see below). In the last year or so the city has approved over 60 new homes in the Allen's Creek Floodplain and some up next to the floodway contrary to federal opinion and, current Michigan and national scientific studies.
Studies cited above:
The Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC) has recently posted on the web (Feb. 2016):
'Implications of precipitation changes in Southeast Michigan and options for response: A guide for municipalities',
Report by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Great Lakes Integrated Sciences Assessments (GLISA) Program—a partnership between the University of Michigan and Michigan State University Michigan Climate and Health Profile Report 2015 - Building Resilience Against Climate Effects on Michigan’s Health
Federal rules virtually disallow using federal funds for building in the 100 year floodplain, and critical structures in the 500 year floodplain.
President Obama discussed in 2016 that Global Warming threats as 'Terrifying', in a New York Times article, and some Nobel Scientist have said it may be worse than the Nuclear Threat to our communities. He states it's 'already manifesting itself as droughts, storms, heat waves and flooding'.
Inappropriate development across the creek on Liberty St. from our house at 556 Glendale in early 2000's forced the city to spend close to $1/2M to mitigate flooding issues caused by very poor planning of a new development. In our Fair Glen Commons private park space 7 landmark trees were cut down, the woodland half cleared and an open section of the Allen's Creek enclosed in a 5'x8' 1,000' long ugly pipe. Tax return on the new homes will be 35 to 40 years before the increase tax is realized by the city. Many of the new owner occupied homes on Liberty St. that were at risk have been turned into rental units with much less value than previously.
To be fair to the neighborhood this proposal needs to be brought up for Reconsideration due to misrepresentations and the other issues sited above.
With Spring Again We Have Many Kids Playing in Allen's Creek, Pollution of the Creek Makes it Unsafe, Time to Clean It Up
Child Playing in Open Section of Allen's Creek this Spring (ACWG)
With spring comes the time for kids to get outside and explore. Many times that is in or around water bodies.
The Drain Commissioner Janis Bobrin said to ACWG, during a visit some years ago to an open section of the creek where the DEQ did the NSG tests, she 'would not let her pet dog near the Allen's Creek' due to pollution issues.
Past Time to clean up the creek because you can not keep kids, and some adults, from having contact with the creek water.
This is a common effort all over the country and needs to be improved on here in Ann Arbor.
Riparian Water Rights: The reasonable use of the water by a riparian owner is subject to the downstream riparian owners [the kids and neighbors along the creek] 'riparian right' to receive waters undiminished in flow and quality. Since all surface waters eventually flow to the public ocean, federal regulatory authority under the Clean Waters Act, like the Clean Air Act, extends beyond only public (navigable) waters to prevent downstream pollution.
The creek is not only a health hazard to nearby residents, it flows into the Huron River causing unacceptable pollution there where we have more and more folks contacting the river water. The river below Argo Dam is not rated for full body contact, mainly due to Allen's Creek outflow just below the dam. In recent past years some government officials have said the river above Argo Dam is also not rated for full body contact, especially after a heavy rain event.
Allen('s) Creek Greenway Citizen Advisory Committee - Meeting
Greenway Announcement Meeting, City of Ann Arbor
Update: City staff report that in recent discussions regarding the Greenway Plans with various groups in the city that there is very strong support from that a large portion of the Greenway should be off road.
Next meeting of the CAC is:
Wed, 8:30 am to 10:30 am April 19 In the Council Chambers at City Hall
We hope you can attend, get a overview of the plan options for the Greenway, ask questions and make comment on the options for a Greenway in Ann Arbor. As always non-CAC members are encouraged to make 3 min. comment about the Greenway Plans at the end of the meeting.
A Greenway in the Allen's Creek floodplain will greatly reduce flood hazard to hundreds of homes and businesses in the west side, will create a open gathering green space in the near downtown, connect to the Huron River and Border to Border Trail, provide alternative transportation to and from the downtown and river, provide festival sites for events, arts display locations and many other amenities that will be enjoyed for generations to come.
As part of the Community Rating System (CRS) with FEMA a Greenway could significantly lower Flood Insurance Rates in Ann Arbor which are going up each year. One homeowner in the floodplain was told by the city staff recently the rates are expected to go up 25% a year for the next many years. Unfortunately Ann Arbor currently does not qualify for this FEMA important safety and cost saving benefit for its home owners.
Link to City of Ann Arbor Allen Creek Greenway Master Plan Project Web Page
Link to Allen Creek Greenway Conservancy ACGC
Earth Day Festival This Sunday
ACWG will be sharing a table with SRSW and CARD at the Earth Day Event this Sunday
Lesley Science and Nature Center 12-4pm; 1831 Traver Rd.
'Parking can be limited at the event so visitors are strongly encouraged to "go green" and carpool, bus, bike, or walk to the festival.
This free, family-friendly event features displays from 40 local environmental, nonprofit, and governmental organizations; live animal demonstrations; hands-on activities; live entertainment; green building & commuting technologies; energy topics; water awareness; sustainable agriculture; and more.
Celebrating 50 Years of Sierra Club in Michigan
The Sierra Club Michigan Chapter will mark its 50th Anniversary on June 10.
Washtenaw Community College, Morris Lawrence Bldg-Atrium.
Live Music • Cash Bar • Dinner
Senator Gary Peters Keynote Speaker, National Sierra Club Exec. Dir. Michael Brune
$50/person, $15/student with ID, includes dinner
Sierra Club Huron Valley Group will have many members attending.
Proposed Agenda and Updates:
March 16, 2017
Pall/Gelman 1,4-Dioxane - No New Near Surface Groundwater Since Last Tested Positive Last Year
Update2: MDEQ did come and take samples from the open section of Allen's Creek between Glendale Cr. and Liberty on April 5th. Result will be posted when received, normally a week to a few weeks. West Park creek with extensive upstream groundwater flows was not tested at this time. City staff have indicated this is something they would help with.
312 Glendale Dr. Memory Care Facility Development Proposal barely passed council 6-3 (6 needed to pass), more details on this to come. False and misleading statements were made at the council meeting: the curb at Hillside will block all flows to the MC, not true; the Orchard does not capture runoff from HT, not true; the Vince Caruso did the neighborhood survey, not true done by residents Vince Caruso was not directly involved; the the downstream area is not a target neighborhood for stormwater mitigation, not true according to the $2M City Wide Stormwater Study “Ann City of Ann Arbor Stormwater Model Calibration and Analysis Project”, June 1, 2015 ‘ section C, viii. Glendale/Charlton, page 62’.
Update: Kevin Lund, Senior Licensed Engineer at MDEQ Remediation and Redevelopment Division Jackson, Michigan, attended the ACWG meeting and discussed the option to do near surface groundwater (NSG) creek tests in the next week or weeks depending on weather conditions. He and the MDEQ do not want to do tests with wet weather in recent days to reduce the chance of getting samples which do not overwhelming represent groundwater. The ACWG members agreed to work with the DEQ to find good locations to do testing.
One member of the ACWG, Rita Loch-Caruso, Ph.D. U of M Professor, Environmental Health Sciences SPH and Program in the Environment, LS&A, has had discussions with Detlef Knappe, PhD (Professor of Civil, Construction, & Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University) to run samples for testing if wanted or needed. He has done sampling and analysis of 1,4 D for many years. Dr. Knappe has recently asked by Dr. Loch Caruso to present at the U of M on his work and he presented on 1-17-17 (details below). They, with others, had submitted a quick turnaround grant to NIEHS to study health effects of 1,4 Dioxane which was not funded, but plan to submit another grant in the near term.
Again we reiterated the need to do testing now to determine the level of exposure that may be happening in the Westside of town. We have many homes with wet basements that is generally due in part, in most cases in larger part, to groundwater infiltration into the basement.
We again stated that we had assurances from the DEQ that additional near surface groundwater (NSG) tests would be done soon. At the last Coalition for Action on Remediation of Dioxane (CARD) meeting in March we were told from a DEQ representative that he will take this up with the site managers.
Still no indication of additional NSG tests to be conducted.
This shallow groundwater exposure is a clear and present danger to the community and needs immediate evaluation by state and local officials and, plans made to stop the potential exposure to the west side residents through their basements and other exposure points.
MDEQ had said they would wait till spring to do more near surface groundwater (NSG) tests. We questioned this plan given recent findings in NSG and they agreed to do additional tests in the near future before spring.
With the poor quantity, and in some cases quality, of tests done to date the city is left with very little information of the risks to exposure to residents.
Several blocks west of the previous 2 near surface tests, with 2 and 3 ppb, is a deep groundwater well showing 320 ppb and moving east. At Vet's Park several blocks farther west we have deep groundwater well with readings over 1,000 ppb.
The ACWG was instrumental in getting official to agree to do near surface and surface ground water tests, and it is important to gain an understanding of the flow of the plume and if it will be coming to the surface and where.
At the February CARD meeting it was noted by Matt Naud Env. Coordinator for Ann Arbor that new monitoring wells are to put in near the NE Supply Well at Montgomery and Bemije streets to determine if Pall/Gelman must pay to replace it in accordance to court agreements in past years, dependent on contamination levels in the groundwater near the well.
DEQ have not indicate to the CARD group the they have done the modeling for Vapor Intrusion (VI) of 1,4D as they said is necessary for including VI in the new emergency site regulatory statute. This data would be necessary to determine the level of exposure in basements that may occur. This compound VI profile would be different than most other VI compounds of concerns as it would enter structures with water and then evaporate with the water into the air. This special modeling may not have been done for any compound or just a few. U of M VI research scientists have expressed interest in studying this uncommon exposure modeling.
The action level for 1,4 D is 29 ppb within about 10 feet of a basement.
Michigan has set new standard at 7.2 ppb with 32 years exposure (less 2 weeks/yr vacations) 1 in 100K, not the EPA standard of 70 years exposure (no vacations) which would result in a 3.5 ppb standard. A 1 in 1M risk, 70 year exposure would result in a .35 ppb standard according to EPA.
EPA considers 1,4-dioxane a respiratory and nervous system hazard, skin irritant, an animal carcinogen and a probable human carcinogen.
Links: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)-Gelman Project Site; Washtenaw County CARD Site; Scio Residents for Safe Water (SRSW)
APT Water HiPOx Unit Should be Evaluated Now for 1,4 Dioxane Cleanup at the Leading Edge of the Plume and Other Locations
APT Water HiPOx Unit
(Right Click for larger image)
This from Dan Bicknell, Global Environment Alliance, LLC, CARD Member, in late 2016:
"The December 2004 Court Order regarding remediation of the contamination of the Unit E Aquifer had a lot of discussion on the feasibility, practicability, and political capability to have Gelman implement a groundwater extraction and treatment alternative to capture the Unit E Eastern Area plume. The Court was presented with an extraction and treatment alternative that would require construction of a large central treatment facility and the piping of extracted groundwater great distances though residential and commercial areas. The Court found that such a remedy would disrupt the community and “pose significant dangers.” Therefore, the Court did not require groundwater extraction and treatment, but rather established a Prohibition Zone, which allows the dioxane plume to further contaminate the aquifer – essentially prescribing a dilution remedy for the Eastern Area.
However, placing a groundwater extraction and treatment system within the community is feasible and practical and would not be disruptive or dangerous to the residences. APT Water makes a compact groundwater treatment unit specifically designed to treat dioxane using basically the same technology as Gelman is using today – Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP). The APT Water portable units are called “HiPOx” units and they have been used at many state and federal Superfund sites to treat dioxane groundwater contamination since 2007. [Shown above open for viewing operational components] is a 50 gpm HiPOx unit. They are relatively small. Treated groundwater from the HiPOx unit can be discharged to storm water and/or sanitary water systems. The units can be placed in common areas like parks, schools, etc.
According to an APT Water representative, in 2004 Gelman retained the company that became APT Water to conduct a Pilot Study for them using the AOP technology. The Pilot Study demonstrated that the AOP technology would destroy the dioxane to below detection levels. However, rather than install independent AOP units to treat the dioxane plume in the Eastern Area, Gelman used the AOP technology to modify its central treatment plant. According to the APT Water representative, the 2004 Pilot Study did show that individual AOP units could be operated about the Eastern Area plume to extract and treat the dioxane groundwater contamination. Such individual treatment units would not require the laying of connecting pipe through residential or commercial areas, which was the major Court concern with implementing a groundwater extraction and treatment technology in the Eastern Area.
This information was provided to DEQ & CARD members in 2014, including City and County staffers, in the GEA Gelman Site – Administrative & Technical Overview"
(bold by us)
This information has been shared previously with other city and county officials in 2016.
312 Glendale Dr. Memory Care Facility Development Proposal - Exacerbate Flooding in the Neighborhood and Ugly - Council sent the Proposal back to Planning Commission on March 21 for Further Review
Results of residents neighborhood survey in 2013;
Site is to left in dark olive tone with Legend, stormwater flow to the right
Council sent the proposal back to Planning Commission on January 17.
Planning Commission to revisit on March 21, 7pm.
The ACWG as part of the neighborhood group met with Planning Official to discuss our concerns. Many of which are listed below. The issues presented by the neighborhood have not been addressed to date even with weeks having past since the meeting at city hall.
ACWG submitted to Council a Public Statement on this proposal and Council had comment on:
The city must consider existing tax base and, health, safety and welfare when approving development. This proposal will reduce the tax base of hundreds of homes downstream due to flood hazard and having the back of the building facing this residential neighborhood. These homes have a proven tax base, some for close to 100 years with another 100 to come!
Zion Church addition a few years ago was forced them to come up to code and add stormwater management but city code has changed since then but some on council felt, like Zion, this parcel should be considered with the HT parcel in a more unified manner given the history of flooding downstream of this site.
The number of parking spaces requested do not match the use and seem to supplement existing Hillside Terrace (HT) employees parking.
Common ownership, common use is an issue on planning for this site.
The ACWG brought up that the street, Jackson Place, like all city streets are designed only to flood and hold 10 year rain event, not 100 year (1% chance) as the comments of staff suggested. The stormwater will spill over the curb into MC site. Our photos from Sat. 12-10-16 show some of the curbs are sub-standard and very low, and may not even handle 5 year event let alone 10 year. The city admits often that the Allen's Creek streets currently flood and overflow, into yards and homes, on average every 1 ½ years.
The ACWG brought up that the MC plan does not seem to fully address the imperviousness of the three existing structures that are currently in this parcel according to city GIS data, two houses, garage, and drives with walks, with lots of imperviousness. It is on the same parcel and should be include in stormwater management planning.
The neighborhood group and the ACWG showed a video to Planning Commission Staff of the orchard site during a major rain event that seems to show the orchard can handle large rain events without sheet flow off the site, this even with HT runoff flowing over the Jackson Place curb into the orchard, contrary to city and county planner's comments to the Planning Commission.
Currently we have found that the orchard mitigates HT uncontrolled runoff into this over taxed neighborhood!
Flooding from the HT site occurred when first built in the 1970's. Downstream homeowners settled out of court for money damages. Adding a new building and imperiousness in this area will cause flooding.
Homes to the north of the MC site are down hill and have had flooding from the HT site in its natural state and were forced to do owner payed landscaping to try to mitigate the flows. With a new building on site flooding will be worse.
This neighborhood has been designated a Special Flood Hazard Target Area by the city in the recent City Wide Stormwater Study due to the extensive flooding. Neighbors have surveyed the 5 block area and found 50% of homes have water problems as shown above.
A park with stormwater detention is the best option for the site to handle non-mitigated up stream flows including HT that are putting more and more homes at risk of flooding, a health, safety and welfare risk, and property devaluation. This opportunity should not be allowed to be missed. No other green space is west up stream of this site.
The city has said it will spend $7M to mitigate flooding in Lawton Neighborhood. The city has just bought green space easement, from a developer building new condos in Lawton, for SW detention at great cost to the city, due to residential concerns of flooding in the Lawton area.
Zoning is not clear as to why it did not lapse due to inactivity on the original zoning change proposal. It was not zoned and then zoned R4B in 1994 for HT expansion which did not go forward.
Much to large for residential neighborhood with the back facing existing single family residential. It will have a Glendale address and the back will face Glendale. This will be ugly and lower the value of Glendale homes.
Inappropriate development across the creek on Liberty St. from our house at 556 Glendale in early 2000's forced the city to spend close to $1/2M to mitigate flooding issues caused by very poor planning of a new development. In our Fair Glen Commons private park space 7 landmark trees were cut down, the woodland half cleared and an open section of the Allen's Creek enclosed in a 5'x8' 1,000' long ugly pipe. Tax return on the new homes will be 35 to 40 years before the increase tax is realized by the city. Many of the new owner occupied homes on Liberty St. that were at risk have been turned into rental units with much less value than previously.
