Three demolished General Motors plants could get state approval for cleanup, starting next year.
The Racer Trust took over all of GM's shut down sites after the company's bankruptcy in 2009. Now the trust is awaiting approval from the Department of Environmental Quality for a remediation plan for the Lansing-area properties.
The goal is to redevelop them for other uses, like industrial parks or housing units.
Grant Trigger is the Michigan clean up manager for the Racer trust. He said the approach requires both remediation and redevelopment to help local communities.
"And that’s a key to reinvesting and knowing Michigan, but also helping the communities harmed by the GM bankruptcy to have an opportunity to bring new investment, new jobs and new tax basis back to these properties," said Trigger.
But site testing found some shallow ground-water contamination.
"All of our testing of the local wells has proven there’s no contamination in those wells, so the drinking water in that area is safe," added Trigger.
The trust will hold a community meeting this week in Lansing to update the public on the plan.
– Reem Nasr, Michigan Radio Newsroom
