When residents of Flint protested the construction of a new asphalt plant last year, EGLE’s top official sent a letter to the EPA saying the decision highlighted “the limitations” of the law to address their concerns. The EPA under President Joe Biden is also directing changes that could spur stiffer enforcement of pollution violations in disadvantaged communities near highways, factories and refineries.
“These conditions exist because of structural discrimination by government and private industry hidden under the cloak of race-neutral language,” Andrew Bashi, a staff attorney at the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center, said in an emailed statement. “We’re hopeful that the EPA understands the significance of this complaint and undertakes a full audit of the policies and practices that have allowed the State of Michigan to get away with this for far too long.”
The complaint stopped short of asking EGLE to repeal the Jeep plant permit. Instead, it argued that the agency should investigate whether the decision to issue the permit violated civil rights law, and that the process going forward should change.
“Acceptance of a complaint for investigation in no way amounts to a decision on the merits,” an EPA spokesperson said. “Rather, it means the complaint has met the jurisdictional criteria.”
“Michigan EGLE looks forward to EPA’s review of Michigan permitting decisions and processes to ensure that the state is doing everything within its authority to protect vulnerable communities, and to receive guidance from EPA in doing so most effectively,” the state regulator said in an emailed statement.
Stellantis, which was formed from the merger of Fiat Chrysler and PSA Group last year, declined to comment.
