ADRIAN, Mich. – A state agency is escalating enforcement against a company in Adrian, accused of creating a smelly nuisance.
There’s a powdered egg plant in Adrian with a history of stinky problems that have caused concern from residents who live in the area -- and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s Air Quality Division.
“I’ve used the term ‘smells like death,’” Adrian city manager Greg Elliot told Local 4 in 2023.
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Case a ‘high priority’ for EGLE’s Air Quality Division
Residents were supposed to get relief. In 2023, the company reached an agreement with the Air Quality Division to manage the odors.
In late 2024, Veos USA purchased the facility through a bankruptcy court proceeding. The agreement did not transfer in the sale.
EGLE’s Air Quality Division supervisor of the Jackson district Scott Miller said that the facility had been closed for a while, but since production started back up EGLE has been getting a lot of complaints from the community.
“This case is a high priority for our division, and we’ve documented three violations of our nuisance order rules in the last couple months, in addition to several violations of their air quality permit conditions,” Miller said.
AQD sent a violation notice to Veos USA on July 1, with inspectors noting “odors of sufficient intensity, frequency and duration.” A second violation notice was sent on July 23. Now, EGLE is escalating the issue with the goal of getting the company to comply or face penalties.
“The goal of escalated enforcement action is to enter into an agreement with the facility to, No. 1, implement corrective actions to bring them back into compliance, and to pay a penalty, and it may also include supplemental environmental projects to the benefit of the community,” Miller said.
Miller said this situation is a high priority for AQD. He said that they understand it’s a difficult situation and would like to try and resolve it as quickly as possible.
Local 4 has reached out to Veos for a statement but has not yet heard back.