Underground Infrastructure - November 2023 - 9

notice the previous week. Both agencies have
indicated that fines could be imposed.
This setback represents the latest obstacle
for the Genesee County EDC's STAMP project,
which was anticipated to bring around 9,000
high-tech jobs to rural Genesee County.
STAMP's development has been in progress
for over a decade, with the Genesee County
EDC currently overseeing the infrastructure
construction, including a 9.5-mile long
wastewater pipeline. This pipeline extends into
Orleans County, where it discharges into the
Oak Orchard Creek.
A temporary restraining order issued by an
Orleans County judge prevents the pipeline
from crossing the county line, but construction
within Genesee County is still allowed. The spills
and the cease order from the Fish and Wildlife
Service are related to the construction of the
part of the pipeline within Genesee County.
The drilling fluid, a mixture of water and
Wyoming sodium bentonite, has spilled three
times since mid-August. This slurry is used to
facilitate horizontal drilling for pipelines by
solidifying the tunnel walls.
Michigan rejects last effort to
criminally charge officials in
Flint water scandal
The Michigan Supreme Court rejected
a last-chance effort to revive criminal
charges against seven people in the Flint
water scandal, waving away an appeal by
prosecutors who have desperately tried to get
around a 2022 decision that gutted the cases.
The attorney general's office used an
uncommon tool - a one-judge grand jury
- to hear evidence and return indictments
against nine people, including former Gov.
Rick Snyder. But the Supreme Court last year
said the process was unconstitutional, and it
struck down the charges as invalid.
State prosecutors, however, were
Bore_Spacer-Ad_UC_2020.pdf 1 2/24/2020 10:40:27 AM
undeterred. They returned to Flint courts and
argued the charges could be easily revived
with a simple refiling of documents. That
position was repeatedly rejected all the way to
the state's highest court.
" We are not persuaded that the question
presented should be reviewed by this court, "
the Supreme Court said in a series of onesentence
orders Wednesday.
Orders were filed in cases against former state
health director Nick Lyon, former state medical
executive Eden Wells and five other people.
Snyder was charged with willful neglect of
duty, a misdemeanor. The indictment against
him has also been dismissed, though the
Supreme Court did not address an appeal by
prosecutors Wednesday only because that case
is on a different timetable.
Managers appointed by Snyder turned the
Flint River into a source for Flint water in 2014,
but the water wasn't treated to reduce its
corrosive impact on old pipes. As a result, lead
contaminated the system for 18 months.
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Underground Infrastructure - November 2023

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