The Department of Environmental Quality has entered into an administrative settlement concerning the reimbursement of costs incurred by the DEQ to clean up contamination at the former National Motor Castings Foundry site in South Haven, Michigan. 

Under the terms of the settlement, Textron, Inc. will pay $425,000 to reimburse the DEQ's costs in cleaning up contamination that resulted from the historical manufacturing operations of Textron's corporate predecessors.  Under state law, the DEQ can seek reimbursement of the State of Michigan's cleanup costs from persons or companies who are responsible for the contamination.  This process ensures that taxpayers are not ultimately responsible for paying to clean up contamination when a liable party exists.

Money received from this and similar settlements are used to help finance Michigan's environmental cleanup program.  The cleanup program enables the State to undertake action at contaminated sites to protect the environment and public health; and facilitate the economic redevelopment of sites, such as this former foundry.  Without additional funding sources, resources that support the State's cleanup program are projected to be exhausted by the end of 2010.

Editor's note:  DEQ news releases are available on the department's Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq .

"Protecting Michigan's Environment, Ensuring Michigan's Future"