CALHOUN COUNTY, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance (MAEDA) is under fire for allegations of severe environmental violations at its Marshall CATL-Ford BlueOval Megasite which is also referred to as the Marshall Area Jobs Opportunity and Recreation (MAJOR) campus.

According to EDRA (Economic Development Responsibility Alliance of Michigan), since the fall of 2023, MAEDA has repeatedly violated state environmental protection standards, with a total of 18 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) violations as of August 2024.

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The violations, primarily stemming from sediment-laden stormwater exiting the construction site and entering the Kalamazoo River and bypassing protections for designated wetlands, have spurred local environmental advocates and residents to call for immediate corrective action.

Environmental groups sound the alarm: enough is enough.

EDRA of MI and the Committee for Marshall – Not the Megasite have demanded that Michigan’s Department of Energy, Great Lakes, and Environment (EGLE) take stronger action.

In a letter to EGLE Director Phil Roos, EDRA founder Marjorie Steele called for reevaluation of permits and holding MAEDA financially accountable for the environmental damage. The groups argue that continued permit renewals are allowing MAEDA to skirt responsibility, while unchecked stormwater runoff continues to harm the region’s wetlands and the Kalamazoo River.

EGLE under pressure: “stop renewing permits until compliance is met.”

In their September 9th letter, EDRA and its allies detailed MAEDA’s ongoing violations, including failure to stabilize disturbed land and maintain stormwater controls. Despite this, EGLE has renewed MAEDA’s permits multiple times. Local advocates are now demanding that no future permits be renewed until all violations are fully resolved and financial compensation is made for the environmental damage. The stakes are high, as EDRA underscores that continued inaction could lead to long-lasting harm to Michigan’s valuable natural resources.

The response from EGLE.

In their response to EDRA, EGLE addressed several issues. First, EGLE explained that the initial determination, made in January 2024, was based on specific project plans, and any changes to those plans are being reevaluated to determine if new permits are required. However, Steele says, “This is an allusion to the fact that the site plan has been downsized since construction began, as demonstrated by the MSF taking back over $100M of CIP funding.”

Regarding environmental damages, EGLE also acknowledged sediment discharge into local wetlands and the Kalamazoo River but noted that cleanup efforts could cause more harm than good. They also mentioned the difficulty of assigning financial responsibility for sediment from various sources but offered to work with the organization on broader pollution reduction strategies.

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Additionally, EGLE clarified that they cannot legally deny future permit renewals if all regulatory requirements are met by the Marshall Area Economic Development Authority (MAEDA). However, EDRA argues that those requirements have not been met.

Another letter to EGLE.

EDRA sent out another letter to EGLE on September 27th saying that while they appreciate their response to their previous demands and hope this marks the beginning of better communication, they believe additional steps must be taken to enforce environmental regulations, particularly regarding sediment pollution in the Kalamazoo River.

The group is requesting EGLE to calculate the damage caused by runoff from the construction site and ensure that financial compensation is paid to the Kalamazoo River Watershed Council for pollution mitigation. They also again ask EGLE to deny any further permit renewals for the project until these violations are fully resolved and compensation is made.

Holly Harnden, Marshall resident and member of the Committee for Marshall – Not the Megasite, says about the issue, “We Marshall residents love our nature, and we cherish the water that flows through our community. It’s bad enough to have this megasite project forced onto us, and paid for by us, without our consent – to have to watch them pollute the river while they’re building it is just heart wrenching.”

MAEDA responds.

MAEDA reached out to Michigan News Source with the following response from James Durian, MAEDA CEO: “The Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance is committed to protecting our land, air and water in and around our community we proudly serve. We are committed to doing our part to ensure that the ongoing construction at the Marshall Area Jobs, Opportunities, and Recreation (MAJOR) Campus meets the highest standards for conservation and environmental stewardship.”

He went on to say, “We continue to work closely with Calhoun County, the state Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and our construction partners to address this situation. The short-term discharge of sediment containing stormwater is not expected to have a long-lasting impact on the river. In addition, our construction team has taken several engineering steps, including soil erosion control measures to help reduce the chances of any additional runoff in the future.”

MAEDA’s muddy footprints.

The ongoing battle over the Marshall Megasite is a critical moment for environmental accountability in Michigan. With groups like EDRA pushing for stricter enforcement and MAEDA’s persistent violations, the outcome will have far-reaching implications for the state’s water protection standards and corporate responsibility.