DETROIT — On Tuesday, officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) held a meeting at the Delry Community Center here to obtain input on potential supplemental environmental projects (SEP) and provide information about EPA’s and MDEQ’s current enforcement action against Severstal Dearborn. 

The meeting comes after Severstal announced plans to revise a 2006 emissions permit, hoping to get approval to release more than 725 times more lead into the air. 

EPA and MDEQ have issued several violation notices alleging that Severstal has emitted pollutants into the air from various emission sources in amounts that exceed limits established by state and federal regulations, as well as Severstal’s operating permit. The parties are in negotiations with Severstal to resolve the violations. As part of any settlement, Severstal may perform a SEP. 

A SEP is an environmentally beneficial project that must improve, protect or reduce risks to public health or the environment at large. 

An official from the U.S. Department of Justice was present, in addition to several frustrated residents who voiced concerns about living with pollution over the years.  

In the days leading up to the meeting, the Free Press reported the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Gov. Rick Snyder’s business promoting agency, worked for months behind the scenes with Severstal as the company lobbied the MDEQ for permission to release even higher levels of pollutants and avoid current air quality regulations. 

“I know people from DEQ, especially people who have been out in my neighborhood, and you guys have been sticking up with the people who are sticking up for the people going against us, now that is the frustration,” said Jacqueline Smith, a southwest Detroit resident, who is originally from West Virginia.

“I did not have to live under this devastating dramatic smell, noise and everything that shortens your life, it wasn’t until I moved here, and it won’t be until you all live where I live. Trade places with us… Give a better understanding of what they are doing because what I see now, I don’t see any change in what they said seven or eight years ago. Nothing is being done, and you bring all your computers and paperwork and can’t even answer a question,” said Smith. 

Adel Mozip, a Dearborn resident, said students at Salina Elementary School in Dearborn are the ones most impacted by pollution in the area. He says the local park is not safe for Salina students to play in because of all the toxic fumes in the area.  He suggests that as part of the enforcement action a recreation center should be built that houses a swimming pool, so that students can stay indoors all day. 

“Why can’t there be a plan where you say this is how you are going to reduce emissions over time?” he said. 

In terms of enforcement action, residents say they want to make sure monitoring pollutants becomes a top priority.  “Planting trees and street sweeping, that is not what folks are asking for,” one resident said. 

Another resident also suggested injective relief. “How many violations have to be accounted for before you shut a company down? Can you answer that?” she said. 

There are several other polluters in and around Southwest Detroit, and Severstal is not entirely responsible for the issue.  

Vincent Martin, who lives in southwest Detroit and works for Human Synergy Works, says that over the years, residents have requested to have studies performed to test the level of pollution. “It is something we have been asking for about 10-15 years,” Martin said. 

He says residents in the area are victims of the pollution, and, as a result, their health has suffered tremendously. According to him, many have respiratory problems.  

“On my street alone out of 25 houses, maybe like 17 people have died of some type of cancer,” he said.