A Northport-area citizens group and individual property owners filed suit in Circuit Court Monday alleging a “takings” claim under the Michigan Environmental Protection Act (MEPA) in connection with the Northport/Leelanau Township sewer project.

The “Leelanau Forum” and Robert and Jeannette Hunt are seeking preliminary and permanent injunction against construction of the sewer system “in violation of the MEPA and ‘takings clause’ of the Fifth Amendment.”

No hearing had been scheduled on the request for injunction as of presstime Wednesday.
In the complaint, the Hunts, owners of 10.6 acres adjacent to the location of the planned for the wastewater treatment facility, allege the discharge of “poorly treated wastewater into the groundwater below their property … will pollute and impair the waters in violation of the MEPA.”

In a 31-page “finding of no significant impact” (FONSI) dated March 2, the Department of Environmental Quality stated that the proposed discharge of treated wastewater as prescribed in the approved groundwater discharge permit would not have an adverse impact on the environment.