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Michigan

Michigan regulators crack down on chemical company after it's blamed for oily discharge in Flint River

Flint’s drinking water has not been threatened

Associated Press
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State regulators on Monday ordered a Flint chemical company to truck wastewater to a water treatment plant, weeks after it was blamed for an oily discharge in the Flint River.

The 11-page order describes disputes between Lockhart Chemical and the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. The state said the company has a "long-running history" of failing to comply with environmental laws.

"This company was given multiple opportunities to fix the problems at their facility and they refused. Now they must face the consequences," Attorney General Dana Nessel said.

Lockhart didn't return a message seeking comment.

MICHIGAN SETTLES WITH FLINT WATER CRISIS VICTIMS FOR MORE THAN $500 MILLION: REPORT

The state said breaches in the system have resulted in wastewater leaks, which enter Flint’s storm sewers and discharge pollution to the Flint River. The company has underground tunnels and an open trench.

The Flint River

Kayakers journey along the Flint river as part of programming with the Flint River Watershed Coalitions Kayak Flint program on Aug. 7, 2021, in Flint, Michigan. Michigan regulators ordered a Flint chemical company to truck wastewater to a water treatment plant on Monday after it was blamed for oily discharge in the Flint River. (Brittany Greeson for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

FLINT WATER TRIAL: JUDGE DECLARES MISTRIAL AFTER VERDICT COULD NOT BE REACHED

"The system is structurally unsound," the order states.

A spill of oily material into the river was reported on June 15. Investigators subsequently discovered more wastewater infiltrating the storm sewer that leads to the river, the state said, especially after significant rain.

Lockhart makes coatings, metalworking additives, hydraulic fluids and lubricants.

WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE FLINT WATER CRISIS?

Flint’s drinking water has not been threatened. Flint used the river for drinking water in 2014-15 before lead contamination caused the city to return to Lake Huron water provided by a regional supplier.