State Rep. Alicia St. Germaine (R, Harrison Township) today praised the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) for taking decisive enforcement action against Oakland County following repeated, illegal discharges of raw sewage into Macomb County’s Red Run Drain.

EGLE issued a June 27 enforcement notice to the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner’s Office citing violations of the state’s Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, including a massive discharge of 1.18 million gallons of untreated sewage in April and more than 2 million gallons in August of last year. The state now plans to impose an Administrative Consent Order requiring corrective action, financial penalties, and potentially further legal consequences if violations continue.

“I want to thank EGLE for standing up for Macomb County residents and our environment,” said St. Germaine. “This is long overdue. Oakland County has been allowed to pollute our waterways and threaten the health of our families for far too long. The evidence is undeniable, and the debris left behind speaks volumes. Macomb County is not a dumping ground.”

The George W. Kuhn Drainage District, operated by Oakland County, has repeatedly discharged massive volumes of untreated or partially treated sewage into the Red Run Drain which is an essential waterway that winds through Macomb communities and feeds into Lake St. Clair.

“Macomb County has carried the burden of these discharges for years, and I’m glad to see EGLE finally stepping in with real consequences,” said St. Germaine. “Lake St. Clair was just named one of the top two best fishing destinations in the world and we can’t afford to take our world-renowned fishing, wildlife, and boating industry for granted.

“I stand with Commissioner Miller and our bipartisan group of local lawmakers in urging continued oversight and strong enforcement until Oakland County meets its obligations to fix the problem,” said St. Germaine.  “Macomb families deserve clean water and peace of mind, and I will continue to fight to ensure we get both.”