Our city leadership seems to have become Global Warming Climate Deniers. HRWC and UM/MSU/MI Dept of Health recent published studies say we should be planning now for 500 year (0.2% chance) not 100 year storms due to Global Warming (see below). In the last year or so the city has approved over 60 new homes in the Allen's Creek Floodplain and some up next to the floodway contrary to federal opinion and, current Michigan and national scientific studies.
Studies cited above:
The Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC) has recently posted on the web (Feb. 2016):
Report by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Great Lakes Integrated Sciences Assessments (GLISA) Program—a partnership between the University of Michigan and Michigan State University Michigan Climate and Health Profile Report 2015 - Building Resilience Against Climate Effects on Michigan’s Health
Ann Arbor Approves 102 New Homes in the Allen's Creek Floodplain in About a Year
A2 Recent (11-2015) Online City Map; 211 Felch St. area; Floodway in blue Floodplain in green
Condos just east of tracks, just west of floodway and south of Felch, parking over the creek in the floodway
5-6" Rainfall in Ann Arbor NEXRAD Estimate 3-15-12,
with Annotations, Historic Record Rainfall for AA (ACWG)
(Right Click to view larger images)
In about a year the city has approved 102 new homes in the Allen's Creek Floodplain, some up against the Floodway, some with parking lots planned to be on top of the Allen's Creek.
Both local and state public bodies (cited above) have come out in recommending planning to the 500 year floodplain (.2% chance) not the 100 year floodplain (1% chance).
With Global Warming changes are needed in planning for larger more intense rain events.
Federal rules virtually disallow using federal funds for building in the 100 year floodplain, and critical structures in the 500 year floodplain.
President Obama discussed in 2016 that Global Warming threats as 'Terrifying', in a New York Times article, and some Nobel Scientist have said it may be worse than the Nuclear Threat to our communities. He states it's 'already manifesting itself as droughts, storms, heat waves and flooding'.
The city council recently turned down a resolution written by U of M graduate students and city staff to provide planning with watershed overlays to reduce flooding threat to sensitive portions of the city as described in a Ryan Stanton Ann Arbor News article 'Should Ann Arbor adopt new regulations for building in flood zones?'.
New development in the floodplain poses a clear and present threat to residents in and around the floodplain, and to the city's economic and environmental future. Blocking flows to the river will increase flood hazard to those currently not in the floodplain. It is clear the floodplain maps are estimates that do not take into account current changes in weather due to Global Warming.
Poor planning in the floodplain and floodway will cause already real flood hazard and flood insurance to become much higher in years to come.
A New Approach to Managing Water in the State of Michigan: Assessing the Feasibility of Integrated Watershed Commissions
From the Report (Right Click for larger image)
New report out recommends creation of a Integrated Watershed Commissions (IWCs) to better manage Michigan's watersheds.
One can hardly miss all the reports of many 100 year storms, 500 year storms, $B's in loss due to flooding, and record algae blooms in the Great Lakes and inland lakes in Michigan.
One major issue they discuss is the challenge of Climate Change, Global Warming, effects on communities and the environment. Given the new backward thinking leadership in DC the local communities will be forced to do most of the 'heavy lifting' to protect and preserve our economies and environments. Don't forget to reset your clocks - "Spring Forward to 1950".
Prepared for: Charles Stewart Mott Foundation; Community Foundation for Muskegon County; Frey Foundation
Prepared by: David Kraff and Alan Steinman; Grand Valley State University Annis Water Resources Institute
~ February 2017
From the report:
"Historically, water management has been approached as a localized issue in Michigan. As a result, the
state’s current water management system is a fragmented arrangement of agencies and organizations,
most of which are organized according to political, as opposed to watershed, boundaries. Michigan lacks
a statewide mechanism to coordinate management structures at the watershed level, which inhibits
strategies to achieve desired outcomes for all users of shared water resources, and potentially results in
redundant services and fiscal inefficiencies. Given the economic, cultural, and social importance of
Michigan’s water resources, it is important that water is managed in a more coordinated and strategic
manner.
We propose Integrated Watershed Commissions (IWCs) as vehicles to coordinate water resource
management and decision-making at the watershed level. We develop two alternate visions for IWCs: 1)
a “constrained” strategy to coordinate decision-making and management while operating, for the most
part, within the state’s existing governance structures; and 2) a “blue sky” approach representing our
idealized recommendations for an alternative water management system in Michigan, unconstrained
from present political and management limitations. Our findings include state policy recommendations
to enable IWC-led watershed management and financing strategies; we also propose five steps for
reform, short of IWCs, aimed at improving watershed-based coordination and collaboration in Michigan."
(bold by us)
MALLETTS CREEK CHURCHILL DOWNS PARK 5506-04 DRAIN PROJECT NOTICE: March 20. 2017, 4:30pm
From Consultants Report on Upper Malletts Creek
Proposed detention in blue areas of existing Eisenhower Park
(Right Click for larger image)
City of Ann Arbor is petitioning the County to do work in the Lawton neighborhood to reduce the real and present danger of flooding in the area due to Global Warming effects on the weather and the poor planning that allow scores of homes to be built in old creek beds and old wetlands causing flooding issues for the community.
This project will cost the community not only millions of dollars it will necessitate the loss of park space to hold stormwater in a flood prone area.
Unfortunately this practice continues today in new developments approved for construction such as the Nixon Farms and South Pond developments.
The use of Chapter 20 to spread costs widely to benefit the whole community is something the ACWG has recommended for many years with much push back from government officials. Glad to see this effort brought forward.
The proposal is controversial from comments at public meetings we have attended and feel that the Lawton neighborhood is in real need of flood control measures, but some may not which to see it done in this manner. Many have commented at public meetings on the loss of park space while others have commented on the loss of wooded areas buffering their homes from the noise and activities on I94.
Recent Ryan Stanton article in Ann Arbor News;
Consultants Report link;
Hearing:
March 20, 2017, at 4:30 p.m.
Office of the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner,
Western County Service Center, 705 North Zeeb Rd., Room 1105, Scio Twp.
Notice of Hearing Of Necessity:
NOTICE OF HEARING OF NECESSITY
MALLETTS CREEK CHURCHILL DOWNS PARK 5506-04 DRAIN PROJECT
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Drainage Board for the proposed Malletts Creek
Churchill Downs Park 5506-04 Drain Project has considered the petition received from
the City of Ann Arbor for improving the county drain known as the Malletts Creek Drain
and made a tentative determination that the said petition is sufficient and that the said
project is practicable; has designated the name “MALLETTS CREEK CHURCHILL
DOWNS PARK 5506-04 DRAIN PROJECT” as the name of said drainage project; has
given the name “Malletts Creek Drainage District” to the drainage district therefore, and
has made a tentative determination that the following public corporations should be
assessed for cost of said project, to wit:
City of Ann Arbor, for benefits to the public health;
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Drainage Board will meet on March 20, 2017, at
4:30 p.m. at the Office of the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner,
Western County Service Center, 705 North Zeeb Rd., Room 1105, Ann Arbor, Michigan,
for the purpose of hearing any objections to said project, to the petition therefore and to
the matter of assessing the cost to the public corporations above named. At said hearing
any public corporation to be assessed or any taxpayer thereof, will be entitled to be heard.
This Notice is given by order of said Drainage Board.
____________________________
Evan Pratt, Chair
Dated: 28 February 2017
February 2017 No meeting month of February due to Conflict with Allen('s) Creek Greenway City-wide Public Meeting, Thursday February 16, 6:30 pm, City Hall (see details below).
Watershed Issues of Interest:
Allen('s) Creek Greenway Master Plan Public Meeting - February 16
Greenway Master Plan Meeting (Right click for larger image)
UPDATES:
Video of the meeting can be seen at the City Video Website
https://a2ctn.viebit.com/player.php?hash=lvp36ZJ5YpoL
Ann Arbor News Web article with detailed maps of the options being considered:
City of Ann Arbor has approved over 100 new homes in the Floodplain, in the last year or so, some just up against the floodway. With the threats from Global Warming More Intense Rain Events this is ill-advised and many had hoped to establish a Greenway in the Floodplain with green and open space close in to downtown, and reduce flood hazard. This when Warren has recently agreed to purchase 15 parcels in the floodplain with Federal Funds to reduce flood hazard due to Global Warming threats to flooding.
The Greenway Master Plan Community meeting this week:
Greenway City-wide Public Meeting
Thrs. February 16
6:30-8:30 p.m.
In the Council Chambers at City Hall
We hope you can attend, get an overview of the plan options for the Greenway, ask questions and make comment on the options for a Greenway in Ann Arbor.
A Greenway in the Allen's Creek floodplain will greatly reduce flood hazard to hundreds of homes and businesses in the west side, will create a open gathering green space in the near downtown, connect to the Huron River and Border to Border Trail, provide alternative transportation to and from the downtown and river, provide festival sites for events, arts display locations and many other amenities that will be enjoyed for generations to come.
As part of the Community Rating System (CRS) with FEMA a Greenway could significantly lower Flood Insurance Rates in Ann Arbor which are going up each year. One homeowner in the floodplain was told by the city staff recently the rates are expected to go up 25% a year for the next many years.
The tunnel under the railroad berm at Depot St., which now seems to be moving along to eventual fruition, as a connector for the ACG to the Huron River park space and, connect the Border to Border Trail which the Michigan Dept. of Transportation (owner of the track) has indicated is a high priority and is listed very high in the current Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).
Greenways in Michigan cities have shown great outcomes and promise both economically and environmentally, for example:
The Arcadia Creek Greenway in Kalamazoo
Grand Rapids Grand River Greenway
Flint's Gilkey Creek Greenway
Detroit River Dequindre Cut Greenway
Traverse City Boardman River Greenway
The Detroit Area Downriver Linked Greenways
Just one example of flood reduction and park benefits is the Arcadia Creek Greenway in Kalamazoo completed a few years ago - no flooding to the 500 year rain, in just a few years generated $12M/year in festival receipts, new park fees for events and increased tax revenues of the adjacent area by $400K/year.
All CAC meetings materials are available at city hall and online.
The ACWG plans to work hard with the city residents, the Allen Creek Greenway Conservancy (ACGC) and the city to create the best and most cost effective Greenway possible.
Visit the project website if you are interested in learning more. For questions contact Allen Creek Greenway Master Plan project manager, Connie Pulcipher, at cpulcipher@a2gov.org or 734-794-6430 x 43731.
Link to City of Ann Arbor Allen Creek Greenway Master Plan Project Web Page
Link to Allen Creek Greenway Conservancy ACGC
Pall/Gelman 1,4-Dioxane - US EPA Takes Next Steps to Evaluate Site for Superfund Designation: Superfund Preliminary Assessment
The US - EPA Region 5 office has notified the petitioners on Feb. 1, 2017, of a request to make the Gelman Plume a Superfund site, that the EPA will take the next steps and evaluate the site for Superfund designation - a Superfund Preliminary Assessment (PA).
The petitioners were Ann Arbor and Scio Township, and Sierra Club Huron Valley Group.
Vince Caruso is now on the Sierra Club Huron Valley Group Executive Committee (SCHV ExCom), elected to start January 1 and was asked to meet in late January with EPA Region 5's appointed site investigator Michael Berkoff along with two other SCHV ExCom members as Superfund Petitioners.
Michael Berkoff, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. EPA Region 5, Superfund Division. Remedial Response Section #3; Chicago, Il
The EPA had a meeting with the Environmental Commission (EC) on 1/26/17 where members of ACWG, SCHV and CARD, as well as other citizens made public comment at the start of the meeting.
After public comment EPA started this portion of the EC meeting with a presentation on Superfund process and then took questions from EC members.
LINK to video of EC meeting, with good overview by EPA staff on Superfund process.
Mr. Berkoff has indicated he will be returning to Ann Arbor for more investigation this coming spring.
He has ask ACWG for more information on soil contamination at the Gelman site off Wagner Rd, and the Sisters Lake Marshy area.
Using information on the SRSW.ORG site and help from Roger Rayle of SRSW we provided links to videos and what little reports on soil contamination are available.
The soils have not been routinely tested in recent years, although in the late 90's values near 1M ppb were reported by MDEQ.
Unfortunately Gelman and MDEQ has not been very active in removing this contamination which has greatly concerned the ACWG and concerned CARD for many years.
MDEQ had said they would wait till spring to do more near surface groundwater (NSG) tests. We questioned this plan given recent findings in NSG and they agreed to do additional tests in the near future before spring.
With the poor quantity, and in some cases quality, of tests done to date the city is left with very little information of the risks to exposure to residents.
Several blocks west of the previous 2 near surface tests, with 2 ppb and 3 ppb, is a deep groundwater well showing 320 ppb and moving east. At Vet's Park several blocks farther west we have deep groundwater well with readings over 1,000 ppb.
The ACWG was instrumental in getting official to agree to do near surface and surface ground water tests, and it is important to gain an understanding of the flow of the plume and if it will be coming to the surface and where.
At the February CARD meeting it was noted by Matt Naud Env. Coordinator for Ann Arbor that new monitoring wells are to put in near the NE Supply Well at Montgomery and Bemije streets to determine if Pall/Gelman must pay to replace it in accordance to court agreements in past years, dependent on contamination levels in the groundwater near the well.
The ACWG asked additionally to have these new wells monitor NSG as well as deep well contamination levels, as this location is about a block from the location where 2 and 3 ppb was found in NSG.
Some scientists at U of M School of Public Health and other schools are discussion options for working on various aspects of this contamination. One is an ACWG member and former charter member of the city of Ann Arbor EC, and submitted a preliminary grant last year that was not funded. They have been in talks of possible collaboration with a scientist from U of NC State who is working on exposures of 1,4 Dioxane in river and drinking water in the Cape Fear River Valley in NC, Detlef Knappe, PhD (Professor of Civil, Construction, & Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University). Dr. Knappe gave a talk 1,4D exposures (video link) at UM-SPH on 1-17-17 and talked to some local government officials and local activist residents afterward.
This shallow groundwater exposure is a clear and present danger to the community and needs immediate evaluation by state and local officials and, plans made to stop the potential exposure to the west side residents through their basements and other exposure points.
DEQ have not indicate to the CARD group the they have done the modeling for Vapor Intrusion (VI) of 1,4D as they said is necessary for including VI in the new emergency site regulatory statute. This data would be necessary to determine the level of exposure in basements that may occur. This compound VI profile would be different than most all other VI compounds of concerns as it would enter structures with water and then evaporate with the water into the air. This special modeling may not have been done for any compound or just a few. U of M VI research scientists have expressed interest in studying this uncommon exposure modeling.
The action level in MI for 1,4 D is 29 ppb within about 10 feet of a basement.
Michigan has set new standard at 7.2 ppb with 32 years exposure (less 2 weeks/yr vacations) 1 in 100K, not the EPA standard of 70 years exposure (no vacations) which would result in a 3.5 ppb standard. A 1 in 1M risk, 70 year exposure would result in a .35 ppb standard according to EPA.
EPA considers 1,4-dioxane a respiratory and nervous system hazard, skin irritant, an animal carcinogen and a probable human carcinogen.
Links: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)-Gelman Project Site; Washtenaw County CARD Site; Scio Residents for Safe Water (SRSW)
312 Glendale Dr. Memory Care Facility Development Proposal - Exacerbate Flooding in the Neighborhood and Ugly - Council sent the Proposal back to Planning Commission on January 17 for Further Review
Results of residents neighborhood survey in 2013;
Site is to left in dark olive tone with Legend, stormwater flow to the right
Council sent the proposal back to Planning Commission on January 17.
ACWG submitted to Council a Public Statement on this proposal and Council had comment on:
The city must consider existing tax base and, health, safety and welfare when approving development. This proposal will reduce the tax base of hundreds of homes downstream due to flood hazard and having the back of the building facing this residential neighborhood. These homes have a proven tax base, some for close to 100 years with another 100 to come!
Zion Church addition a few years ago was forced them to come up to code and add stormwater management but city code has changed since then but some on council felt, like Zion, this parcel should be considered with the HT parcel in a more unified manner given the history of flooding downstream of this site.
The number of parking spaces requested do not match the use and seem to supplement existing Hillside Terrace (HT) employees parking.
Common ownership, common use is an issue on planning for this site.
The ACWG brought up that the street, Jackson Place, like all city streets are designed only to flood and hold 10 year rain event, not 100 year (1% chance) as the comments of staff suggested. The stormwater will spill over the curb into MC site. Our photos from Sat. 12-10-16 show some of the curbs are sub-standard and very low, and may not even handle 5 year event let alone 10 year. The city admits often that the Allen's Creek streets currently flood and overflow, into yards and homes, on average every 1 ½ years.
