The Ecology Center and Clear the Air are backing two new bills aimed at protecting communities already burdened by excessive air pollution from hosting additional polluting industries.
The Protecting Overburdened Communities Act — SB 479 and HB 4742 — would require the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to assess current pollution levels before issuing new permits in affected neighborhoods.
“These are communities on the front lines that suffer from the combined effects of heavy industry, diesel exhaust from trucks and trains, and other sources of pollution,” said Kathryn Savoie, Director of Equity and Environmental Justice at the Ecology Center.
Senator Stephanie Chang, who represents District 3 in metro Detroit and sponsors the Senate bill, says the legislation is critical for parts of her district already facing significant environmental burdens. “EGLE would have to take into account the health hazards the community is currently experiencing and how the new facility’s emissions would combine with existing pollution before granting a permit,” Sen. Chang said. “This is common sense and the right thing to do for our overburdened communities.”
State Representative Donavan McKinney, the House bill sponsor and a lifelong Detroiter, was diagnosed with asthma at a young age. “For far too long, low-income residents and communities of color have borne an unfair burden of pollution, leading to chronic health disparities,” Rep. McKinney said. “This legislation is about ensuring that every Michigander, regardless of their zip code, has the fundamental right to breathe clean air and drink clean water.”
The new legislation comes at a time when federal efforts to weaken clean air protections threaten to reverse decades of progress. Recent moves to dismantle key pollution safeguards could make state-level protections even more urgent.
Advocates have launched a campaign website, cleartheairmi.org/poca, where residents can learn more and show support.
The full press conference is available on Engage Michigan’s Facebook page.
Watch a short Instagram video about the press conference and the Protecting Overburdened Communities Act from the Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition.
