A New Hudson-based crematorium has been fined $180,000 by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) for multiple air quality violations that have resulted in foul odors, black soot and visible flames from smokestacks.
EGLE is also requiring the company to heighten their smokestacks and monitor them with closed circuit cameras.
According to MLive.com, the crematorium has garnered more than two dozen complaints since 2015 from neighbors of the facility, which is located on Costello Drive, with seven violation notices between September 2020 and December 2022 for violating its emissions permit and failing to maintain adequate records. It has also prompted several response calls from the Lyon Township Fire Department.
“Specifically, the Company emitted foul, odorous black smoke from the cremation units on numerous occasions leading to 28 complaints submitted to the AQD since 2015,” states an EGLE enforcement notice. “The Company failed to install, maintain, and operate the afterburner on the cremation units.”
Officials claim the Company failed to operate five of their crematories properly as required by law, failing to maintain temperatures above 1,600 degrees in the secondary chambers, which control dust, odors and smoke. It’s also alleged the company failed to maintain records for each cremation unit.
EGLE is currently taking public comment until July 5th for a consent order.