The ACWG brought up that the MC plan does not seem to fully address the imperviousness of the three existing structures that are currently in this parcel according to city GIS data, two houses, garage, and drives with walks, with lots of imperviousness. It is on the same parcel and should be include in stormwater management planning.
The neighborhood group and the ACWG showed a video to Planning Commission Staff of the orchard site during a major rain event that seems to show the orchard can handle large rain events without sheet flow off the site, this even with HT runoff flowing over the Jackson Place curb into the orchard, contrary to city and county planner's comments to the Planning Commission.
Currently we have found that the orchard mitigates HT uncontrolled runoff into this over taxed neighborhood!
Flooding from the HT site occurred when first built in the 1970's. Downstream homeowners settled out of court for money damages. Adding a new building and imperiousness in this area will cause flooding.
Homes to the north of the MC site are down hill and have had flooding from the HT site in its natural state and were forced to do owner payed landscaping to try to mitigate the flows. With a new building on site flooding will be worse.
This neighborhood has been designated a Special Flood Hazard Target Area by the city in the recent City Wide Stormwater Study due to the extensive flooding. Neighbors have surveyed the 5 block area and found 50% of homes have water problems as shown above.
A park with stormwater detention is the best option for the site to handle non-mitigated up stream flows including HT that are putting more and more homes at risk of flooding, a health, safety and welfare risk, and property devaluation. This opportunity should not be allowed to be missed. No other green space is west upstream of this site.
The city has said it will spend $7M to mitigate flooding in Lawton Neighborhood. The city has just bought green space easement, from a developer building new condos in Lawton, for SW detention at great cost to the city, due to residential concerns of flooding in the Lawton area.
Zoning is not clear as to why it did not lapse due to inactivity on the original zoning change proposal. It was not zoned and then zoned R4B in 1994 for HT expansion which did not go forward.
Much too large for residential neighborhood with the back facing existing single family residential. It will have a Glendale address and the back will face Glendale. This will be ugly and lower the value of Glendale homes.
Inappropriate development across the creek on Liberty St. from our house at 556 Glendale in early 2000's forced the city to spend close to $1/2M to mitigate flooding issues caused by the new development. In our Fair Glen Commons private park space 7 landmark trees were cut down, the woodland half cleared and an open section of the Allen's Creek enclosed in a 5'x8' 1,000' long ugly pipe. Tax return on the new homes will be 35 to 40 years before the increase tax is realized by the city. Many of the new owner occupied homes on Liberty St. that were at risk have been turned into rental units with much less value than previously.
Our city leadership seems to have become Global Warming Climate Deniers. HRWC and UM/MSU/MI Dept of Health recent published studies say we should be planning now for 500 year (0.2% chance) not 100 year storms due to Global Warming (see below). In the last year or so the city has approved over 60 new homes in the Allen's Creek Floodplain and some up next to the floodway contrary to federal opinion and, current Michigan and national scientific studies.
Studies cited above:
The Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC) has recently posted on the web (Feb. 2016):
Report by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Great Lakes Integrated Sciences Assessments (GLISA) Program—a partnership between the University of Michigan and Michigan State University Michigan Climate and Health Profile Report 2015 - Building Resilience Against Climate Effects on Michigan’s Health
Proposed Agenda and Updates:
January 19, 2017
Pall/Gelman 1,4-Dioxane - to Few Surface and Near Surface Water Tests in Ann Arbor Near Westside
Given the past result of Surface water tests more tests are need as soon as possible on the west side of town.
With the poor quantity, and in some cases quality, of tests done to date the city is left with very little information of the risks to exposure to residents.
Several blocks west of the previous 2 near surface tests, with 2 and 3 ppb, is a deep groundwater well showing 320 ppb and moving east. At Vet's Park several blocks farther west we have deep groundwater well with readings over 1,000 ppb.
The ACWG was instrumental in getting official to agree to do near surface and surface ground water tests, and it is important to gain an understanding of the flow of the plume and if it will be coming to the surface and where.
This shallow groundwater exposure is a clear and present danger to the community and needs immediate evaluation by state and local officials and, plans made to stop the potential exposure to the west side residents through their basements and other exposure points.
DEQ have not indicate to the CARD group the they have done the modeling for Vapor Intrusion (VI) of 1,4D as they said is necessary for including VI in the new emergency site regulatory statute. This data would be necessary to determine the level of exposure in basements that may occur.
Michigan has set new standard at 7.2 ppb with 32 years exposure (less 2 weeks/yr vacations) 1 in 100K, not the EPA standard of 70 years exposure (no vacations) which would result in a 3.5 ppb standard. A 1 in 1M risk, 70 year exposure would result in a .35 ppb standard according to EPA.
EPA considers 1,4-dioxane a respiratory and nervous system hazard, skin irritant, a animal carcinogen and a probable human carcinogen.
Links: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)-Gelman Project Site; Washtenaw County CARD Site; Scio Residents for Safe Water (SRSW)
312 Glendale Dr. Memory Care Facility Development Proposal - Exacerbate Flooding in the Neighborhood and Ugly - Council will take up the Proposal January 17
Results of residents neighborhood survey in 2013;
Site is to left in dark olive tone with Legend, stormwater flow to the right
UPDATE: At the 17th Council meeting they voted to send the proposal back to the Planning Commission for further review and possible revision.
Issues some on council was having trouble with were:
Ownership issues with Hillside Terrace and the Memory Care Center and its potential effect on stormwater regulations
Is the stormwater modeling valid for the site including the existing two houses, Planning Commission discussions with the petitioners seemed to be indicating it may not have, ‘houses are not disturbed or captured’
Does the Orchard currently reduce flooding as it captures flows off HT and seems to mitigate them, and will it be overwhelmed by flows from HT which would cause additional flooding downstream
A flyer sent out from HT early this month reads in part ‘planned expansion and substantial growth in 2017’
Is this building appropriate with the very large mass of the rear of the building facing Glendale, a street with single family small houses and small detached condos
Questions of effective stormwater modeling given the extensive flooding in Nixon Rd. with new development going in, that was not to be an issue everyone was told
Council will take up the proposal with a Public Hearing January 17 at Council Chambers City Hall in a Council meeting starting at 7pm.
The potential for more flooding and the option for a park space at this site to mitigating existing flooding and pollution loading to the watershed and the Huron River, with Hillside Terrace sending large amounts of uncontrolled stormwater down the hill into the neighborhood, are critical issues that need to be addressed.
We have been told by the city over the past two decades that new development will be the major way we get improvement in the watershed. That does not seem to be happening here.
500 year (0.2% chance) floodplain planning is the new recommendation from both Federal and regional planners, not the previous 100 year (1% chance) , due to Global Warming effects on rainfall amounts and flooding.
ACWG submitted to Council Statement on this proposal:
Issues council must address with regards to the Hillside Memory Care (MC) proposal:
The Allen's Creek Group does not support this proposal.
The city must consider existing tax base and, health, safety and welfare when approving development. This proposal will reduce the tax base of hundreds of homes downstream due to flood hazard and having the back of the building facing this residential neighborhood. These homes have a proven tax base, some for close to 100 years with another 100 to come!
As commented by the Planning Commission (PC) director the nearby Zion Church addition a few years ago forced them to come up to code and add stormwater management. So should this site. It should not be allowed to skirt the city rules on very thin evidence. Zion told us Project Grow folks, then at Zion, they had to come up to code even though they did not want to do it. UPDATE: When the the Zion expansion was approved the regulation on stormwater control did not include percent change in imperviousness as is now the case. Now the regulation include a greater than 50% change in imperviousness to trigger upgrades to the full site.
The number of parking spaces requested do not match the use and seem to supplement existing Hillside Terrace (HT) employees parking.
Common ownership, common use. Why did the PC not ask the owner in attendance for details?
The street, Jackson Place, like all city streets are designed only to flood and hold 10 year rain event, not 100 year (1% chance) as the comments of staff suggested. The stormwater will spill over the curb into MC site. Our photos from Sat. 12-10-16 show some of the curbs are sub-standard and very low, and may not even handle 5 year event let alone 10 year. The city admits often that the Allen's Creek streets currently flood and overflow, into yards and homes, on average every 1 ½ years.
MC plan does not address the imperviousness of the three existing structures that are currently in this parcel according to city GIS data, two houses, garage, and drives with walks, with lots of imperviousness. It is on the same parcel, much like Zion's situation yet not the same treatment. Questioned but also not addressed.
It is stated the MC will help the SW situation in the area. Not so. It will only deal with 120% rain on the MC, not including the three existing homes and spill over from HT. The orchard site seems to be able to handle 200 year rain. Neighbors have check in large rain events and water does not sheet off the orchard, even with HT runoff flowing over the Jackson Place curb into the orchard.
Currently we have found that the orchard mitigates HT uncontrolled runoff into this overtaxed neighborhood!
Flooding from this site occurred when first built in the 1970's. Downstream homeowners settled out of court for money damages. Adding a new building and imperiousness in this area will cause flooding.
Homes to the north of the MC site are down hill and have had flooding from the site in its natural state and were forced to do owner payed landscaping to try to mitigate the flows. With a new building on site flooding will be worse.
This neighborhood has been designated a Special Flood Hazard Target Area by the city in the recent City Wide Stormwater Study due to the extensive flooding. Neighbors have surveyed the 5 block area and found 50% of homes have water problems as shown above.
A park with stormwater detention is the best option for the site to handle non-mitigated up stream flows including HT that are putting more and more homes at risk of flooding, a health, safety and welfare risk, and property devaluation. This opportunity should not be allowed to be missed. No other green space is west upstream of this site.
The city has just bought green space easement, from a developer building new condos in Lawton, for SW detention at great cost to the city, due to residential concerns of flooding in the Lawton area.
Greenbelt and Federal Flood hazard funds should be used. Federal funds of $250M were recently made available due to the 500 year flood in Warren in 2014 which Ann Arbor is eligible for. Warren is going to buy up to 15 parcels in the floodplain with these funds, among other efforts' use of these funds.
Zoning is not clear as to why it did not lapse due to inactivity on the original zoning change proposal. It was not zoned and then zoned R4B in 1994 for HT expansion which did not go forward.
Much too large for residential neighborhood with the back facing existing single family residential. It will have a Glendale address and the back will face Glendale. This will be ugly and lower the value of Glendale homes.
Inappropriate development across the creek on Liberty St. from our house at 556 Glendale in early 2000's forced the city to spend close to $1/2M to mitigate flooding issues caused by the new development. In our Fair Glen Commons private park space 7 landmark trees were cut down, the woodland half cleared and an open section of the Allen's Creek enclosed in a 5'x8' 1,000' long ugly pipe. Tax return on the new homes will be 35 to 40 years before the increase tax is realized by the city. Many of the new owner occupied homes on Liberty St. that were at risk have been turned into rental units with much less value than previously.
Our city leadership seems to have become Global Warming Climate Deniers. HRWC and UM/MSU/MI Dept of Health recent published studies say we should be planning now for 500 year (0.2% chance) not 100 year storms due to Global Warming (see below). In the last year or so the city has approved over 60 new homes in the Allen's Creek Floodplain and some up next to the floodway contrary to federal opinion and, current Michigan and national scientific studies.
Studies cited above:
The Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC) has recently posted on the web (Feb. 2016):
Report by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Great Lakes Integrated Sciences Assessments (GLISA) Program—a partnership between the University of Michigan and Michigan State University Michigan Climate and Health Profile Report 2015 - Building Resilience Against Climate Effects on Michigan’s Health
Allen('s) Creek Greenway Master Plan CAC Meeting
A screenshot of a presentation slide from CAC #3 Meeting, City of Ann Arbor
The Greenway Master Plan Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) met last week.
Several proposals were presented and feedback collected.
See links below for more details and information.
A major point the ACWG makes is that a greenway in a flood prone area like this one can greatly reduce flooding as well as greatly improve economic conditions as has been shown in may communities.
Quality of life issues are also clearly a major benefit of greenways in urban centers.
Many examples of successful regional greenways in MI are in Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Lansing, and the recently finished Dequindre Cut in the Detroit area, and others.
A public meeting to discuss some of the considered options and benefits will be held on:
Community Wide Meeting #2
February 16, 6:30pm
Location: Council Chambers 2nd Fl City Hall
Materials presented at CAC Meeting #3 are now available on Google Drive
The meeting presentation and summary from CAC Meeting #1 and 2 are available on Google Drive
Proposed Agenda and Updates:
December 15, 2016
Gelman Dioxane Contamination US-EPA Superfund Petition
Superfund
Click here to view and/or sign in support.
Click on this page link to view more details;
Ann Arbor Charter Township, Scio Township, and the Sierra Club – Huron Valley Group have jointly file a petition requesting the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) conduct a Preliminary Assessment for the Gelman Sciences, Inc. (Gelman) Site to become a federal USEPA Superfund Site. CARD and ACWG are also on record in support for a petition for EPA Superfund status. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell has also asked that EPA get involved.
Link to the taping of the City of Ann Arbor Town Hall Meeting on Oct. 27th, that was held at Eberwhite School on Shallow Ground Water tests of 1, 4 Dioxane; 2-3 ppb was found at Slawson Middle School area on 8th St.
Pall/Gelman 1,4-Dioxane One Surface Water 'Creek' Tests in Ann Arbor Near Westside
A Surface water test was reported on by the DEQ and found to be non-detect (0 or below 1 ppb).
The 'creek' test was was done in Hanna Park which does not have an open section of Allen's Creek and it is hard to know what they were testing. It may have been surface flows which would not be of much value.
Why more surface and near surface tests have not been done to date is troubling. These tests should not be delayed as exposures may show violation of even the very weak Part 201 state environmental exposure laws.
The ACWG was instrumental in getting officials to agree to do near surface and surface ground water tests.
This shallow groundwater exposure is a clear and present danger to the community and needs immediate evaluation by state and local officials and, plans made to stop the potential exposure to the west side residents through their basements.
The DEQ has indicated to us that surface water Allen's Creek tests would be included in the near future. We have several open sections of the Allen's Creek on the westside including in Eberwhite Woods and other wooded park spaces. These open sections of the creek are frequently visited by children.
EPA Superfund option is the only option to try to get in front of this ground and now surface water pollution issue facing our city and nearby townships.
The new shallow groundwater standard by the MDEQ for 1,4 Dioxane is 29 ppb.
DEQ have indicated to the CARD group that they have not done the modeling for Vapor Intrusion (VI) of 1,4D as they said is necessary for including VI in the new emergency site regulatory statute.
Michigan has set new standard at 7.2 ppb with 32 years exposure (less 2 weeks/yr vacations) 1 in 100K, not the EPA standard of 70 years exposure (no vacations) which would result in a 3.5 ppb standard. A 1 in 1M risk, 70 year exposure would result in a .35 ppb standard according to EPA.
EPA considers 1,4-dioxane a respiratory and nervous system hazard, skin irritant, a animal carcinogen and a probable human carcinogen.
Links: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)-Gelman Project Site; Washtenaw County CARD Site; Scio Residents for Safe Water (SRSW)
312 Glendale Dr. Memory Care Facility Development Proposal - Exacerbate Flooding in the Neighborhood and Ugly
Results of residents neighborhood survey in 2013;
Site is to left in dark olive tone with Legend, flow to the right
The last Planning Commission(PC) Meeting on this proposal voted 6 to 1 to support. It will now go to city council(CC) for a vote, time yet to be determined.
The ACWG does not support this development proposal developing an Apple Orchard on Glendale Dr. to a memory care facility, 24 bedroom, 16,743 square foot single story building, essentially an extension of Hillside Terrace next door to the east.
Protecting existing large Tax Base is generally more important than just add new tax base.
The fact that this is essentially an addition to Hillside Terrace (HT), it like Zion Church, should be required to bring the entire site up to stormwater code.
Owners were again at the Planning Commission Meeting but were not asked to comment on this issue raised again by city residents.
The plan does not address the imperiousness of the three existing structures on the site, two houses, garage, and drives with walks, lots of imperviousness. It is on the same parcel, much like Zion's situation, yet not the same treatment.
Flooding from this site occurred when first built in the 1970's. Downstream homeowners settled out of court for money damages. Adding a new building and imperiousness in this area will cause flooding.
This orchard should be a stormwater detention/park space to mitigate all the flooding downstream, purchased with Greenbelt Millage funds to create a green space for a very dense urban area with very little park space. The city Greenbelt Millage language requires 1/3 of the millage funds be used inside the city limits. Protecting existing green space and, reduce pollution and flooding are key goals.
