Residents from Dearborn’s Southend are encouraged to join others living in Wayne County’s heavily polluted ZIP codes on March 11 for a meeting about harmful SO2 emissions in Wayne County at River Rouge High School, 1460 W. Coolidge Highway, River Rouge MI 48218. 

A portion of Wayne County is failing to meet and state federal standards for sulfur dioxide emissions.  There are 92 schools in the high pollution area. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found that sulfur dioxide levels in this area exceed safe levels for human health and is requiring the state to submit a plan to remedy the situation. According to the Sierra Club’s Detroit Chapter, two of DTE’s power plants account for more than 80 percent of sulfur dioxide emissions in Wayne County. 

In response, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) is holding hearings for the permits that have been filed by DTE. 

The information session will be held at 6 p.m. and there will be a public hearing at 7 p.m. For more information. please email

Rhonda.anderson@sierraclub.org

or bradvanguilder@Sierraclub.org.