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Cass County Conservation District reports tentative EGLE audit pass; lanternfly sighting under investigation
Summary
The Cass County Conservation District told commissioners it has tentatively passed a Michigan EGLE audit of its soil erosion and sedimentation control program pending submission of inspection reports and an updated priority matrix. The district also reported a possible spotted lanternfly sighting that is being investigated.
A representative of the Cass County Conservation District told the Board of Commissioners on Oct. 16 that the district has tentatively passed a state audit by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) of its soil erosion and sedimentation control (SESC) program, contingent on submitting two near-term documents.
The Cass County Conservation District representative (name not stated) said the remaining items EGLE is awaiting are the site inspection reports from that day and an updated site-priority matrix; once those are submitted, the audit will be completed successfully. The representative said the review covers site inspections, enforcement procedures, and permitting practices and noted the audit process had been under way for about two-and-a-half years.
The representative also reported a locally reported sighting of the invasive spotted lanternfly, but said investigation by the local CISMA (cooperative invasive species management area) had not yet confirmed the species locally. The representative said residents should remain vigilant and noted the insect has been confirmed in South Bend, Indiana.
Public reporting and board follow-up: The conservation district asked the board whether it preferred receiving SESC reports monthly or quarterly going forward; the board asked staff to follow up by email to set the reporting cadence. The representative thanked the board for support of the district's program heading into the new fiscal year.
Context: A successful EGLE audit clears the county conservation district to continue SESC permitting and enforcement under state expectations; submission of the two remaining documents is administrative and, per the representative, is expected to close the review.