The city paid for land locked green space next to Eberwhite Woods in recent years with general funds. No public access except through the school's land, or parking in violation of city park acquisition rules. Dicken Woods was also paid for mainly with general funds to prevent additional flooding in the Dicken area and create new green park space.
We asked our council members to ask for a meeting with the developer regarding a park option but never received a communication back from our council members.
New reports show a real and present need to change our Flood Hazard Planning:
The Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC) has recently posted on the web (Feb. 2016):
and a report by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Great Lakes Integrated Sciences Assessments (GLISA) Program—a partnership between the University of Michigan and Michigan State University Michigan Climate and Health Profile Report 2015 - Building Resilience Against Climate Effects on Michigan’s Health,
One has to wonder if some of our city and county officials have become Global Warming Climate Deniers in their policies toward the dramatic increase in real and present flood hazard facing our community.
The ACWG members were part of the 2015 Citywide Stormwater Study/Stormwater Advisory Group effort that indicated this area as a target area for enhanced Stormwater management and relief. This neighborhood should not be put under more pressure for flood hazard.
The city needs to protect long lived tax base with any reasonable development proposal. We have many blocks of homes down stream of this site with major flooding as shown in the neighborhood survey presented to the PC and CC, and beyond this immediate neighborhood.
Having the back of this building facing our neighborhood is not appropriate and will lower our property values and 'uglify' the area lowing the tax base. This is not an appropriate development for a single family residential neighborhood.
Once again this site is too small for the proposed development and should be set aside as a stormwater(SW) detention/park space using Greenbelt Millage, and preserve the extensive tax base and wonderful neighborhoods down stream of this site.
The ACWG and residents have been told over the last two decades that new development is the way we will see improvements in SW hazard in this watershed. Clearly that is not happening here but should be.
The city has just bought green space easement, from a developer building new condos in Lawton, for SW detention at great cost to the city, due to residential concerns of flooding in the Lawton area, on Ann Arbor Saline Rd.
Zoning issues for the site seem to violate city code.
City records indicate that what is now Hillside Terrace (1939 Jackson Ave.) and several adjacent parcels owned by it (including 312 Glendale Dr. and 1943 Jackson Ave.) were annexed into Ann Arbor in 1987 -- without a zoning designation.
In 1994 Hillside Terrace submitted a site plan to expand into the adjacent 312 Glendale Dr. parcel and, as a result, the R4B (multiple family dwelling) zoning code was assigned to both parcels.
That site plan expired in 1999.
The zoning code for 312 Glendale Dr. should have expired with that site plan (several City officials have privately acknowledged this, and that R4B is not appropriate for this site). There continue to be several tiny parcels surrounding 312 Glendale Dr. that are zoned R1.
This site should be zoned R1 like its neighbor sites.
Geddes Ave Road Green Street Complete and Open for use, Stone School Rd Green Street
Geddes Ave Rock Bed below road Installation, City of Ann Arbor (Right Click for Larger View)
Stone School Road Green Street, Insite Design and City of Ann Arbor
The city has reconstructed Geddes Ave as a new Green Street effort in the city. Stone School Road has also had a Green Streets treatment this past year.
For Geddes Ave:
City streets engineers indicated to us in past similar efforts that this type of Green Street effort is less expensive that conventional street construction.
The street should last longer and have much fewer pot holes develop with the infiltration rock bed below the street. With the rock bed below water is generally not close to the surface of the road which greatly reduces pot holes and cracks from forming in the road surface.
Generally Green Streets are cost effective in managing rain water runoff (stormwater) at its source, by handling all or most of it by infiltrating and detoxifying it.
With Global Warming SEM getting and expecting more intense rain fall and larger rain events than historically the Green Street Policy is becoming more important as one technique to deal with greater flood hazard and water pollution.
The types of Green Streets can infiltrate and detoxify all or most of the street runoff and, additional near street runoff, such as driveways and sidewalk.
The ACWG, the Environmental Commission Water Committee and city staff worked hard to get the Green Streets Policy drawn up and passed.
More details of the Geddes Ave Green Street project, Stone School Rd and full details of other presentations at 4th Annual Stormwater Summit on October 7, 2016 at Lawrence Technological University.
Proposed Agenda and Updates:
November 17, 2016
Gelman Dioxane Contamination US-EPA Superfund Petition
Superfund
Click here to view and/or sign in support.
Click on this page link to view more details;
UPDATE: Ann Arbor Charter Township, Scio Township, and the Sierra Club – Huron Valley Group have jointly file a petition on November 21, 2016 requesting the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) conduct a Preliminary Assessment for the Gelman Sciences, Inc. (Gelman) Site to become a federal USEPA Superfund Site. CARD and ACWG are also on record in support for a petition for EPA Superfund status. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell has also asked that EPA get involved. City Council has yet to join this effort.
Link to the taping of the City of Ann Arbor Town Hall Meeting on Oct. 27th, that was held at Eberwhite School on Shallow Ground Water tests of 1, 4 Dioxane; 2-3 ppb was found at Slawson Middle School area on 8th St.
Pall/Gelman 1,4-Dioxane Still have not done Surface Water Creek Tests in Ann Arbor Near Westside
No surface creek water tests yet despite ACWG answering DEQ requests for potential sites for tests with maps and offers to escort DEQ officials if needed or wanted. We offered to escort the DEQ in our private Fair Glen Park with an open section of the Allen's Creek. Creek tests were said by the DEQ to happen last summer with the other shallow groundwater tests.
The creek system is a major sink for groundwater flows and as such are a critical source of data of where this contamination may be flowing.
The ACWG and Coalition for Action on Remediation of Dioxane (CARD) have asked for shallow groundwater testing for 1,4-Dioxane (1,4D) for a long time.
This shallow groundwater exposure is a clear and present danger to the community and needs immediate evaluation by state and local officials and, plans made to stop the potential exposure to the west side residents through their basements.
Two dozen Shallow Groundwater Well tests were done late this summer on the West Side of town.
Results sent out early last month show 2 to 3.3 ppb found in shallow groundwater well at 6 to 12 feet down at Waterworks Park between 8th St. and 7th St.
We have deep well readings at about 330 ppb about 8 blocks up from the 8th Street wells and 1,000 ppb at Vet's Park.
Link to the full Report with tests Results.
Ann Arbor News MLive web site has a recent article on this MDEQ report.
City Council conducted a "Town Hall" meeting which was a poorly planned event. No public comment was planned just questions on cards. This violates city policy that any city sponsored meeting have time for public comment. It seems this was an attempt to keep those who question the city's inaction on a Superfund Petition to EPA. Here is a Link to the CTN video to the Oct. 27 "Town Hall" Meeting.
Sad to say at the city sponsored Town Hall Meeting, even when the city using Roger Rayle SRSW/CARD’s plume maps and railed about the shallow groundwater exposures CARD forced the DEQ and Gelman to do, CARD members were not asked to be at the table.
There was no comment on the two townships Ann Arbor and Scio, Sierra Club, CARD, ACWG and the County draft resolution, in support for a petition for EPA Superfund status till this CARD/ACWG member made unscheduled public comment later in the meeting. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell has also asked that EPA get involved. This was unfortunate and a misrepresentation of the current very strong support for Superfund petition.
Allen's Creek tests was said to be included in these tests but was not yet reported on. We have several open sections of the Allen's Creek on the westside including in Eberwhite Woods and other wooded park spaces. These open sections of the creek are frequently visited by children.
Shallow groundwater proposed and now temporary standard by the MDEQ for 1,4 Dioxane is 29 ppb.
DEQ said at the last CARD Meeting they still have not done the modeling for Vapor Intrusion (VI) of 1,4D as they said is necessary for including VI in the new emergency site regulatory statute.
At the last CARD meeting comment from state Attorney General Office officials indicated they felt the emergency order on 1,4D would be made permanent by the state government and not be temporary.
Michigan is proposing a new standard at 7.2 ppb with 32 years exposure (less 2 weeks/yr vacations) 1 in 100K, not the EPA standard of 70 years exposure (no vacations) which would result in a 3.5 ppb standard. A 1 in 1M risk, 70 year exposure would result in a .35 ppb standard according to EPA.
EPA considers 1,4-dioxane a respiratory and nervous system hazard, skin irritant, a animal carcinogen and a probable human carcinogen.
Links: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)-Gelman Project Site; Washtenaw County CARD Site; Scio Residents for Safe Water (SRSW)
312 Glendale Dr. Memory Care Facility Development Proposal - Exacerbate Flooding in the Neighborhood
Results of residents neighborhood survey in 2013;
Site is to left in dark olive tone with Legend, flow to the right (Right click for larger view)
Planning Commission Meeting on this Proposal Nov. 15, 7pm in City Hall Council Chambers 2nd floor
UPDATE: Planning Commission voted on the 15th to postpone a decision until the December 6th meeting.
The ACWG does not support this development proposal developing an Apple Orchard on Glendale Dr. to a memory care facility, 24 bedroom, 16,743 square foot single story building, essentially an extension of Hillside Terrace next door to the east.
ACWG Comments:
We were involved in the city stormwater changes required at Zion Church addition on Liberty St. a few years ago. They added about 15% to the existing building and were required by the city to bring the entire site up to stormwater code. The church asked for a variance which we and many other neighbors did not support. We think Hillside Terrace (HT) should be required to do the same and meet code with this addition. In the previous proposal they submitted they stated that the drive along HT was part of HT property and therefore they needed access on Glendale. Now they are using HT access. They commented at the public meeting for the current proposal they could use the existing HT back parking lot but wanted to add some new parking near the new building. The owners were said to be part of the HT ownership as well. Will workers be paid by and coming over from, and residents be coming over from, HT?
Flooding from this site occurred when first built in the 1970's. Downstream homeowners settled out of court for money damages. Adding a new building and imperiousness in this area will cause flooding.
Homes to the north of the site are down hill and have had flooding from the site in its natural state and were forced to do more owner payed landscaping to try to mitigate the flows. With a new building on site flooding will be worse.
Inappropriate development across the creek on Liberty St. from our house at 556 Glendale in early 2000's forced the city to spend close to $1/2M to mitigate flooding issues in the new development. In our Fair Glen Commons private park space 7 landmark trees were cut down, the woodland half cleared and an open section of the Allen's Creek enclosed in a 5'x8' 1,000' long ugly pipe. Tax return on the new homes will be 35 to 40 years before the increase tax is realized by the city. Many of the owner occupied homes at risk are now rental units with much less value than previously.
This orchard should be a stormwater detention/park space to mitigate all the flooding downstream, purchased with Green Belt Millage funds to create a green space for a very dense urban area with very little park space. The city Greenbelt Millage language requires 1/3 of the millage funds be used inside the city limits. Protecting existing green space and, reduce pollution and flooding are key goals.
The city paid for land locked green space next to Eberwhite Woods in recent years with general funds. No public access except through the school’s land or parking in violation of city park acquisition rules. Dicken Woods was also paid for mainly with general funds to prevent additional flooding in the Dicken area and create new green park space.
We asked our council members to ask for a meeting with the developer regarding a park option but never received a communication back from our council members.
New reports show a real and present need to change our Flood Hazard Planning:
The Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC) has recently posted on the web (Feb. 2016):
and a report by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Great Lakes Integrated Sciences Assessments (GLISA) Program—a partnership between the University of Michigan and Michigan State University Michigan Climate and Health Profile Report 2015 - Building Resilience Against Climate Effects on Michigan’s Health,
(not radical folks by any means) all agree in these recent reports we must plan to the 500 year Floodplain due to more intense rain events, not 100 when the city just approved about 60 new homes in the floodplain (!), 52 with parking in the Floodway on top of the Allen's Creek that is in a huge pipe. Ann Arbor needs to heed these warnings. Global Warming is giving SEM much bigger rains to deal with even now. The 500 year rain in the summer 2014 in Warren just missed us on it's way to Warren. The March 15, 2012 Dexter Tornado storm dropped 5-6" record rainfall on Ann Arbor's south west side, a record for the city, in less than an hour. More details on these reports at the links and on our web site.
One has to wonder if our city and county officials have become Global Warming Climate Deniers in their policies toward the dramatic increase in real and present flood hazard facing our community.
The ACWG members were part of the 2015 Citywide Stormwater Study/Stormwater Advisory Group effort that indicated this area as a target area for enhanced Stormwater management and relief. This neighborhood should not be put under more pressure for flood hazard.
The city needs to protect long lived tax base with any reasonable development proposal. We have many blocks of homes downstream of this site with major flooding as shown in the neighborhood survey presented to the PC and CC, and beyond this immediate neighborhood.
We see private owner efforts at Westgate Shopping Center with rain gardens in the parking islands to reduce runoff flows, unfortunately that reduction in flows will not affect the Glendale neighborhood.
The public meetings for the previous proposal for this site had the largest turnout of residents for any development proposal public meeting, the vast majority oppose the development. This proposal will have much the same impact. Ann Arbor Chronicle did a story on this discussion with the PC with many details - Article Link - and we ask these comments be added to this planning packet for the record.
Having the back of this building facing our neighborhood is not appropriate and will lower our property values and 'uglify' the area lowing the tax base. This is not an appropriate development for a single family residential neighborhood.
Once again this site is too small for the proposed development and should be set aside as a stormwater detention/park space using Green Belt Millage, and preserve the extensive tax base and wonderful neighborhoods downstream of this site.
Churchill Downs Park Stormwater Basin Project
Notice from the Washtenaw County Water Resources Office:
'The 2014 Upper Malletts Study made several recommendations for stormwater management improvements in Upper Malletts Creek. One of those recommendations involved building a detention basin at Churchill Downs Park. That project was included in the City of Ann Arbor’s capital improvement process and we’ll soon be ready to develop detailed designs for bidding and construction.
However, it has been some time since the conceptual plans were vetted by the public. Since then, some additional design considerations have been identified. Before moving forward, there will be a community meeting to update residents, review the project, discuss design elements, and determine readiness to proceed.'
The ACWG feels the Lawton neighborhood is in a particularly tough position as the original approved plotting of the neighborhood placed homes in old creek beds and wetlands that make it now very difficult to reduce flooding during normal and the much larger rain events we are now getting with Global Warming Effects on SEM.
The March 15, 2012 Dexter Tornado NEXRAD estimates of 5-6" rain that hit Lawton neighborhood causing flooding, an historic event, is a good example of the kinds of events that will become more common.
The community must work together to mitigate the flood hazard in Lawton neighborhood as soon as possible as more rain storms will cause flooding which is not acceptable to Lawton residents, or to the residents of Ann Arbor and is a threat to our tax base.
Churchill Downs Park Stormwater Basin Project Meeting
December 13th, 2016
7-8:30 PM
Lawton School MP Room (cafeteria)
Update:
Oct. 26, 2016
Link to the Recording of the City of Ann Arbor Town Hall Meeting on Oct. 27th, that was held at Eberwhite School on Shallow Ground Water tests of 1, 4 Dioxane, 2-3 ppb was found at Slawson Middle School area on 8th St. More details below on these findings.
New Emergency MDEQ Rules on 1,4 Dioxaine Exposures at Town Hall Meeting Oct. 27th:
'Acknowledging the state's longstanding dioxane exposure criteria is not protective of public health, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the governor's office have issued emergency rules.' 'The new rules set the allowable level of dioxane in residential drinking water at 7.2 parts per billion — down from 85 ppb, a level that U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data from 2010 showed was not protective of public health.' 'In addition to drinking water criteria, the emergency rules establish a new vapor intrusion screening level of 29 ppb for dioxane, which is important as dioxane has been discovered in shallow groundwater on Ann Arbor's west side.': MLive Article
Gelman Dioxane Contamination US-EPA Superfund Petition, October 2016
Click here to view and/or sign in support
Ann Arbor Charter Township, Scio Township, and the Sierra Club – Huron Valley Group have announced plans to jointly file a petition next month requesting the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) conduct a Preliminary Assessment for the Gelman Sciences, Inc. (Gelman) Site to become a federal USEPA Superfund Site.
“Local governments and community groups long have worked with the DEQ on remediation options for the Gelman Site and a dioxane cleanup standard that protects human health and is consistent with EPA policy. Unfortunately, DEQ has not demonstrated the capability or willingness to obtain a protective remedy in court that places the burden for clean-up squarely on the potentially responsible party,” said Michael Moran, Supervisor, Ann Arbor Charter Township
Ann Arbor Charter Township, Scio Township and the Sierra Club Huron Valley to File a Petition Requesting the Gelman Site Become Federal USEPA Superfund Site
Congresswoman Debbie Dingell has also asked that the USEPA get involved in this cleanup effort.
