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October 6, 2001Bridge opponents challenging approval- Groups opposed say Hartman-Hammond impact issues, objections were not addressedBy BILL O'BRIENRecord-Eagle staff writer TRAVERSE CITY - Opponents of a Hartman-Hammond bridge are asking federal highway officials to reconsider their approval of the project. The Michigan Land Use Institute and other local organizations filed the request last week with the Federal Highway Administration. They are challenging the agency's Aug. 1 decision approving the Grand Traverse County Road Commission's long-discussed $30 million road and bridge project in East Bay and Garfield townships. The appeal is a procedural step allowed by most federal agencies when reviewing state and local projects. Opponents of the bridge acknowledge that it could be a long shot to convince federal highway officials to reverse themselves on the county's bridge project. The appeal also is a step opponents likely need to take before filing a lawsuit attempting to block the project. In a 12-page document dated Sept. 27 filed with the Federal Highway Administration, the institute raises several issues over the county's environmental studies on the bridge project, including the following: - The county failing to include the city commission's objections to the Hartman-Hammond bridge plans in the final environmental impact statement on the project. Although city officials notified several federal agencies over their concerns about the project, opponents say the county was legally required to document the city's objections as well. - Failure to address issues like noise, pollution and other potential impacts of the project on the Traverse City State Park, which is located near U.S. 31 and Three Mile Road at the north end of the project's corridor. Opponents say that is an oversight by the county that needs to be addressed. "We think they've done a lot of things wrong - that's some of them," said Kelly Thayer of the Michigan Land Use Institute. James Steele, division administrator for the Federal Highway Administration office in Lansing, said Friday that he had not yet seen the institute's request for consideration and declined comment on the group's claims. County road commission manager Mike Dillenbeck dismissed the latest challenge by bridge opponents as another delay tactic that he does not expect to go very far. "There's nothing unusual about these revelations," Dillenbeck said. "They know the answers - they like to ask the questions to burn up time." Bill O'Brien is the reporter for Grand Traverse County. He can be reached at (231) 933-1477 or bobrien@record-eagle.com |
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