LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy has dismissed a case challenging the permit issued to Nestle Waters North America in 2018 for increased water withdrawals from its bottled water facility in Osceola County.
EGLE found that the Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians should have appealed the permit directly to circuit court, a news release said Friday.
An administrative law judge found on April 24 that Nestle’s permitted withdrawals are reasonable under the current state law and include adequate monitoring and safeguard measures to ensure protection of the state’s water resources.
“EGLE remains committed to protecting our state’s valuable water resources, but as a regulatory agency we must act within our statutory authority,” EGLE Director Liesl Clark said. “The Safe Drinking Water Act only allows EGLE to hold contested case hearings under very limited circumstances which are not present in this case.”
