Oko Environmental

Independent Environmental Research & Communications

Latest Updates

EPA Begins Review of Rose Township Dump Superfund Site – Public Comments Encouraged

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced its seventh five-year review of the Rose Township Dump Superfund site, located at 1065 Demode Road in Rose Township, Oakland County. Illegal waste disposal began at the site in the 1960s, with an estimated 5,000 drums of waste deposited across approximately 12 acres of the property. These
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Springfield Township Superfund Site: FOIA Records Received

On May 22, 2026, I submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request concerning the Springfield Township Superfund Site. Today, October 22, 2026, exactly five months later, I received 16,164 pages of records. The documents include groundwater monitoring reports, laboratory testing results, technical evaluations, environmental oversight records, and correspondence involving the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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Request for Clarification on Public Comment Procedures for Mining Ordinance Changes

Following the October 8 Township Board meeting, I contacted Supervisor Ric Davis and the Township Board seeking clarification on the next steps for the Mining Control Ordinance revisions. During that meeting, Clerk Sean Miller described the previous ordinance draft as “obsolete” and stated that public comment would not reopen until a new draft was available.
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Springfield Township Data Center Ordinance Review Update for October 2026

Springfield Township’s review of its proposed data center zoning regulations is nearing another milestone. A four-member subcommittee has completed two meetings focused on strengthening the proposed ordinance, and a revised draft is expected to be available soon for Township and public review. Planning Commission Chair Brian Galley confirmed the update in an October 21 email
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Springfield Township Total Wetland Loss at 53%

According to Michigan’s Wetlands Map Viewer, Springfield Township has lost an estimated 53% of its historical wetlands. Before widespread European settlement in the early 1800s, the township is estimated to have contained approximately 5,569 acres of wetlands. More recent mapping identifies just 2,590 acres, representing a loss of nearly 3,000 acres over roughly two centuries.
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Two New Members Appointed to Springfield Township Planning Commission

During the October 8, 2026, Springfield Township Board of Trustees meeting, two new members, Jack Rooney and Brian Koistinen, were appointed to the Planning Commission, filling vacancies left by Mark Yovich and Jason Price. Both appointments come at an important time, as the Planning Commission continues to oversee significant land-use matters, including the pending Levy/Burroughs
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Mining Ordinance Update: Public Comment Remains Closed as of Oct. 8, 2026

During the October 8, 2026, Springfield Township Board of Trustees meeting, Township Clerk Sean Miller addressed emails from residents requesting that the public comment form for the proposed mining ordinance be reopened. Miller acknowledged the requests but explained that the Township would not be reopening the form at this time because changes have been made
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Oko Requests Reopening of Mining Ordinance Public Comment Form after 3rd Postponement

Today, October 8, is the Springfield Township Board meeting, and once again, the proposed mining ordinance is not listed for a first reading. The first reading was originally scheduled for August 13, then postponed to September. It was postponed again to October, and with no reading on tonight’s agenda, this now marks the third postponement
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September ’26 Planning Commission: Data Centers & Levy Mining Proposal

The September 22nd Springfield Township Planning Commission meeting included updates on two major land-use issues:> The proposed data center ordinance > The pending Levy/Burroughs Materials mining application Click HERE to View Timeline with Agendas Data Center Ordinance: Making Progress The Planning Commission’s data center subcommittee met September 10 and includes Chair Brian Galley, Trustee Kevin
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Keep Your Dust to Yourself: Michigan Senate Takes Up Fugitive Dust Bill

Oko Environmental traveled to Lansing on September 22 to attend a hearing of the Michigan Senate Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee on Senate Bill 1038, legislation aimed at reducing fugitive dust from facilities that store, handle, process and transport bulk solid materials. This bill was brought to my attention by aggregate mining expert and geologist
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Township Shifts to ‘Legally Required’ Communication Policy

On September 14, 2026, Supervisor Ric Davis posted a “Levy Update” on the Springfield Township website regarding the pending Burroughs/Levy gravel mine application [View Levy Update Page]. The update reiterates that the application is still paused and the Township is waiting for Levy to provide further information requested, but it raised new questions & concerns
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502 Days and Counting: Where the Levy/BMC Mining Proposal Stands

It’s official, we have crossed 502 days since Burroughs Materials Corporation/Edw. C. Levy Co. formally submitted its Special Land Use Permit and mining application to Springfield Township on April 29, 2025. A lot has happened since then. The proposed project would involve a large sand and gravel mining operation on the Ormond Road property, with
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Recall Language for Supervisor Ric Davis Not Approved

On Wednesday, September 9, the Oakland County Election Commission held a public hearing to review proposed recall language filed against Springfield Township Supervisor Ric Davis. The Commission determined that the proposed language met the factual requirement, but ultimately voted not to approve the petition because members did not believe the wording was sufficiently clear. Under
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Data Center Concerns Addressed at Aug 25 Springfield Township Planning Commission Meeting

Residents packed Springfield Township Hall for the August 25, 2026 Planning Commission meeting, with attendance pushing the building’s capacity and some residents left standing in the hallway or outside. Much of the concern followed social media posts that were not fully informed and, in some cases, incorrectly described what was happening with Springfield Township’s data
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Township Special Counsel Responds to STEP’s Letter; Springfield’s Mining Process Shows Opportunity for Improvement

On August 13, Springfield Township Environmental Protectors (STEP) submitted a formal letter asking the Township Board to immediately move the paused Levy/Burroughs Materials Corporation special land use application to a formal vote and reject it. In an accompanying letter, STEP’s attorney, Ryan Richardville, went further, stating that “denial of the application is warranted” in part
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Springfield Township to Consider Major Changes to Mining Ordinance

Springfield Township will consider significant changes to its Mining Control Ordinance at the Township Board meeting on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. The proposed amendments appear on the agenda for a first reading, meaning the Board is beginning its formal consideration of the changes. The proposed revisions would make substantial changes to how
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New Details Surface About Springfield Township Data Center Proposal

A recent Clarkston News article about Independence Township’s new six-month data center moratorium included two striking details about Springfield Township that Oko Environmental had not previously encountered. According to the Clarkston News, Independence Township Supervisor Chuck Phyle described the potential Springfield Township data center as a $6 billion development. This is a figure Oko Environmental
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Township Corrects Data Center Meeting Record to Include Levy Representative

Springfield Township has taken a step to implement actual transparency by correcting the attendance record for the December 15, 2025 Data Centers Pre-Application Meeting. Oko Environmental previously raised concerns several times through Public Comment at Board meetings, written requests, and a meeting with a Township Official, that Reuben Maxbauer, a representative of the Edw. C.
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Rose Township Residents Show the Power of Public Participation

I would like to sincerely thank the Rose Township Supervisor Brad Stilwell, Trustee Debra Bourdeau, and the Board of Trustees for inviting me to speak with residents about the proposed Levy/Burroughs Materials sand and gravel mine on Ormond Road. The presentation was part of Rose Township’s “Neighbor to Neighbor” meeting series, which creates an opportunity
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