The records of Michigan Citizens Against Toxic Substances relate to its activities as a grassroots environmental organization. The material documents their active opposition to the proposed hazardous waste disposal facility on top of the Arkona Road Landfill. The bulk of the record group dates from the creation of MCATS in 1989 to 1998 when plans for the facility were withdrawn.
Michigan Citizens Against Toxic Substances (MCATS) was founded in Milan, Michigan in 1989 as a group of concerned citizens actively opposed to a proposed hazardous waste disposal facility in Augusta Township, Michigan.
MCATS originally stood for Milan Citizens Against Toxic Substances, but as their influence and membership grew, they changed their name to Michigan Citizens Against Toxic Substances. They believed that their concerns about hazardous waste affected not just a community, but the entire state of Michigan.
MCATS' primary focus was to defeat a proposal by Envotech, a company located in Ypsilanti, Michigan to build a hazardous waste disposal facility on top of the old Arkona Road Landfill. Envotech also went by the names of Michigan/Wayne Disposal INC., Augusta Development Corp., and EQ. In 1987, the company revealed to the public that it planned to treat hazardous waste at the Arkona Road Landfill site by burning it in an incinerator, burying it in a landfill, and injecting the leachate into two deep wells. The facility planned to handle about 400,000 tons of hazardous waste annually, incinerating 40,000-50,000 tons each year.
MCATS was organized into several committees, each with a specific function. The committees included technical research, government affairs, media/public relations, membership, and events. The technical research committee found scientific facts to build a persuasive case against the Envotech proposal. The media/public relations committee sent press releases to small local newspapers of their events and research. These activities spread MCATS' message and found them wide spread support.
In 1992, Envotech began to apply for hazardous waste permits. MCATS looked ahead to a public hearing on Envotech's application and by raising awareness in the surrounding communities, they persuaded more than 4,000 people to attend the hearing.
MCATS found more ways for their message to be heard. MCATS members ran for Milan City Council and won three seats. This allowed MCATS to form alliances with other local governments to oppose the proposed facility. A unique solution was an inter-local agreement known as AMY, which united the city governments and residents of Augusta Township, Milan, and York Township into one negotiating power. This alliance could commit one million dollars to pay for technical consultants and legal help.
In 1998, Envotech (now known as EQ) withdrew its construction application for the proposed facility in Augusta Township.