The Ann Arbor Twp. and Scio Twp. recently voted to petition the US EPA for Superfund Status.
The County Board voted unanimously in support of drafting a petition to EPA.
The CARD Group at its March '16 meeting voted in support of an EPA Superfund Petition, as part of CARD I voted in support.
The Allen's Creek Watershed Group also voted in support.
Scio Residents for Safe Water supports it.
Ann Arbor City Council has yet to take a position on a Federal USEPA Superfund request.
Click on this page link or on the Left to view more details
Proposed Agenda and Updates:
October 20, 2016
1,4-Dioxane Contamination Found in Shallow Groundwater on Ann Arbor Near Westside, Suspected Pall/Gelman in Origin (updated)
The ACWG and Coalition for Action on Remediation of Dioxane (CARD) have asked for shallow groundwater testing for a long time.
Two dozen Shallow Groundwater Well tests were done late this summer on the West Side of town.
Results sent out early this week show 2 to 3.3 ppb found in shallow groundwater well at 6 to 12 feet down at Waterworks Park between 8th St. and 7th St.
Safe to say no one expected these results, certainly not the DEQ or city officials.
Link to the full Report with tests Results: https://www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/deq-rrd-GS-GelmanShallowGWReport_538157_7.pdf
Ann Arbor News MLive web site has a recent article on this MDEQ report.
Additionally other compounds were found: trichloroethylene and trichloroethane, dimethyl-hexane, trichloroethane, and tetrachloroethylene. Chloroform was found at 5-5.8 ppb and trichloroethane at12-14 ppb were both found above the MDEQ's reporting limits. Chloroform was above the MDEQ's standard for Vapor Intrusion Limit of 1 ppb, trichloroethane was below the 630 ppb limits.
Many home's basements are 7 to 8 feet below grade.
Allen's Creek tests was said to be included in these tests but was not reported on. We have several open sections of the Allen's Creek on the westside including in Eberwhite Woods and other wooded park spaces. These open sections of the creek are frequently visited by children.
Shallow groundwater proposed standard by the MDEQ for 1,4 Dioxane is 29 ppb.
We have deep well readings at about 300 ppb about 8 blocks up from the 8th Street wells and 1,000 ppb at Vet's Park.
Vapor Intrusion is a major change in the proposed Part 201 Michigan Cleanup Standards the ACWG and CARD have pushed for with 1,4 Dioxane flowing through the groundwater of the city and potentially entering homes and businesses with groundwater or as a vapor through the basement walls. In a confined space of a basement concentrations may reach levels of concern especially if the homeowner or businesses use the basement on a regular basis. Some homeowners use the basement for offices, play spaces or bedrooms.
At a CARD meeting years ago discussion of the Ann Arbor City Apartments at Washington and First came up regarding the below ground parking 2 stories below grade. The ACWG and others asked about potential groundwater issues with this city owned parking garage below, deep into the water table. Soon thereafter we learned the city changed the soon to be started building, to raise the building a full story up to avoid this issue. The city explicit requirement not to have parking on the street level was quickly thrown out the window. City officials did not move in a similar level of concern for residents with the potential for basement exposure.
It has been reported that Ann Arbor has some seeps (groundwater flowing out from hillsides) in higher elevations, not just in the valleys. Some include those in Water Hill and Wurster Park. These higher elevations also need to be monitored for contamination.
See below Dan Bicknell's GEA Comments on the DEQ Shallow Groundwater Work Plan
His comments indicate it is Not a very good plan.
The ACWG and the CARD Group was to get a copy of this plan from the DEQ to review which did not happen.
DEQ maybe trying to undermine CARD. DEQ is Starting a Community Focus Group for Gelman Contamination. This when CARD has already functioned for over 10 years with state and local government, and citizen involvement. Local Governments have passed resolutions in support of CARD. CARD has had many Public Meetings in these past years with DEQ and local officials in attendance presenting information and answering questions, with large turnouts. CARD has had Tables at all the major Environmental Events in the past 6 or more years including the Green Fair, Earth Day and Huron River Days. CARD has had meetings virtually every month for the last decade to discuss this very serious and ongoing environmental issue.
We need to ask for an EPA Superfund effort to start a cleanup not just a remediation the state has planned. AA Township voted early this week to do just that and we expect SCIO to join them. The County and city should also join to show a united front. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell has also asked that EPA get involved, a major statement from our Federal government official.
Michigan is proposing a new standard at 7.2 ppb with 32 years exposure (less 2 weeks/yr vacations) 1 in 100K, not the EPA standard of 70 years exposure (no vacations).
EPA considers 1,4-dioxane a respiratory and nervous system hazard, skin irritant, a animal carcinogen and a probable human carcinogen.
Links: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)-Gelman Project Site; Washtenaw County CARD Site; Scio Residents for Safe Water (SRSW)
Update: More testing is needed to determine the origin of the 1,4 Dioxane. It would seem given the movement of the plume it is from the Gelman site but more tests will make it clearer the source of the contamination. Also Pall’s own geo mapping indicate flows will intersect the surface at about this location and farther in toward the Huron River.
University of Michigan and City of Ann Arbor Need to Work Together to Improve Stormwater Management on Campus, Observatory St. Work Should have been Green Streets Policy Effort
Nichols Arboretum - School Girls Glen
Michigantoday.umich.edu
Opportunity Lost to do a Green Streets effort in a major problem area of the University and Ann Arbor.
The ACWG was invited and attended the last Ann Arbor Storm Water Level of Service and Rate Analysis Project Meeting also attended by the U of M.
"This project is designed to complete an Integrated Stormwater Level of Service and Rate Assessment linking capital improvement needs, financing and policy."
The ACWG made comment that the U of M needs to do more for the city in reducing SW runoff from campus. Several members of the U of M staff were in attendance. They took umbrage at our comments. They said they would like to have a special meeting to discuss the U of M efforts in this regard. We would welcome such a meeting to discuss opportunities for the University to reduce its impact on our fresh water runoff (stormwater).
The ACWG initiated, with a ACWG member on the Water Committee of the Environmental Committee, worked hard with city staff to get the Green Streets Policy passed expressly for this kind of opportunity.
This is just another concrete example of a Major Lost Opportunity was the work recently completed on Observatory St. in front of the School of Public Health. The U of M helped fund a portion of this effort.
This road had major work done to upgrade some underground utilities with large open sections of the street and resurface, (have photos). The director of the Arboretum has asked for many years to do something about all the runoff into School Girls' Glen in Nichols Arboretum from this area upstream.
Many U of M buildings and parking areas have been reconstructed without regard to this ecological problem.
The June 2015 Ann Arbor Observer has an article with comments from the ACWG, the Director of Nichols and SRNE Professor Bob Grese, the Water Resources Commissioner Evan Pratt and Jerry Hancock on City Staff asking the U of M to get involved in the very large amount of runoff from their sites all across the city, not just up stream of Nichols.
Professor Grese commented to the ACWG this past summer, on two occasions, that the amount of stormwater runoff, sediment runoff and the large boulders falling into the river is 'Breathtaking' and totally unacceptable. Huge boulders are being eroded into the river at a great rate and piling up below the Glen.
Additionally the huge amount of sediment runoff into the Huron River wreaks havoc on the ecology of the river.
This was a major loss of an opportunity to make a major impact on this valuable park and the Huron River.
The University needs to pull its weight with greatly improved efforts to improve the quality of life on campus and in our city.
Next Ann Arbor Storm Water Level of Service and Rate Analysis Project Meeting is 10-21-16 10 am at the Wheeler Center, 4251 Stone School Rd, Ann Arbor and is open to the public and public comment is taken near the end of the meeting.
Ann Arbor Meets Cooperating Technical Partners Standing with FEMA
At the last Ann Arbor Storm Water Level of Service and Rate Analysis Project Meeting it was noted that Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has indicated that the city now meets the Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Criteria.
This normally leads to city residents obtaining FEMA Flood Insurance Rates at much lower levels.
This has been a request of the ACWG and other city groups for many years and will save residents money and make the city a safer environment.
We thank the city staff for all their hard work toward this very important goal.
Flooding is by far the most common natural disaster cause of loss of life, health and property in America.
CTP Benefits include (from FEMA):
'Develop more detailed maps by incorporating local geospatial data into FEMA’s flood hazard maps
Receive streamlined FEMA customer service, access to existing FEMA data, national recognition, technical assistance, and FEMA’s Mapping Information Platform (MIP).
Mentoring support, shared best practices, online resources, and free training to achieve more efficient and effective flood risk development; and
May be eligible to participate in the FEMA Community Rating System(CRS) and receive CRS credits for flood hazard reduction activities, which may result in discounted flood insurance premiums for property owners.'
FEMA CTP Link
With the Recent Sanitary Sewer Overflows We Again Say Permanent Gauging Needed in the Watershed
Non-Contact Flow and Level Gauges; www.isco.com
We had an estimated 600,000 gallon sewage overflow directly into the Huron River this summer that may have occurred undetected over several days.
Users of the Huron River downstream in the area in Gallup Park were not aware of the overflows.
Additionally two more overflows at much lower levels were also reported this summer.
With permanent gauges connected wirelessly to a central location it would become obvious that there are sewage issues as flows would stop or drop to unexpected low levels prompting officials to check for backup, before huge amounts of raw sewage spills into the environment or home's basements.
Software to notify staff would be very simple and could already be an off the shelf application with automated phone, email and text message notifications.
The city and county over the years has paid to install temporary gauging for many studies, at great expense.
This is for both sanitary and stormwater flows.
The cost to install permanent gauging has dropped with technological improvements.
At the last Footer Disconnect Revisit meeting in 2014 when asked the OHM consultant agreed the costs have come down to a point as low as $500-$800 per gauge and are now even lower. 'Set and forget' are how some of these gauges are described with non-contact lasers, solar charging long life batteries and cell or other wireless transmission.
The city currently has available wireless which could be used to collect the data.
Having gauges could help prevent the situation as we found in the Glendale neighborhood with 3 blocked sanitary sewer lines in a 4-5 block area. Gauges could have alerted the need for crews to come out and inspect and fix the lines soon after being blocked, not waiting till basement flooding of sewage has occurred.
Changes in development could have accurate predictions of flood potential with proposed added flows.
Additionally the data would be invaluable in modeling efforts to show the most 'bang for the buck' in our city and county sanitary and stormwater upgrade planning and upgrades to the floodplain map.
We hope we can work with our city and county planners to start introducing these in critical areas.
Rain Barrels Available from the City and County to Purchase
Rain Barrels Currently Shown on Conservation District Web Page
Contact the Conservation District office at 7203 Jackson Road in Scio Township, or online, or by calling 734-761-6721 ext. 5. The barrels are $75 each.
Contact Ann Arbor Planning and Development Services Department storm water and floodplains program at 734-794-6320 or email storm@a2gov.org.
Barrels come pre-assembled. The Assembly Instructions provide information on setting up and using a barrel. Some of these are made from 'recycled food grade high density polyethylene plastic that have been thoroughly cleaned and assembled in the USA'.
Rain barrels collect rainwater runoff from rooftops and allow you to direct it to gardens and lawns where it can be infiltrated by plants and soil instead of washing over pavement.
Rain barrels slow rapid flow of water that enters the Huron River during heavy rains, helping to prevent volatile fluctuations in flows that cause erosion.
Rain barrels are also available at local retail outlets like Ace Hardware, Stadium Hardware and Downtown Home and Garden.
Some barrels can be made from recycled plastic, some large barrels can be adapted from food grade barrels no longer in service at very low cost. We adapted two reusable barrels that we got and are sometimes available at the ReUse Store on Industrial Rd.
Gelman 1,4 Dioxane Near-Surface Groundwater*
Dan Bicknell's GEA Comments:
GEA Comments on the DEQ Shallow Groundwater Work Plan
As you know, CARD requested that the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) allow CARD to review a draft Work Plan which it was preparing to investigate potential building vapor intrusion by dioxane in the West Park Area. DEQ did not allow CARD to comment on the draft DEQ Work Plan.
Global Environment Alliance, LLC (GEA) has reviewed the attached DEQ prepared July 19, 2016 Shallow Groundwater Work Plan which was implemented by Gelman Sciences, Inc. (Gelman), see attached GEA comments to the Work Plan. The Work Plan was to evaluate the potential for dioxane vapor intrusion into houses about the West Park Area due to shallow groundwater dioxane contamination.
The “Shallow Groundwater” Work Plan may not actually collect shallow groundwater from the shallow portion of the glacial till aquifer which is impacted with dioxane, but only perched water.
The design of the Work Plan objectives, selection of the sampling locations, and use of temporary wells present significant technical deficiencies to:
1) identify generally the location and concentration of the shallow portion of the aquifer dioxane plume; and
2) determine generally whether buildings in the West Park and surrounding area may be in contact with the dioxane plume and, therefore, subject to the DEQ Proposed Part 201 Rules Volatilization to Indoor Air Tier 1 Screening Level.
Due to poor study design:
1) the work will likely result in the collection of no water or perched water at a number of the wells, not the shallow portion of the aquifer groundwater;
2) only one sample location is in the low areas of West Park and the surrounding area, which does not allow for the determination of whether buildings are in contact with the dioxane plume in these areas; and
3) the Work Plan did not collect data to determine the location and concentration of the current shallow portion of the aquifer containing the dioxane plume.
If you have any questions, please give me a call.
Thank you.
Best regards,
Daniel J. Bicknell, MPH
President
Global Environment Alliance, LLC
Phone - 248-720-9432
danjbicknell@live.com
geallc.org
Proposed Agenda and Updates:
September 15, 2016
Pall/Gelman 1,4-Dioxane Contamination Part of MDEQ Part 201 Environmental Cleanup Standards Comments
Public Comment period for Proposed Changes to MI Part 201 Environmental Cleanup Standards ends on September 13.
Many from various groups in Washtenaw County have submitted comment.
I, as part of CARD and ACWG, made comment at the DEQ June 1 Public Meeting at WCC earlier this year during a meeting to announce changes to Part 201. With many DEQ members in attendance it was clearly a good time to make comment even though they were not expecting Public Comment. I said public meetings should take public comments. They did have a recorder at the meeting to take comments. They did respond to some of our comments at that time.
It has been communicated from DEQ staff recently that the state may drop the 'Child Receptor' (child, pregnant woman and the fetus) in its calculations. This is a new development and one which should receive extensive push back from the Community, as the Regulated Community is working hard and spending a lot to get it removed. Many of the Public Comments we have seen from local groups and government have made this clear. Our public comments strongly supported the Child Receptor inclusion.
The ACWG and CARD had worked hard with U of M SPH members to get the DEQ to include the Child Receptor in the new standards. We were told by DEQ staffers it was not planned till ACWG, CARD and UM SPH researcher press for inclusion. UM SPH researchers attended many Part 201 Revisions task force meetings in Lansing to push hard to get this change included, and we thank them for this effort.
Vapor Intrusion is also a major change in Part 201 the ACWG and CARD have pushed for with 1,4 Dioxane flowing through the ground water of the city and potentially entering homes and businesses with groundwater or as a vapor through the basement walls. In a confined space of a basement concentrations may reach levels of concern especially if the home owner or businesses use the basement on a regular basis. Some home owners use the basement for offices, play spaces or bedrooms.
A small number of Shallow Well tests were done on the West Side of town. Results are still not available. Why this has not been expedited is of real concern.
A member of ACWG and CARD working at U of M SPH has submitted a Quick Turnaround federal grant proposal to study exposures of 1,4 D in SCIO Township. They are partnering with other SPH researchers and North Carolina State University researchers. NC State have found 3 to 8 ppb in drinking water and they propose a standard of .35 ppb in line with EPA standards and are doing extensive exposure and risk assessment analysis. Notification of the grant is expected soon. Others at SPH have also expressed interest in submissions on other aspects of the exposure including basement vapor intrusion modeling and risk assessment.
Recent NC State Report on 1,4 Dioxane In Drinking Water - Sept. 12, 2016:
'Some of the highest levels nationally of a likely cancer-causing chemical 1,4 dioxane were detected in North Carolina water systems in the Cape Fear River Basin, which supplies water to more than 120 public water systems used by 1.5 million residents.
"There was an expectation that we needed to do something instead of waiting for the state or federal government to figure out what to do. That didn’t seem like the right thing,” says Mick Noland, the chief of operations at Fayetteville’s water system where testing has turned up 1,4-dioxane levels as high as 8.8 parts per billion, 25 times higher than the EPA’s level of concern.
