State Rep. Ron Robinson (R-Utica) led a group of fellow lawmakers in calling on the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to address the growing environmental and public safety crisis caused by untreated discharges from the George W. Kuhn Retention Treatment Basin (GWK) into the Red Run Drain.

In a letter sent to EGLE Director Phil Roos, Robinson and his colleagues detailed the worsening conditions caused by the facility’s outdated operations, including widespread erosion, flooded basements, backflows in storm drains, and even the death of a resident due to embankment collapse. The Red Run Drain, which cuts through Macomb County, has suffered massive damage directly tied to overflows from the GWK basin in Oakland County.

“This drainage issue is a matter of public safety and environmental fairness,” said Robinson. “Macomb County residents are paying the price for a facility that is operating under an expired permit and outdated assumptions. We need urgent action from the state.”

The letter outlines four key demands:

• Deny permit renewal until Oakland County presents a comprehensive, enforceable plan to reduce discharge velocity and frequency.
• Mandate structural improvements at the source, including separation of combined sewer overflows or increased retention capacity at GWK.
• Coordinate state and regional funding to assist with the emergency repairs and long-term bank stabilization efforts already needed in Macomb.
• Update operational protocols and infrastructure expectations to reflect modern environmental realities and public safety considerations.

“Macomb County cannot be left to shoulder the burden alone,” said Robinson. “The damage we’re seeing is the result of inter-county pollution, and it’s time for EGLE and Oakland County to be part of the solution.”