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Community speaks out on Ice Mt. plan 01/11/2007 Wood Tv Article
WHITE CLOUD -- Newyago
County residents are worried about a plan to pump water near
the White River. Ice Mountain wants to build a well and pump
groundwater to be bottled at its plant in Stanwood.
The company says the 600-acre site on private property would not take anything directly from the river and adds state regulations are so tight, Ice Mountain won't be able to get a permit if the White River is at risk. Hundreds of county residents don't like the plan. They're worried how the plan would affect one of the best trout fishing rivers in the state. "It's the best tasting water that you can have," said county resident Shirley Anderson. "Secondly, I fish it, I enjoy it. I take walks by it, my daughter has. It's not a replaceable resource." "Our intention would be to never affect the White River and we know that's very important here," said Ice Mountain spokeswoman Deborah Muchmore. The environmental impact studies should be finished by next fall. If those pass, the company has to go through the process for a state permit which will take at least one year. Any possible construction would not start until Fall 2008.
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