While EPA does not regulate 1,4-dioxane, it has calculated that long-term exposure to concentrations at .35 ppb could increase the risk of cancer in one out of 1 million people. North Carolina has calculated that the same concentration poses the same risk in waterways feeding water supplies. Higher concentrations would pose higher risks.' : NC Health News (Bold by us)
Levels in Ann Arbor area were much higher then in NC in the last two decades and as recent as this year in Scio Township drinking water wells. Some are now drinking in the single digit levels of the compound.
Michigan uses 1 in 100K exposure, Ann Arbor, and the state prior to John Engler, use 1 in 1M exposure for risk assessment as NC does now. NC is clearly not known to be one of our more progressive states but in this case they are being much more protective then Michigan with support from local scientist. NC and NC Research Triangle Park is home to major CDC, EPA, NIH and NIEHS offices and home to UNC, UN State and Duke, and the largest health research center in the world.
Michigan is proposing a new standard at 7.2 ppb with 32 years exposure (less 2 weeks/yr vacations) 1 in 100K, not the EPA standard of 70 years exposure (no vacations).
'The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act for the 21st Century was signed into law early this month where the US EPA would finally have the authority to evaluate and regulate the tens of thousands of commercial chemicals it oversees in the U.S. But as the EPA begins implementing the new law, the chemical industry is already busy pushing the agency to limit scrutiny of various widely used, highly toxic chemicals. [It also] updates the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for the first time since TSCA was enacted in 1976.' Link
EPA considers 1,4-dioxane a respiratory and nervous system hazard, skin irritant, a animal carcinogen and a probable human carcinogen.
City Council Working Session on Drinking Water Treatment Plant and Greenway Sept. 12; Greenway Meeting Sept 14
On discussion of the Drinking Water Treatment Plant:
During the working session there were no discussions on how much it would cost to remove 1,4 Dioxane from the water if Barton Pond was contaminated.
Tucson Arizona spent many Millions, not including additional operating costs, to get their water down to 8 ppb which they are not happy with and are working very hard with much more funds to get it lower, to .35 ppb. The new plant may cost over $15 Million not including additional operating costs which could add over $1M a year. They are also finding the 1,4 Dioxane Plume is moving much faster though the groundwater than predicted.
Moving up steam of Barton Pond for a water source is one option not discussed, the cost for that is not clear at this point and could be well over $30M to build a new dam not including the new water pipes needed.
On discussion of the Allen('s) Creek Greenway:
No comments were made about the substantial flood hazard benefits of a Greenway, as noted by the ACWG for many years. Comments from the Washtenaw Drain Office several years ago supported this benefit.
Flood insurance reductions for residents and businesses would also be realized with reduction in flood hazard, also was not discussed.
No discussion of all the Floodplain properties currently being developed as opposed to set asides for a Greenway.
10 of 16 city Environmental Sustainability Goals will be met with a building of a Greenway. Staff said he could not remember another project having this many goals met.
Riders off road will connect the B2B Trail which could increase bike riding tremendously as many folks do not like to ride in our street bike lanes for fear of cars hitting them. On the Greenway there may be no cars except at street crossings depending on the final route selected.
Studies clearly show folks on bikes and walkers spend a lot more money in town then drivers, don't pollute the air and water, don't need parking, make no noise, connect with nature and the community, and get great exercise a benefit to them and the community.
U of M at task force meetings did not seem to engaged in this planning contrary to comments. The ACWG had to bring up the fact that many folks walk down the track to Football and Basket Ball games. They made no comment although these folks area walking in an illegal path which the UM should be concerned and would think a Greenway next to the track would clearly help make it a much safer walk, as walkers and not drivers we should all be encouraging.
A laudable comment from staff was the hope that the design will be one where a 10 year old could reasonably be allowed to ride the Greenway without parental supervision.
It was not commented on that MDOT is very interested in the Greenway and B2B Trail and has suggested it would help cover some of the costs. This now seems to be their signature issue. And they are very supportive of the tunnel under the tracks to connect the Greenway to the B2B Trail and greatly reduce flood in the Allen's Creek as the RR brim currently acts as floodwater dam trying to get to the Huron River.
City Master Plan Greenway Meeting, Wed. Sept. 14, 8:30 am to 10:30, City Hall Council Chambers 2nd Floor.
City of Dearborn Heights Proposes Buying up to 15 Parcels in its Floodplain with FEMA Grants
City of Dearborn Heights recently proposed reducing flood hazard in their community by buying up to 15 parcels with homes in the floodplain mostly with FEMA Grant funds. Many other communities are doing the same with federal funds.
Dearborn Heights is not know for being a very progressive city but this will greatly reduce flood hazard and will likely reduce the FEMA Flood Insurance Rates for businesses and residents. And may allow then to join FEMA Community Partner Program lowering rates even more, something Ann Arbor is dragging its feet on for years.
This while Ann Arbor, 'the more progressive city', is building 60 or more new homes in the floodplain (!) and some just right up next to the Allen's Creek floodway which may cause our all ready sky-rocking FEMA Flood Insurance Rates for businesses and residents to go up even more. This is not to mention the additional flood risk to the new homes, but the additional risk posed by potential blockage of flows to unsuspecting up stream businesses and homeowners that would normally not flood. Ann Arbor may also be building new homes in old creek beds and wetlands according to residents near the developments on the east side. like in Lawton which has caused major flooding problems. Resident have threatened to file suit to stop the wetland for homes.
Flood risks for Ann Arbor, especially in the Allen's Creek, are poorly understood and we should not be building in the floodplain, and clearly not up next to the floodway. Global Warming are changing all assumptions about flood risk, with 1,000 and 10,000 year rains happening in the US. Staff and several consultants in recent years have commented at city meetings the poor caliber of our floodplain maps.
Federal funds virtually can not be used to build in the 100 year (1% chance) or in the 500 year (.2% chance) for critical structures.
President Obama recently discussed Global Warming threats as 'Terrifying' in a recent New York Times article and some Nobel Scientist have said it may be worse than the Nuclear Threat to our communities. He states its 'already manifesting itself as droughts, storms, heat waves and flooding'.
Global Warming is now: 'Climate change makes occurrences like the devastating August floods in Louisiana — the worst natural disaster in the U.S. since Hurricane Sandy in 2012 — at least 40 percent more likely, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.' Link
Very Strong Sewer Smells Still at Arborview and Miller on the Near West Side
Great Ann Arbor near westside Neighborhood at Arborview and Miller
Residents of the area near Arborview at Miller have commented to city council members, staff and ACWG that they have an on going issue with very bad smells (sewage?) in their neighborhood. City has been notified but does not seem to be getting a handle on it.
I had talked to residents in the area in the past month and they are still very unhappy with the situation and wonder why it cannot be taken care of after several years of filing complaints to city officials.
If sewage flowing from Scio Township is the issue maybe it should be re-routed to a different location or changes made in the area. At this location there was a pump station removed years ago and gravity flow allowed to handle sewage flows. This may be an issue with very low flows through this area now with resultant smells. Rerouting sewage flows may need to be implemented.
Long past due to have this resolved. Some of the past comments were 'You would not believe the smells (sewage?) we are forced to put up with in this otherwise great neighborhood'.
The Ann Arbor Sewage Treatment Plant was originally largely paid for with federal funds and as such it was stipulated that the plant take a percentage of flows from neighboring communities to reduce pollution in the Huron River and its tributaries.
August 2016 No Meeting due to Vacation and Travel Schedules
Watershed Issues of Interest:
Late Update 8/17/16 *: On the 1,4-Dioxane Contamination Gelman/Pall/Danaher Corp.
From Jennifer Conn, PE, REHS; Environmental Quality Analyst; Washtenaw County Environmental Health;
‘Gelman/Pall Corp. is conducting the shallow groundwater investigation this week – they started on Monday. Hopefully we’ll have some results back prior to the next CARD meeting in September, however the laboratories may not be able to get the sample results out that fast.
The Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners (BOC) voted to continue considering petitioning for Superfund designation at the August 3rd meeting. While the BOC are reviewing the Superfund application and the steps necessary to submit the petition, no definitive decision to move forward has been made.’
‘Rain Bombs’ Hitting the US Like Never Before due to Global Warming’s Effects while Ann Arbor City Council Seems to Ignore this Threat and Allows Many New Developments in the Poorly Defined Allen’s Creek Floodway and Floodplain
August 13-15. 2016 Super Storm obliterating rainfall and flooding records across the US.
'10,000 year Tax Day 2016 Monster Rain Event' hits Pattison, Texas.
Historic Rain obliterating the previous records
for SW MI and NW Ohio Aug 15, 16 (NOAA, WU)
(Right Click for Larger View)
SW MI and NW Ohio hit with massive historic rainfall amounts. ‘Monday's deluge set two distinct daily records, according to forecasters at the National Weather Service northern Indiana office. It set a new record for rainfall on Aug. 15 at 7.69 inches, obliterating the previous record for that date of 2.35 inches set in 1934. It also is the most rainfall on any date, surpassing the previous mark of 6.58 inches set on Sept. 13, 2008.' (Link)
Our city charter clearly states council may make planning determinations solely based on the detrimental effects on the safety and welfare of residents. This is generally not taken seriously by our council as was noted by some on council in last night's city council meeting vote on South Pond Development. The city and county have ignored good watershed best management practices (BMPs) for many years. The ACWG indicated that the South Pond Development Wetland Permit in the original proposal did not indicate that the proposed road to the north onto Huron River Dr. would illegally encroach on a Stream (Drain) easement in their application or presentation. The city belatedly disapproved the encroachment after the ACWG made protest comments in person and in writing. The city and county nearly built an illegal Homeless Shelter in the Allen's Creek Floodway until the ACWG and others showed it was illegal, federal law forbids new residential buildings in the floodway, at a loss of about $1M in tax dollars that should have been spent to help the homeless and support staff.
This storm came up from the south where it was also caused unprecedented devastating historic rain events.
August 12, 2016 Super Storm in Louisiana - 1,000 Year Storm (NOAA)
(Right Click for Larger View)
August 12, 2016 Super Storm in Louisiana - 1,000 Year Storm
(Right Click for Larger View, climatesignals.org)
August 13-14, 2016 at least 39 inches of rainfall in two days floods Baton Rouge.
Louisiana Governor's Mansion flooded, Governor forced to evacuate.
This was a 1,000 year rain for the area!
This will be a multi billion dollar flood for Louisiana and the US.
Louisiana now has had a 500 year storm and 1,000 year storm in the last three months.
Some of the highest atmospheric water vapor levels ever recorded over Louisiana occurred during this storm, more than virtually all Louisiana hurricanes in recorded history.
This was the worst flooding in Louisiana recorded history, including all past hurricane events in recorded history.
Experts say the August 12, 2016 Super Storm in Louisiana is a once in a 1,000 year event, but 500-year event flooding has been recorded at least eight other times this year in Oklahoma, Texas, South Carolina, Louisiana, Virginia, and Maryland.
This August 12 storm was not a Tropical Depression or Hurricane.
10,000 year Tax Day 2016 Rain Storm
(NWS/NOAA; Dennis Mersereau @wxdam)
(Right Click for Larger View)
‘10,000 year Tax Day 2016 Rain Event: The local Pattison, Texas flood control district extrapolated the 23.5 inches of rain over 14.5 hours in Pattison, Texas, during the Tax Day storm to be a one-in-10,000-year event.’
Over 26 Inches of Rain Triggers Record Flooding in the South, including the Sabine River, Texas on March 16, 2016.
June 2, 2016 Historic Deluge Hits Texas. ... 'flash flood watches covered more than 183,000 square miles of Texas, an area about the size of Germany and England combined. More than 15 inches of rain fell just northeast of Houston in a span of 12 hours on Thursday, just a few days after more than 20 inches fell in two days northwest of the city—the region’s second 100-year rainstorm in less than a week.' (Link)
... 'Statistical calculations like these make a major assumption: That the climate of the past is the same as the climate of today. That’s no longer a very good assumption.’
‘It’s the latest in a string of exceptionally rare rainstorms that are stretching the definition of “extreme” weather. It’s exactly the sort of rainstorm that’s occurring more frequently as the planet warms.' (Link)
'Climate change has already been shown to increase the amounts of rain falling in the most intense events across many parts of the world, and extreme rainfall events like this week's Louisiana storm are expected to grow increasingly common in the coming years.' (Ann Arbor's own Weather Underground, Wunderground.com; Link)
(bold by us)
Like Archimedes said 'Water seeks its own level at its own time!'
Proposed Agenda and Updates:
July 21, 2016
Pall/Gelman 1,4-Dioxane Contamination City Council with MDEQ Working Session 7-25-16 7PM
The City Council will be having a Working Session with the MDEQ officials to discuss on going plans to deal with the Gelman 1,4-Dioxaine groundwater and surface soils contamination. Scientist studying this contamination have said at public meetings that the Huron River, Allen's and Honey Creeks are probably already contaminated and potentially basements.
Working Session July 25, 7pm
City Council Chambers
Audience General Comment time will be at allowed, 3 minutes, during the Working Session
The new Director of MDEQ is a former Lobbyist for BP Oil Company. The State Government has been widely criticized for this appointment considering BP pollution in the Gulf and past MDEQ leaders outrageous ongoing health effects on Flint residents.
MDEQ has agreed to do ongoing tests of groundwater that is at the surface or in basements, and test the Allen's Creek up stream of the outlet into the Huron River. They would like to test Seeps in the near west side as well as close in west side homes with groundwater problems - wet, pooling or flood water in basements from groundwater.
Initial test results reported of just one (!) seep at West Park showed no contamination, Non-Detect down to 1 ppb.
Currently no additional tests have been reported.
Contamination of our groundwater very near or at the surface, in wet basements or in our creeks and streams would clearly be a violation of the very very weak MI Part 201 Environmental Cleanup Standards' placing city residents and businesses at real risk of environmental exposure of a toxic compound which the 'Prohibition Zone' (PZ) was ordered and said by the Judge Shelton's Court to 'easily handle and protect the community'.
Flows to Barton have not been modeled and it may be heading for our drinking water source, flows north which caused the change of the PZ north after a year or so of being established, north toward Barton Pond, and soon may need to be moved north again as the plume keeps moving north.
At the SRSW, CARD and ACWG table at the Green Fair in early June discussion with a local resident MDEQ official working on the plume indicated to us plans to test for shallow groundwater contamination using shallow wells in the same area in the near future. This testing will go along with creek, seep and basement testing. The ACWG is glad this testing has finally started if only to gain a bench mark for future tests of any migration of the plume toward the surface.
There is on going discussions of a US-EPA Superfund Designation of the Gelman Cleanup request by local governments.
Ann Arbor and Scio Townships have both unanimously voted in favor of support.
Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners Ways and Means Committee unanimously voted basically for a resolution to support a Superfund Designation, as several Board Members indicated to us after the meeting. A vote of the full board is to be held in early August which they said they expect to easily pass.
The Serra Club Huron Valley has also voted to support US-EPA Superfund Designation.
The CARD Group has indicated a general support for the Superfund Designation option at the March 2016 meeting.
On March 21st Ann Arbor City Council has asked the Ann Arbor City Environmental Commission (EC) to review the option and report back to Council. The EC has very little expertise in this very complex geological, toxicological and hydologic issues and should not, it would seem, have been tasked with this evaluation.
Danaher bought Pall Corporation which bought Gelman Sciences, and is a $60B company with close to $11B in gross profits last year. As the responsible party it is now libel for cleanup costs if EPA were to accept Superfund Designation and would likely take it out of the state court, with the aid of the US Department of Justice.
Written comment has now been changed from June 17th through July 26th.
See MDEQ's Generic Cleanup Criteria Proposed Rules Revisions (posted May 2016) for details and comment information.
With the problems of the MDEQ causing and handling of the Flint drinking water crisis it seems more important then ever to be proactive in protecting the drinking water of Ann Arbor and our environment.
The ACWG as part of CARD supports the Super Fund option discussion and what will be a request.
Links: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)-Gelman Project Site; Washtenaw County CARD Site; Scio Residents for Safe Water (SRSW)
CARD Group to Comment on New MI MDEQ Part 201 Environmental Cleanup Standards, Deadline Postponed
State Law: Part 201 Environmental Cleanup Standars
CARD will make written comment on these new standards.
The public comment period has been postponed to September 13, pushing back the potential adoption date again.
Ryan Stanton at AA MLive has reported recently that the city has gotten indications that the state government will try to push this deadline up in coming weeks after pressure from the city.
