Former Owner of Collapsed Michigan Dam Found Liable for $119M in Environmental Damage

The former owner of the Edenville Dam in Michigan has been found liable for nearly $120 million in environmental damages caused by the dam's failure in May 2020. The U.S. District Court judge ruled in favor of the Michigan departments of Natural Resources and Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, holding Lee Mueller, the former owner of Boyce Hydro Power LLC, responsible for the extensive damage to area fisheries and freshwater mussel populations. The dam failure resulted in widespread flooding, causing over $200 million in damage and the evacuation of thousands of people. The judgment serves as a measure of accountability and a deterrent to other owners of critical infrastructure.