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Crosswinds submits basis of design for sewer to MDEQ
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This view from the top of Mt.
Bohemia shows the site of the parking lot on the south side of the Lac La Belle Road and the lodge site on the north
side. The sewage lagoons are to be located about a mile toward U.S. 41 from the lodge site-parking lot area, on the north
side of the road.
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MARQUETTE -- Crosswinds Communities has submitted a revised basis of design for their proposed Mt. Bohemia sewage treatment system to the Waste Management
Division of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) in Marquette.
Calculating a possibility of 76,000 skiers by year five, their design calls for more than 4
million gallons of sewer flow for that fifth six-month winter season.
UP Engineers and Architects, Inc., state in the report that they "propose to treat the
sewage with a stabilization lagoon system and a forested upland spray discharge system in accordance with state rules and regulations."
The design for a peak year five estimates 76,000 skiers over a period of 130 days at 17
gallons of usage per skier per day, totaling 1,292,000 gallons per winter season. The 50
cabins are estimated to use 300 gallons per cabin per day. That would total 2,745,000
gallons for a 183-day (6-month) winter season. The total winter design flow for year five
would then be 4,037,000 gallons for the season or an estimated 25,000 gallons per day.
The report says 3.1 acres would be required for the projected two lagoons - an area
calculated from the estimated 61 lbs. of BOD, or biochemical oxygen demand. The
BOD is the complex organic matter found in wastewater when it biologically or
chemically degrades. It describes the strength of a wastewater, when that wastewater
has the potential to deplete oxygen once it is discharged into a stream. Thus a treatment plant would want to remove BOD prior to discharge.
This basis of design does not specify where Crosswinds intends to put the lagoons. It
merely mentions the proposed ski resort is being developed in Keweenaw County in sections 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33.
However, John Sullivan, senior vice-president of UP Engineers and Architects, Inc., said
today that the site for the lagoons has been selected.
"The (two) lagoons are approximately one mile toward U.S. 41 from the lodge
site-parking lot area. They are on the north side of the (Lac La Belle) road," Sullivan said.
According to Randy Conroy of the MDEQ Waste Management Division in Marquette,
the location does not have to be specified until Crosswinds submits more specific plans in their permit application
"The next step would be to submit plans and specifications for the (lagoon) wastewater
treatment system," Conroy said. "We want to see (their) overall, long-term treatment design."
Sullivan said the goal is to submit the full application to the DEQ, including the plans and
specifications for the lagoon and pump-and-haul systems, by August 31. The temporary
pump-and-haul system is planned for the first winter season since the lagoons cannot be
completed in time for the projected opening of the ski resort this December. The basis of
design estimates 44,000 skiers for the first year but does not give details on expected flow for this year.
Earlier this summer UP Engineers contacted the North Houghton County Water and
Sewage Authority to request their accepting the sewage through pump and haul the first year. At that time Calumet Township Supervisor Paul Lehto, chairman of that authority,
said even an estimate of 50,000 gallons per week would not be a problem for the
system, which now handles 2.4 million gallons per day and has a 60-million gallon
storage capacity for the spring season. The facility is also being expanded.
While Lehto could not be reached for an update today, Ken Hyrkas, maintenance
supervisor for the North Houghton County Water and Sewage Authority, said the
decision on accepting the pump-and-haul sewage from Mt. Bohemia would depend on
approval by the authority board and the DEQ. That board normally meets, although not regularly, on the last Monday of the month, he said.
"(The board) could approve it subject to the DEQ approval," Hyrkas said.
Conroy said the pump-and-haul permit still requires plans and specification approval for
the lagoon system and initiation of the lagoon construction. He added the developer may
be allowed 30 days after the pump-and-haul permit is issued to start building the
lagoons, even though they may not be completed before winter. Once Conroyís
Marquette office approves the full plans and specifications, he will process the pump-and-haul application.
The 30-day allowance could be a condition added to the permit, according to MDEQ
Waste Management Division Chief Jim Sygo, who had originally wanted construction to begin before the pump-and-haul permit could be issued.
Sygo said Tuesday, "Now they have provided a basis for design . . . so theyíve
identified what their goals are for Mt. Bohemia. With that we can issue pump and haul
with the condition that construction start within 30 days."
Before issuing a pump-and-haul permit, the DEQ will issue a public notice with a 30-day
comment period. Conroy said he understood Crosswinds would be requesting a public
hearing toward the end of that comment period. After that, the DEQ has seven days to review the public comments.
"I wouldnít expect it (the pump-and-haul permit) to be issued any earlier than 37 days
after the date it goes on public notice," Conroy said.
Since the lodge and cabins are all under one owner, the applicant is treated as a private
entity and applies under Part 31 of the state Natural Resources and Environmental
Protection Act 451 of 1994, Conroy said.
The basis of design says the discharge by spray irrigation will follow DEQ Rules (click
on Part 22, Rules Summary) 323.2216, 323.2204 and 323.2205. The treatment system
requirements, it adds, follow Rules 323.2230, 323.2231, 323.2232, 323.2233, 323.2234 and 323.2236.
Conroy noted Crosswinds has agreed to apply for a system to include both the lodge
and the cabins.
"We feel their development entails both," he said. "They want to get going on the lodge
immediately . . . They want our concurrence on the design so that the building inspector will give them a permit to build."
Conroy said the law requires obtaining water-sewer permits before the
fit-for-occupancy determination can be made by the building inspector. While the DEQ
does not consider zoning in its decision to issue water-sewer permits, the language of the
permit implies the applicant is responsible for obeying any other laws, including zoning regulations.
He added the permit will say, "This permit does not relieve the permittee from obtaining
and complying with any other permits required under local, state or federal law."
Ray Gerhart, chief executive officer and president of Northern Consultants, the building
authority for Keweenaw County, said Crosswinds will have to provide Keweenaw
County with the water and sewer permits prior to the issuance of building permits for any
buildings that would require sewer and water. To obtain permits Crosswinds would need:
- stamped sets of plans (approved by an engineer)
- DEQ clearance
- clearance from the Keweenaw County Zoning Administrator.
Gerhart said Crosswinds has not yet submitted any building permit applications.
"The process begins with the application," he said. "Until you know whatís going to be
built, you canít do a review of it . . . They have to submit a complete application."
Zoning administrator Jane Pelto said today, concerning the ski lifts, which recently
received state approval, that she was still uncertain as to whether a ski resort can be
considered low-intensity and therefore allowed to be built in a
Conservation-Environmental Protection District (CD-EP). She said the Zoning Board of
Appeals has not yet clarified what low intensity in CD-EP includes.
"I am in the position of not knowing exactly what low intensity involves. Low intensity
could possibly allow ski hills," she said.
- Michele Anderson
August 23, 2000
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