The city, who negotiated itself out of the Contested Court Case years ago, would also like to be reinstated as our city is at real risk of the contamination.
Proposed 7.2 ppb for 1,4 Dioxane drinking water standard for MI for 1 in 100K cancer risk. EPA has set a cancer slope factor at 3.5 ppb standard for 1 in 100K or .35 ppb for 1 in 1M cancer risk for drinking water. MI used 32 years less 2 weeks vacation per year(!) while EPA used 70 years no vacations for exposures. MI is currently at 85 ppb. MI used 1 in 1M risk before changes by Gov. Engler Administration, and still is the standard in Ann Arbor.
Contrary to MDEQ comments about this exposure standard it has been reported in the last census data that MI is the #2 state in the US in 2010 for number of current residents who were born in the state. We are not a transient resident State.
Written comment is open from June 17 through September 13.
See MDEQ's Generic Cleanup Criteria Proposed Rules Revisions (posted May 2016) for details and comment information.
The New Meijer in Manistee Installs three Porous Asphalt Parking Lots
In this parking lot photo above the conventional parking lot is on the far left with standing water.
Sign: "Porous Pavement Do Not Dump Sand on Pavement"
The New Meijer Manistee MI Porous Asphalt Parking Lots (Right Click for larger view), ACWG
Meijer in Manistee MI opened a new store this year and installed three Porous Asphalt Parking Lots.
The top photo was taken during a heavy rain storm with the obvious non-porous lot to the left. The porous lot looks dry.
Both Meijer and Manistee are not know for being very radical, to say the least, and they are clearly seeing the benefits, both economic and environmental, of using porous pavements: to eliminate runoff, clean and detoxify, reduce plowing and salting, reduce slip and fall, reduced heat island, greatly reduced road noise, and proven longevity of the pavement. Mn Highway Dept. study in recent years showed it would be less costly to do their highways in porous pavement as 30% of construction costs were due to fresh rain water (stormwater) runoff, if additional durability tests show it feasible. Lower speed arterial porous roads have been shown to hold up better than conventional roadways, have much fewer potholes, and cost less, and is now in use in many states.
This is also a very cold region in northern lower Michigan with many freeze thaw cycles per winter.
U of M has a new porous asphalt lot on Fuller Rd. that city staff tests have shown to handle up to 1,300" an hour of rainfall, about the same rainfall as 50 hurricanes passing over in one hour.
Upcoming Ann Arbor City Council Primaries August 2nd
Vote Aug 2nd
A On August 2nd Ann Arbor will have Primary Election Voting. Please vote.
With all the building in the Allen's Creek Floodplain and the Allen's Creek Greenway Master Plan finally started a lot is at stake.
We have three long time Allen's Creek, and city wide, watershed supporting candidates which we hope you will support:
Kevin Lesser 5th Ward Democrat, Supports EPA Superfund Status
Eric Lipson 4th Ward Democrat, Supports EPA Superfund Status
Sumi Kailasapathy 1st Ward Democrat Incumbent, Supports EPA Superfund Status
Please also support Yousef Rabhi for State Representative - He has been working hard for us as our County Commissioner. He has made the Gelman contamination cleanup a major effort pushing for EPA Superfund status to get the cleanup moving.
June 2016
No Meeting due to conflict with the Allen('s) Creek Greenway City-wide Public Meeting #1, Thursday June 16th, 6:30 pm (see details below).
Watershed Issues of Interest:
Allen('s) Creek Greenway Master Plan Public Meeting #1
Arcadia Creek Greenway Daylighted Section, Kalamazoo, MI, DDA
(Right click for larger image)
The Greenway Master Plan - First Public Meeting this week:
Greenway City-wide Public Meeting #1
Thrs June 16th
6:30-8:30 p.m.
In the Council Chambers at City Hall
We hope you can attend, get a overview of the plan options for the Greenway, ask questions and make comment on the options for a Greenway in Ann Arbor.
A Greenway in the Allen's Creek floodplain will greatly reduce flood hazard to hundreds of homes and businesses in the west side, will create a open gathering green space in the near downtown, connect to the Huron River and Border to Border Trail, provide alternative transportation to and from the downtown and river, provide festival sites for events, arts display locations and many other amenities that will be enjoyed for generations to come.
As part of the Community Rating System (CRS) with FEMA a Greenway could significantly lower Flood Insurance Rates in Ann Arbor which are going up each year. One homeowner in the floodplain was told by the city staff recently the rates are expected to go up 25% a year for the next many years. Unfortunately Ann Arbor currently does not qualify for this FEMA important safety and cost saving benefit for its home owners.
The tunnel under the railroad berm at Depot St. is being considered as a connector for the ACGW to the Huron River park space and, connect the Border to Border Trail which the Michigan Dept. of Transportation (owner of the track) has indicated is a high priority and is listed very high in the current City of Ann Arbor Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).
Greenways in Michigan cities have shown great outcomes and promise both economically and environmentally, for example:
The Arcadia Creek Greenway in Kalamazoo
Grand Rapids Grand River Greenway
Flint's Gilkey Creek Greenway
Detroit River Dequindre Cut Greenway
Traverse City Boardman River Greenway
The Detorit Area Downriver Linked Greenways
Dexter Huron River Greenwy
Just one example of flood reduction and park benefits is the Arcadia Creek Greenway in Kalamazoo completed a few years ago - no flooding to the 500 year rain, in just a few years generated $12M/year in festival receipts, new park fees for events and increased tax revenues of the adjacent area by $400K/year.
All CAC meetings materials are available at city hall and online.
The ACWG plans to work hard with the city residents, the Allen Creek Greenway Conservancy (ACGC) and the city to create the best and most cost effective Greenway possible.
Link to City of Ann Arbor Allen Creek Greenway Master Plan Project Web Page
Link to Allen Creek Greenway Conservancy ACGC
Pall/Gelman 1,4-Dioxane Contamination
The Coalition for Action on Remediation of Dioxane (CARD) this month discussed groundwater testing in the near west side.
Scio Township Unanimously supports EPA Superfund Designation on June 13, 2016 amended June 17, 2016
MDEQ has agreed to do ongoing tests of groundwater that is at the surface or in basements, and test the Allen's Creek up stream of the outlet into the Huron River. They would like to test Seeps in the near west side as well as close in west side homes with groundwater problems - wet, pooling or flood water in basements from groundwater. Contact Jennifer Lawson - Water Resources Manager at City of Ann Arbor jlawson@a2gov.org
Initial test results reported last week of one seep at West Park showed no contamination, Non-Detect down to 1 ppb.
At the SRSW, CARD and ACWG table at the Green Fair last weekend discussion with a local resident MDEQ official working on the plume indicated to us plans to test for shallow groundwater contamination using shallow wells in the same area in the near future. This testing will go along with creek, seep and basement testing. The ACWG is glad this testing has finally started if only to gain a benchmark for future tests of any migration of the plume toward the surface.
WUOM had a very well attended (full) Issues and Ale event this month at Bill's Beer Garden with CARD member Roger Rayle - chair of SRSW, MDEQ representative Mitch Adelman and Ryan Stanton from MLive - Ann Arbor. Audio and Video of the event is posted on their web site. General questions from WUOM host Lester Graham were discussed at the start and many questions were later taken from the audience.
Dan Bicknell of the CARD Group (and Global Environment Alliance, LLC) has contacted the US-EPA this month regarding the potential establishment of a Maximum Contamination Level (MCL) for 1,4-Dioxane. This would be a federal standard. It had been discussed in the CARD group and by others that a new standard may be coming out in the next few years at a 3.5 ppb for 1 in 100K cancer risk and .35 ppb for 1 in 1M. He has learned that the US EPA is studying the compound and would not be able to set this standard for at least several years. EPA has been constrained by the Congress in recent years in setting new MCL standards, with less funding and a notion that it would be to large a negative effect on businesses.
Here is an Link to Washington Post Article (6/10/16) on setting MCLs and 1,4 Dioxane issues in North Carolina, and the difficulty EPA has in setting new MCL's even when the science indicates a clear need, link emailed to us by Jenn Conn Washtenaw County Public Health Department and CARD member.
Barbra Lucus - WEMU Green Room Series of Reports. The Green Room: The Ann Arbor Area's 1,4 Dioxane Plume-Part 11. "It’s been over three decades since Ann Arbor’s groundwater contamination was discovered, and throughout this time, citizen science and community advocacy have had a crucial role. In this edition of 'The Green Room,' Barbara Lucas looks at the uphill battle from its earliest steps." Interview with Dan Bicknell on origins of the contamination.
There is on going discussions of a US-EPA Superfund Designation of the Gelman Cleanup request by local governments. Ann Arbor Township as unanimously voted in favor of support. Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners postponed a vote to support earlier this month. On March 21st Ann Arbor City Council has asked the Ann Arbor City Environmental Commission to review the option and report back to Council.
Danaher bought Pall Corporation which bought Gelman Sciences, and is a $60B company with close to$11B in gross profits last year. As the responsible party it is now libel for cleanup costs if EPA were to accept Superfund Designation and would likely take it out of the state court, with the aid of the US Department of Justice.
With the problems of the MDEQ causing and handling of the Flint drinking water crisis it seems more important then ever to be proactive in protecting the drinking water of Ann Arbor and our environment.
The ACWG as part of CARD supports the Super Fund option discussion and what will be a request.
Links: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)-Gelman Project Site; Washtenaw County CARD Site; Scio Residents for Safe Water (SRSW)
UPDATE 6-20-16: Sierra Club Huron Valley Group Supports US EPA Superfund
Sierra Club Huron Valley Group passes resolution in support of Danaher/Pall/Gelman 1,4 Dioxane Plume US EPA Superfund Designation, following Ann Arbor and Scio Townships lead in support.
From their announcement:
'We have had over 30 years of relative inaction with respect to the plume, and it continues to grow and endanger the Huron River Watershed, and the drinking water of the City of Ann Arbor.
The current system is not working. It is absolutely critical that a more proactive process be put into place.'
Link to their site: https://www.sierraclub.org/michigan/huron-valley
CARD Group to Comment on New MI MDEQ Part 201 Environmental Cleanup Standards
Part 201
CARD will make written comment on these new standards.
Proposed 7.2 ppb for 1,4 Dioxane drinking water standard for MI for 1 in 100K cancer risk. EPA has set a 3.5 ppb standard for 1 in 100K or .35 ppb for 1 in 1M cancer risk for drinking water. MI used 32 years less 2 weeks vacation per year(!) while EPA used 70 years no vacations for exposures. MI is currently at 85 ppb. MI used 1 in 1M risk before changes by Gov. Engler Administration, and still is the standard in Ann Arbor.
Contrary to MDEQ comments and this standard it has been reported that in census data that MI is the #2 state in the US in 2010 for number of current residents who were born in the state. We are not a transient resident State.
Significant changes include the inclusion of exposure to pregnant women, children and vapor intrusion into homes and businesses.
ACWG Member Prof. Rita Loch-Caruso UM-SPH and Dr. Trish (Patricia) Koman UM-SPH were instrumental in getting changes to include exposures to pregnant women and children that were not originally proposed. They were two of the very few non-regulated community asked to attend the state taskforce meetings on proposed changes. Dr. Trish Koman attended many Lansing Meetings in support of tougher standards.
ACWG did attend the June 1- PART 201 PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING at Washtenaw Community College, and asked questions and made comment even though comment was not generally allowed at these meetings. Our comment included the notion that with all those in attendance (about 50 including many from the MDEQ) public comment was not going to be allowed was counter productive for public involvement.
Other members of the CARD Group also attended and asked questions, including from the County. No local elected officials seemed to be in attendance.
Written comment is open from June 17th through July 26th.
See MDEQ's Generic Cleanup Criteria Proposed Rules Revisions (posted May 2016) for details and comment information.
Proposed Agenda and Updates:
May 19, 2016
Pall/Gelman 1,4-Dioxane Contamination
The Coalition for Action on Remediation of Dioxane (CARD) meeting this month had a large turnout including representatives from MDEQ and State Attorney General's Office (AG), with about 30 or more attendees.
The AG has preformed very poorly in the past in this effort during court appearances due to lack of interest or attention.
The meeting was covered, as other recent meetings, by the Ann Arbor News/MLive reporter Ryan Stanton in some detail.
MDEQ has agreed to do ongoing tests of groundwater that is at the surface or in basements and test the Allen's Creek up stream of the outlet into the Huron River. They would like to obtain the locations of Seeps in the near west side for testing as well as close in west side homes with groundwater problems. Contact Jennifer Lawson - Water Resources Manager at City of Ann Arbor jlawson@a2gov.org
I'm not sure what is taking the city so long to work with the DEQ. This is the 3rd public meeting they have said they want to test for water in seeps, basements or near basements and Allen's Creek. Our city leaders need to 'get with the program' and move on this. It has taken years of ACWG and CARD comments to get the DEQ to take this seriously, and a lower ppb standard around the corner, let's not drag our feet in working with them. As of the morning of the meeting nothing has been done by the city to support this request while it has been widely published.
Dr. Larry Lemke - a west side resident, geologist Associate Professor at WSU and longtime follower of this plume himself and with WSU students presented some results of modeling he and his student conducted.
It was said at the meeting today 1,4 Dioxane is probably in the Allen's Creek, in groundwater close to the surface and in the river and, may already be in some basements. It may be very low concentrations currently but we need to get out in front of this and start understanding the potential exposure that has not been addressed or even acknowledged till now.
When asked it was said the models presented today did not indicate this plume will not go under the river into Ann Arbor Township as is was not in the models.
The models indicate that the plume from the central location of the original site are not expected to go to Barton Pond but the high levels north of the central site have not been modeled and may pose a danger to Barton. Not enough funds have been provided by the polluter to insure our water supply is not at risk. Much of this modeling has been done is an effort of a scientist at WSU Dr. Lenke and his students looking hard for grant money to do these very difficult and complex geological investigations.
The DEQ said at the Town Hall that Barton has a hydro-logic ‘block’, of out flow water into the soils around the pond, that will not allow groundwater to flow into it. That was refuted by Dr. Lemke. He indicated, from his perspective, it is not protected as was said at the Town Hall. Also it was reiterated that when the plume goes north toward Barton once it gets past M14 hydro logically it will be a ‘downhill run’ into Barton. This is why CARD has asked, and DEQ agreed, for more monitoring wells be installed in the northern area where there are few now and Judge Shelton dismissed that as unnecessary so they were not added.
He also commented that the Allen's Creek and Honey Creek could be a Sink for flows of the compound and should be tested for this. Honey Creek flows into Barton Pond.
When the Ann Arbor City Apartments, at 1st and Washington on the west side, were about to have groundbreaking the ACWG and CARD group asked who will deal with the lower level parking area below the water table, with potential leaks, if it gets contaminated. A Stop Work was issued by planners and new plans drawn with the building pushed up a full story to avoid this issue, for the city as it owns the parking area below the building. Homeowners don't have an easy option to elevate their homes in the same manner.
Dan Bicknell also presented at the meeting groundwater information that was presented by Pall in the past that showed the rise of groundwater as it moves through the city. It seemed to show very high groundwater table starting at West Park and to the Huron River. This groundwater could be contaminated from the lower levels and should be tested routinely for its presence, the DEQ seemed to agree, as they had previously.
Over the past few months there has been discussion by CARD of the option to propose the Pall/Gelman 1,4-Dioxane contamination be turned into a EPA Super Fund Site. This discussion includes public officials and government staff. CARD group has indicated a general support for this option at the March meeting. See the information regarding Pall/Gelman Super Fund Site Option in the past months Agenda Items. This information was created by Dan Bicknell with the help of Roger Rayle, both CARD members, and in general the CARD group.
With the problems of the MDEQ causing and handling of the Flint drinking water crisis it seems more important then ever to be proactive in protecting the drinking water of Ann Arbor and our environment.
Barbra Lucus - WEMU Green Room Series of Reports, Part 8 Looks at UofM lack of activity relating to this contamination and, the now off line, 'Risk Science Center' (RSC) funded by Chuck Gelman at UM-SPH. Interviews with the former head of the RSC featured regarding conflicts of interest.
The ACWG as part of CARD supports the Super Fund option discussion and what will be a request.
City of Ann Arbor is Allowing the Development of the Allen's Creek Floodway and Floodplain, Changes Needed With Regard to Flood Hazard and the Treat to Life, Health and Property
Great Lakes Integrated Sciences Assessments (GLISA)
This detailed report supports the floodplain and floodway development cautions described in the HRWC report sent out in our agenda last month.
