Subject: RE: UM - Nichols Road Spill
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 2010 15:29:47 -0400
From: RUSSELLJ@michigan.gov
To: ahknaten74@hotmail.com
CC: MATTHEWSR@michigan.gov

Kai,

My understanding of the event was that the material that had been captured was washed away by the storm before it could be removed from containment (both at the outfall and downstream).  The OSEH report made an assumption that was not true in that regard.  The pipe definitely comes from U of M properties and they are responsible for responding to contaminants/incidents that would come from the storm sewer.  I am not sure where your reference to residential areas or residential dumping comes from.  That is not mentioned in my note.  My note refers to discharges from urban storm sewers in general and that some of those discharges sources can not be accurately determined.  I am not sure what analytical technique that the AAFD used to reach their conclusion, but it had to be some sort of field test and those are far from definitive.  In fact, the report indicates that it was not conclusive on the material in question.  It is unfortunate that the material was not able to be removed prior to the heavy rains and that U of M was not able to get a vactor truck there more expeditiously.

I have not spoken directly to U of M.  I suggest you contact Rachel Matthews if you have any further questions, since she has had the lead on this.  I will have her follow-up with U of M on how to improve responses to future incidents.

-Jon

Jon E. Russell, Supervisor
Water Resources Division
MI Department of Natural Resources & Environment
Jackson District Office