CHICAGO, IL, Jan. 29, 2010 -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has given the public more time to comment on an application from the city of Bryan, Ohio, to designate the Michindoh Aquifer as the sole source of drinking water for an area comprising nine counties. After two public meetings and a public hearing in January, EPA decided to extend the comment period until Friday, April 16.
The proposed Michindoh Sole-Source Aquifer designation would include parts of Allen, DeKalb and Steuben counties in Indiana; Branch, Hillsdale and Lenawee counties in Michigan; and Defiance and Fulton counties, and all of Williams County in Ohio.
When EPA designates an aquifer as the sole source of drinking water for an area, it must review all federally funded projects in the area to determine potential for contaminating the aquifer. No federal funds may be spent on projects which EPA determines may contaminate the aquifer.
A copy of the Michindoh Sole-Source Aquifer Petition is available for review at: www.epa.gov/region5/water/gwdw/index.htm.
An updated fact sheet and other documents are available on the EPA Web site listed above. Comments or questions about the decision should be sent to William Spaulding, WG-15J, U.S. EPA Region 5, 77 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604 or e-mailed to spaulding.william @epa.gov
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