Inspections at a Mundy Township mega site last month documented multiple environmental violations, just two days after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer trekked to Washington D.C. to lobby for billions in federal funds.
The governor was back in D.C. this week to meet with President Donald Trump, who she’s hoping will help secure $3-$5 billion to land a $55 billion semiconductor plant at the three-square-mile megasite near Flint.
At the same time, developers Maple and Hill LLC, which is working with the Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance to clear the sprawling site, received notice from Whitmer’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy of multiple violations of the Michigan Natural Resources and Environmental Act, WJRT reports.
The April 8 notice detailed unauthorized work in wetland areas observed by inspectors on March 18.
The unauthorized work included a culvert and fill in the Lizard Valley Drain to create a stream crossing, rock fill in the same area for a check dam, and vegetation and tree removal along that drain and another at the Warner Drain, according to the news site.
The March 18 inspection stemmed from a formal complaint submitted to EGLE’s Water Resources Division office in Lansing on March 10 that also detailed disruptions for local residents.
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation last spring awarded $250 million in taxpayer funds to develop the site, despite widespread opposition from area residents.
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In November, voters elected Republican Mundy Township Supervisor Jennifer Arrand Stainton and trustees who oppose the mega site, which stretches across 1,000 acres of farm land ringed by 167 homes, three churches, two day cares and nine subdivisions, many of which feature “no megasite” signs.
Stainton and hundreds who have signed on to a petition to “Stop the Mundy Township Megasite” note it “would be twice the size of Disney Land” and “would drastically alter the landscape and destroy neighborhoods and natural resources,” the petition reads.
“Residents of Mundy Township who live near and around the megasite project have been expressing concern over FGEA’s activities since they began in early March,” according to the Economic Development Responsibility Alliance of Michigan.
“The developer’s contractors have been demolishing marketable homes and buildings next door to occupied homes, businesses, an organic regenerative agriculture farm, and an active elementary school,” the alliance reports. “In March, FEGA’s ‘site preparation’ activities cut internet fiberwire to a local school while it was in session, created a noise nuisance as early as 6AM, and has even caused damage to a neighbors’ property.”
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Locals weighing in on a private Facebook group question why all the work when the site has yet to land any commitments for future tenants.
“If nothing is in the works … WHAT ARE THEY DIGGING OUT THERE!!???!!!” one resident posted.
“I think it’s a terrible act to destroy this area for greed,” another posted.
MEDC officials are currently is talks with Western Digital Technologies to locate in the township of about 14,800, but state Sen. John Cherry, D-Flint, told WJRT last year the deal hinges largely on securing federal funding through the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors and Science Act, better known as the CHIPS Act.
Trump described the CHIPS Act, signed into law by President Joe Biden, as “a horrible, horrible thing” in comments to Congress earlier this month, when he urged Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to repeal the law and use “whatever’s left over … to reduce debt or (for) any other reason you want.”
The president also denounced the general failure of corporate welfare deals, noting his administration has secured $1.7 trillion in high tech investments from companies like Apple, Softbank, OpenAI, Oracle and others since taking office.
Regardless, Whitmer continues to lobby for federal cash for the Mundy megasite, while FEGA officials vow more transparency and work to entice locals with promises of a financial windfall some time in the future, WJRT reports.
“There will probably be a negotiated payment to the township that will be for many many decades that will include hundreds of millions of dollars to the township, to this board, to invest in things like roads, police, fire,” FGEA Executive Director Tyler Rossmaessler told the new township board at its first meeting in December.
In the meantime, EGLE is demanding a response to the wetland violations by May 5 that includes information on the project purpose, names of those who conducted the work, a copy of plans for construction, a timeline of removal for the check dam and stream crossing, and a summary of current plans for cleared wetlands and any additional tree removals on the site, EDRA reports.