State Offering Assistance to Those Left Cleaning Up

Officials are offering assistance for those left with debris on their property from December's ice storm.  Those in certain communities can now drop off the fallen and cut tree branches to landfills by order of the State 

The emergency order was issued Monday by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to help those in six counties--deemed to be hit hardest by the storm--to help clear debris from their land and nearby roadways  The debris has been seen as hindering operations of crews working to restore power in the area.

Accordiing to the order, up to 10,000 tons of tree trimmings and other yard clippings cleared from each county may be disposed of in licensed Type II landfills through the end of March.  Currently, that type of debris is not allowed in landfills.  The emergency declaration suspends that.

The six counties included in the order are: Barry, Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Ingham and Shiawassee.   The order, though, may be extended to others as reports of damage continue to come in.