Michigan Democrats want to make more polluters pay for cleanup

LegislativeDemocratsrolledoutbillsMondaytotoughenMichigan’spollutioncleanupstandardsandforcebusinessesthatcausedcontaminationtofootthebillevenifithappeneddecadesago. AkeyelementwouldbeamendingaportionofMichigan’sNaturalResourcesandEnvironmentalProtectionActthatallowsresponsiblepartiestocloseoffaccesstolandorgroundwaterinlieuofcompletelycleaningitup. SenatorJeffIrwin(D-AnnArbor)saidnearly27,000suchsitesexistinMichiganandpollutersshouldfinishthejobofcleaningthemup. “Halfofthosehavebeenorphaned,havebeenleftbehindbycompaniesforthetaxpayerstocleanup,”hetoldMichiganPublicRadio.“Wedon’thaveenoughmoneytocleanupthesesites,sothesitesremainpolluted,remainathreattocommunities,andweneedtomakesurethatweholdcompaniesaccountableandtheyneedtocleanuptheirownmess.” ButMikeWitkowski,directorofenvironmentalandregulatorypolicyfortheMichiganManufacturersAssociation,saidthatisnotareasonablestandard“forsomethingthatisjustgoingtobeanoth