Several developments have recently been approved and many more in the pipeline that are developing the floodway and floodplain with businesses and homes, with real issues related to the flood hazard that will be faced by the owners and the community.
Developing the floodplain and floodway not only effect the new owners but also put those up stream at greater risk of flooding, life, health, property loss and major threat to existing city property tax base.
A new study just out April 25, 2016 Regarding Floodplain Management in Michigan:
Michigan Climate and Health Profile Report 2015 -
Building Resilience Against Climate Effects on Michigan’s Health
From the May 2nd 2016 issue of U of M University Record:
"Changing climate conditions — including warmer temperatures and an increased frequency of heavy rainstorms — represent 'an emerging threat to public health in Michigan,' according to a new report from university researchers and state health officials."
This report by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Great Lakes Integrated Sciences Assessments (GLISA) Program—a partnership between the University of Michigan and Michigan State University.
Key finding from the Great Lakes Integrated Sciences Assessments Program Report:
"Additional changes include an increased frequency of some types of weather extremes such as heavy precipitation events. These changing climate conditions have had an impact on both environmental and human systems, representing an emerging threat to public health in Michigan."
Ann Arbor - 29.4% increase in rainfall events over 1".
(underline by us)
Contributor to this report Dr. Larsen was a invited member of a recent City of Ann Arbor Climate Change Panel Presentation and Discussion and the very first thing she said in her opening statement:
'First don't build in the Floodplains!'
Contributors to the report:
Dr. Larissa Larsen, PhD
Associate Professor of Urban and RegionalPlanning and Natural Resource,
University ofMichigan - Ann Arbor
Dr. Marie O’Neill, PhD
Associate Professor of Environmental Health Sciences and Epidemiology,
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Allen('s) Creek Greenway Master Plan CAC Started This Month
The Greenway Master Plan started early this month.
We are glad the ACWG was included in this effort as a stakeholder, I volunteered to be in the Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) which will take just under two years to complete
The ACWG will support a robust effort and a Greenway that is both a green space, alternative transportation, flood hazard mitigation design and, economic benefit to the city and region. We will not support a simple strip of pavement as a Greenway Trail as some have suggested.
As we have said for years, and the consultants showed at the CAC meeting, other Greenways in Michigan have shown great promise and this Greenway has the potential to be a major landmark, amenity and destination for the city.
All CAC meetings materials are available at city hall and online, we are glad to report.
The ACWG plans to work hard with the city residents, the Allen Creek Greenway Conservancy (ACGC) and the city to create the best and most cost effective Greenway possible.
Link to City of Ann Arbor Allen Creek Greenway Master Plan Project Web Page
Link to Allen Creek Greenway Conservancy ACGC
Madison Green Street's Rain Gardens Installed This Month - No Notice to ACWG
Miller Ave Rain Garden just after Installation - EWashtenaw.Org
The city installed the long awaited Rain Gardens on Madison as part of the Green Street Policy with some city funds and help from residents. The ACWG had plans to be of assistance and give notice to our members of this effort.
Unfortunately the ACWG was not contacted about the date and time of this effort even though we had been involved from from the beginning in the Green Street Policy.
We, with residents and CM Mike Anglin, asked for a meeting with staff to discuss not omitting the Rain Gardens on Madison and got agreement that they would be installed as originally planned.
Effective Community Outreach is critical for the city to get community engagement and support, and outside funding, this was not good Community Outreach.
Madison did have installed large infiltration beds under the street in the upper quarter stretch of the street. It has been shown these streets are longer lived and less costly than conventional streets.
Most of the funds set aside for the original plan were no longer available as the plans did not fit the available locations. The original plans were from the Miller install and were not as adaptable as thought during planning. The design was changed from the original.
Many communities have found the use of Soft Solutions like Rain Gardens are much less costly and more effective in the long run in the management of Fresh Rain Water (stormwater) and flood hazard mitigation then the conventional Gray or Hard Solution.
Some comments from residents in the area indicate a big reduction in fresh water (stormwater) runoff in the area with these improvements. Follow up tests to this effect would be very useful in continuing these Green Streets Policy efforts.
Springwater subdivision in southeast Ann Arbor latest street reconstruction to get Green Streets treatments.
Contact: Jennifer Lawson - Water Resources Manager at City of Ann Arbor jlawson@a2gov.org
Floodplain Overlay Planning Voted Out of the City 2017 City Budget by Majority on City Council, Residential and Business Flood Insurance Rates Negatively Effected
June 14, 2015 - Major Flooding on Mary St. - UofM Athletic Campus Area -
in Central Ann Arbor After Just Under 2" Rain
Council Members Jack Eaton, Sumi Kailasapathy and Jane Lumm had brought a resolution for Floodplain Management Overlay Ordinance at the first Council meeting in July.
This Resolution has been postponed twice by majority vote of our City Council and then voted down.
This was a resolution worked on by city staff with graduate students and faculty from UM who did considerable research and work to its end, and whose help had been requested by city staff.
Comments by the opposing council members indicated they would consider adding to the 2017 City budget which would be more appropriate avenue to take.
Unfortunately the option to include it in the 2017 budget was not supported by the majority on council.
Adopting this ordinance would have been part of the effort to meet the Federal Community Rating System (CRS). The CRS ranks cities according to their compliance with federal flood management requirements. Currently Ann Arbor does not participate in the CRS. With each improvement in our local flood management plan, City residents and businesses become eligible for larger discounts on flood insurance which is predicted to increase greatly for at least the next decade according to city staff and council comments and, published reports.
Proposed Agenda:
April 21, 2016
State Representative Jeff Irwin Town Hall with MDEQ Director Keith Creagh Regarding the Pall/Gelman 1,4-Dioxane Contamination was on April 18
Video of the Town Hall recorded by Roger Rayle of Scio Residents for Save Water (SRSW.ORG) (link) which is now posted, and CTN will air video recorded of the meeting at later date to be announced.
MDEQ has reiterated the proposed changes in the 1,4 Dioxane groundwater cleanup standard and drinking water standard down to 7.2 ppb from the current 85 ppb to be more in line with the standard EPA is proposing at 3.5 ppb, as described in a recent MLive article. This MDEQ change will need to work its way through the State process for formal adoption which could take up to a year or more, including the State Office of Regulatory Reinvention considered one of the agencies involved in the Flint Water Crisis.
MDEQ may use the 7.2 ppb for wells in the area of the plume, before the new standard is formally adopted. Homeowners and businesses have recently had clean water brought to their locations with wells well below 85 ppb.
US EPA is currently proposing* a drinking water standard of 3.5 ppb for 1 in 100k cancer risk and .35 ppb for 1 in 1M risk. Ann Arbor uses the 1 in 1M risk standard as did MI till early 90's when John Engler change it to 1 in 100k, EPA's standard is yet to be finalized. If adopted it will become a national standard which MI will be required to use.
About 300 or more attendees at the Town Hall Meeting, standing room only and some out the door in the halls, 20 or so questions asked before time ran out.
MDEQ has agreed to do ongoing tests of groundwater that is at the surface or in basements and test the Allen's Creek upstream of the outlet into the Huron River. They would like to obtain the locations of Seeps in the near west side for testing as well as close in west side homes with groundwater problems. Contact Jennifer Lawson - Water Resources Manager at City of Ann Arbor jlawson@a2gov.org
The ACWG has asked for years that the DEQ communicate the level of hazard related to basement exposures due to confined space and direct contact from contaminated water. This could be up to 2,800 ppb currently allowed by state standards. Still have not received that information although again they said they will present findings at a later date.
Dr. Larry Lemke - an Ann Arbor west side resident, geologist Associate Professor at WSU and longtime follower of this plume himself and with WSU students - asked why we are lowering the drinking water standard to 7.2 ppb but not the 2,800 ppb allowed to flow through the city to the river. He did not feel this had valid reasoning and needs to be addressed. We also feel this standard must be brought in line with the lower 7.2 standard.
One point I made the Town Hall Meeting on this Contamination, is what happens when and if the groundwater that is in many wet basements on the west side, especially as you get closer to the river, gets contaminated? One mile away from the river in West Park I witnessed regularly this winter, while biking the area, what seems to be groundwater flowing out of the hillsides on the west side of the park, what are referred to as "Seeps". MDEQ drilled a well at the Park a some years ago for 1,4 Dioxane groundwater testing and it had to be plugged due to the ‘artesianing’ with very high water pressure shooting out of the new well.
After almost 10 years of asking about wet basement exposures MDEQ at the last CARD meeting ask for the city to put together a map or maps of wet basements in the west side of the city as they now are concerned about exposure and management of this water. If above 7.2 ppb or the new standard who will be responsible for cleaning it up before it is dumped into the Allen's Creek. Anything over the standard could be considered illegal dumping. This compound, if accompanies groundwater into the basement, will evaporate with the water in confined space of basements so it may be a skin contact issue as well as an inhalation issue to worry about, if the plume is still allowed to flow to the Huron River under the city.
When the Ann Arbor City Apartments, at 1st and Washington on the west side, were about to have groundbreaking around 2012 the ACWG and CARD group asked who will deal with the lower level parking area below the water table, with potential leaks, if it gets contaminated. A Stop Work was issued by the planner and new plans drawn with the building pushed up a full story to avoid this issue, as the city owns the parking area below the building. Homeowners don't have an easy option to elevate their homes in the same manner.
Neighbors did a wet basement map for the Glendale about 5 block area and found over half the homes had water issues, see past Agenda Items for details. It was a door to door survey. The map was to show the city how bad the flooding problems are in the area. A new shallow basement was dug last year in the area and promptly completely filled to about 4 feet with groundwater. Not sure we have any similar maps for the rest of the west side.
Over the past few months there has been discussion by Coalition for Action on Remediation of Dioxane (CARD) of the option to propose the Pall/Gelman 1,4-Dioxane contamination be turned into a EPA Superfund Site. This discussion includes public officials and government staff. CARD group has indicated a general support for this option at the March meeting. See the information regarding Pall/Gelman Superfund Site Option in the past month's Agenda Items. This information was created by Dan Bicknell with the help of Roger Rayle, both CARD members, and in general the CARD group.
With the problems of the MDEQ causing and handling of the Flint drinking water crisis it seems more important than ever to be proactive in protecting the drinking water of Ann Arbor and our environment.
The ACWG as part of CARD supports the Superfund option discussion and what will be a request.
Ann Arbor unanimously approved petitioning for Superfund with the other government bodies earlier this month.
A new judge will be assigned the Gelman Plume case, former judge in charge Judge Shelton has retired, but it may not remain there with an EPA Superfund Option or a push to have MDEQ retake full control of the 'pollution management'.
Links: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)-Gelman Project Site; Washtenaw County CARD Site
* UPDATE: Dan Bicknell has recently contacted EPA (June 2016) regarding the possibility they they will be setting a federal drinking water standard for this compound, a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL). His comment back was they are considering in but it may take years to get it through all the regulatory bodies. Here is an Link to Washington Post Article (6/10/16) on setting MCLs and 1,4 Dioxane issues in North Carolina, and the difficulty EPA has in setting new MCL's even when the science indicates a clear need.
City of Ann Arbor is Allowing the Development of the Allen's Creek Floodway and Floodplain, Changes Needed With Regard to Flood Hazard and the Threat to Life, Health and Property
And the Loss of Potential Greenway Space Planned in the Floodway and Floodplain Subject of a Master Plan Effort of Ann Arbor that is About to Start
Several developments have recently been approved and many more in the pipeline that are developing the floodway and floodplain with businesses and homes, with real issues related to the flood hazard that will be faced by the owners and the community.
Developing the floodplain and floodway not only affect the new owners but also put those up stream at greater risk of flooding, life, health and property loss. Loss in our City Tax Base of existing now newly flood prone homes and businesses who are our known, long term, reliable and valued city tax payers, some properties who have payed city taxes for well over 100 years.
The Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC) has recently posted on the web (Feb. 2016):
From sections of the Report (click above link to see the full document):
"Add a 15 to 20 % safety factor to stormwater management requirements – In addition to adopting the 2012 NOAA Atlas 14 precipitation frequency estimates, counties and communities could add a 15 to 20 percent safety factor to rain event sizes.
Regulate to the 0.2% (500 year flood not just 100 year) annual chance event. Based on the current NOAA precipitation estimates the 0.2% event is approximately 30% larger than the 1% event. As climate change continues the 1% event will increase and at some point equal the current 0.2% event.
NOAA’s Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center has updated precipitation frequency estimates (with 90% confidence intervals) for Michigan in Volume 8 of NOAA Atlas 141. This analysis, released in 2013, incorporates precipitation data through 2011 and utilizes more data from more weather stations than previous efforts. Event storms have changed in magnitude with implications for stormwater management. The Atlas is now the official U.S. Government source of precipitation frequency estimates.
Total Precipitation Increased by 44% in Ann Arbor since the 1950’s [with very large increases in urban development and associated imperviousness].
Heavy storms have become stronger and more frequent throughout the region. Larger storms have grown faster than total precipitation, meaning more precipitation is concentrated in heavier events.
Heavy and extreme precipitation events have become dramatically more frequent in the Great Lakes region. The amount of precipitation falling in the most intense 1% of precipitation events increased by 37% in the Midwest and 71% in the Northeast from 1958 through 2012"
(bold and underline by us)
The federal government now virtually forbids any federal funds use in the 500 year floodplain in the US for critical structures and any structures in the 100 year floodplain. How can Ann Arbor use much lower standards then the Federal Government, is a major question yet to be answered.
The ACWG has been a leader for over 23 years pushing for Green solutions not Gray to reduce runoff and pollution loading to receiving waters. For example we were the first to champion rain barrel and rain garden use and fee reductions for, use of bio swales next to roadways, porous pavement for allies and roads, The Green Streets Policy adopted by the city and lauded by MDEQ, footer disconnects for reductions of clean water flows to the treatment plant causing sewer overflows into the Huron River and basement backups of sewage mixed with clean rain water, permanent rain and flow gauges to help model flood hazard and promote easier and less costly infrastructure maintenance, Allen’s Creek Greenway Planning for reduce flood hazard and improved park and alternative transportation. We pushed for 1 1/2 years a few years ago to get the Beal Building in the floodway to restore its swing up fences in the floodway which only was fixed when the DEQ came to town and sited the cityfor lax flood hazard enforcement (we found the violation during a AC Greenway Tour!).
Flow Reductions can help with flood mitigation but by only so much with rain fall changes due to Global Warming in Ann Arbor.
When we develop our floodplains and floodways we are having very large impacts on our community’s life, health, safety and welfare and degrading our environmental status as well.
Developing the floodplain takes away from the Greenway Master Plan options of setting aside these lands to reduce long term flood hazard and create near downtown park space, alternative transportation and festival site options. Why spend time and energy on a Master Plan if there will be little options left for a meaningful Greenway. Many Michigan communities and others have set aside their floodplains for park space to great effect, reducing flood hazard and reducing the floodplain in upstream portions of the community. The ACWG is part of the Greenway Master Plan CAC.
The consultants hired to lead the FEMA digital remap of the FEMA Floodplain Maps nationally at StanTec, told us at a public meeting for the new maps a few years ago, Ann Arbor should do what we did in Lexington KY: we did our own modeling, redrew the 1% chance (100 year) floodplain maps (which were much larger than the official maps) submitted them and accepted by FEMA, and disallow all development in the floodplain and we are clearly saving money, life, health and property in the long run with tremendous flood hazard reductions and flood insurance rates for our businesses and residents.
Kalamazoo recently took their dilapidated flood prone section of town and made the Arcadia Creek Greenway Park: no flooding now, $12M a year in festival receipts and fees, tax base rise by 400% in first few years, with new bank headquarters and museum built just next to the greenway... and no more flooding in their downtown well beyond a 500 year rain event and was spearheaded by their DDA
As MIT Professor Anne Whiston Spirn, Professor of Landscape Architecture and designer of several Greenways in floodplains in major cities, states in her landmark book Language of Landscape and spoke about this at U of M a few years ago: buildings in floodplains don't become slums because of the folks that live or work there, they become slums because flooding is incompatible with good urban planning, and human health and safety.
And yes again this report is from the HRWC not considered a fringe planning group by any means. And we thank them for putting this very useful report together and posting it. We have copies of studies from UM Pellston Labs, US-EPA and UCS that support these findings for MI and SEM.
The ACWG supports recommendations presented in this report.
Click to View Recent ACWG Meeting Agenda Items and Updates >
Click to view Older Agenda Items and Updates Page 1 >
Click to view Older Agenda Items and Updates Page 3 >
(*Some agenda items may have been corrected for typos and include follow up updates when posted here.)
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