LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has agreed to strengthen Oakland County’s discharge permit following months of pressure from area lawmakers concerned about the impact of untreated and partially treated sewage on Macomb County waterways and Lake St. Clair’s water quality.

In response to a Jan. 16 letter from 10 House lawmakers, EGLE acknowledged the need for changes and outlined several proposed updates to Oakland County’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, which governs compliance under the Clean Water Act. The department has also agreed to an in-person meeting with GOP lawmakers on Feb. 13 to discuss their concerns.

State Rep. Tom Kuhn, who has been a leader in the effort, welcomed the department’s response. Kuhn has advocated for clean water since the 1990s, when he served as a Royal Oak city commissioner. (The George W. Kuhn Retention Treatment Basin is named after Kuhn’s uncle.)

“Lawmakers in Oakland and Macomb Counties, whose districts are in the watershed, believe we shouldn’t be dumping in the watershed,” said Kuhn, R-Troy. “This is significant progress for our area’s environment.”

Lawmakers last met with EGLE about this issue in September, and the department recently agreed to schedule another meeting after multiple follow-up requests from Kuhn and other legislators.

In a Feb. 5 response letter, EGLE Director Phil Roos acknowledged Kuhn’s concerns, stating: “The Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy shares your overall concerns about improving water quality because of this discharge and other discharges to the Red Run Drain.”

Key changes to Oakland County’s discharge permit:

• Stronger water treatment measures: Oakland County must dechlorinate treated water before discharging it from the retention basin. This will become an enforceable permit condition after an 18-month feasibility study to determine compliance strategies.
• Expanded infrastructure requirements: The county must evaluate additional gray infrastructure projects, such as sewer separation efforts and expanded in-system water storage.
• Hydrogeology study & flood control measures: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will conduct a hydrogeology study to analyze downstream flow, flooding risks, and soil erosion. The study may lead to additional stormwater reduction and control efforts, particularly to prevent sewage backups in basements.
• Future permit modifications: EGLE will have the authority to update the permit based on findings from the Army Corps of Engineers study.
• Regional water control plan compliance: Oakland County must comply with a regional water control plan developed by the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) and approved by EGLE.

Kuhn noted that the Army Corps of Engineers study is a major breakthrough, helping address long-standing concerns over flooding and sewage discharges.

Additionally, a recent meeting on this issue brought together lawmakers from Oakland, Macomb, Wayne, and Monroe Counties – including both Republican and Democrat lawmakers – for the first time.

“This issue is too important to be partisan,” Kuhn said. “This is about protecting water quality and public health, and I’m encouraged to see broader engagement.”