Groveland Twp.? In the distance the low, dull roar of heavy diesel powered gravel mining equipment labors.
Yet, the sound produced by the machines, say residents who live near the Perryville Road and Dixie Highway gravel pit, is minor compared to the environmental damage produced.
Until now.
‘Since the pumps stopped the water in my pond has gained about two-and-one-half inches each week,? said Mark Shaffer, who along with about 20 neighbors of the mine have battled with Midway Sand & Gravel since 1998 and say their dewatering practices have caused a host of problems ranging from dry wells to sagging decks to dry ponds.
‘As near as we figure 11 wells have gone dry and at least three ponds,? added Shaffer, who estimates the damage to property between $100,000 or $150,000.
Since 2002 residents near the mine contend that Midway Sand & Gravel’s pumping of more than 2.5 million gallons per day of water from the gravel pit caused a significant loss of water level in their ponds and wells.
The dewatering pumps at Midway Sand & Gravel 12527 Dixie Highway now run only a few hours each day, few enough say residents near the massive gravel pit to begin the process of restoring water.
‘Right now Tolliver is running the pumps the right amount of time’and it’s seemed to fix the problem,? said Robert DePalma, Groveland Township supervisor, referring to Midway Sand & Gravel owner.
Earlier this month Midway Sand & Gravel signed an agreement with the engineering firm of Malcolm Pirnie, to provide groundwater monitoring once every three weeks. Malcolm Pirnie, a East Lansing based consulting company, was orignally retained in November 2001 by a group of residents to investigate the sudden change in groundwater.
The agreement includes providing monitoring equipment and measurement of water levels, compilation and evaluation of data, and a one page report.
The agreement comes as a result of a stipulated interim order for partial pumping and monitoring of groundwater from Circuit Court Judge Richard D. Kuhn signed on June 23, 2003.
Terms of the order include not pumping for 12 hours per day and no discharging of groundwater from the Midway Sand & Gravel site.
Since April the water is pumped into an adjacent recharge moat near the site in an attempt to allow the water to filter back into the ground.
Yet, despite the slowed pumping, Mark Shaffer’s lawn is scattered with sink holes so numerous that his rippled lawn shows the scalps of mower blades.
‘My lawn is nearly ‘unmowable? now,? said Shaffer, gesturing toward the small mounds of grass.
A short distance from Shaffer’s home a neighbor? deck sags’a result of a lower water table, which Shaffer says was caused by the dewatering.
In February 2003 after years of bantering, Groveland Township voted to revoke the mining permit due to noncompliance with a plan endorsed by the Township Board to restore the neighbors? water and its continued impediments on ground water.
Eariler this spring the pumping stopped and in April 2003 Oakland County Circuit Judge Richard D. Kuhn set a hearing for testimony from several key individuals. However, the hearing has been delayed with no date for another hearing set.
‘We’re delighted,? said Shaffer. ‘We proved that the gravel pit is the problem, the water is rebounded about 30 inches, water off-site has stopped.?