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Gun Plain Township concerned over contents of dumped soil

ALLEGAN COUNTY, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Neighbors in Gun Plain Township say they don't think M-DOT is telling them the whole truth about a construction project happening there.

They want to know more about where the soil being dumped at Highway 131 and 106th Avenue for a road construction project came from, and they're asking for proof it's safe to use.

Residents in the area started to notice that M-DOT trucks were dumping what appeared to be gray sludge.

They became more concerned when they learned the material was coming from the Kalamazoo River.

M-DOT says the material came from along the banks of the Kalamazoo River at a bridge construction project in Allegan.

It was moved to Gun Plain Township to fill in an off ramp project at Highway 131.

Regarding possible contamination, M-DOT says the material has been tested multiple times.

By now, the dumping has completed, the area is covered over and grass has been planted.

Neigbors contend however that as long as there is no independent test of the ground, there will always be questions.

M-DOT meanwhile says the township is free to do its own testing if it wants, but that it would be a waste of taxpayer money, because the department has already tested so many times on its own.

Representatives will also be meeting the people in Gun Plain Township to explain what it's doing next week--April 19th--at 7:00 p.m. at the Township Hall.