Overview:

-Detroit's air quality is under scrutiny as the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) targets the Edw. C. Levy Company for violations.
-A proposed consent order demands a fine and a compliance plan, with further penalties for future breaches. The company must also undertake a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) for environmental benefit.
-Residents have until Oct. 25, 2024, to voice their opinions, and are urged to join the public hearing to discuss this enforcement action.

Detroit residents have until Oct.25, 2024, to share their thoughts on a proposed enforcement action by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) against the Edw. C. Levy Company. The company, which operates multiple industrial facilities in Detroit, is facing penalties for violations related to air quality at two of its local sites.

The proposed consent order, currently open for public comment, addresses fallout violations at Levy’s Plant 6 and odor violations at its Section 2 facility. 

The draft consent order outlines a monetary fine and compliance plan to ensure that Levy’s operations meet state air quality standards. If future violations occur, the company will face additional fines. 

Levy is also expected to complete a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP), a voluntary initiative to benefit the environment as part of the settlement. These projects typically offer local benefits. The details of the proposed SEP include spending a minimum of $354,953 to replace a 1965 haul truck with a new truck.

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This enforcement action and public hearing come as Detroit residents continue to call for stronger environmental protections, particularly in neighborhoods disproportionately affected by industrial pollution.

Air quality and environmental justice remain central issues for communities in the city, and public input on the consent order is a chance for Detroiters to push for stronger measures to protect their health and environment.

How to Get Involved

Residents can submit comments via email, mail, or by phone:

  • Email: MoranE@Michigan.gov
  • Mail: EGLE, Air Quality Division, Enforcement Unit, P.O. Box 30260, Lansing, MI 48909-7760
  • Voicemail: 517-284-0900
  • Virtual Public Hearing: October 15 at 6:00 p.m. (Register here or dial in at 636-651-3142, conference code 374288)

Visit EGLE’s Proposed Consent Order webpage for more details on the case, including a recording of a previous informational session and the draft Consent Order.

For questions, contact Erin Moran at MoranE@Michigan.gov or 517-275-0883.To learn more about air quality permit violations across the state, visit Planet Detroit’s Michigan Air Permit Violations tracker.

Correction: A previous version of this story did not include details of the proposed Supplemental Environmental Project.

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Nina Misuraca Ignaczak is an award-winning Metro Detroit-based editor, journalist, and documentary filmmaker. She is the founder, publisher, and editor of Planet Detroit, a digital media startup focused on producing quality climate, equity, health, and environment journalism that centers grassroots voices, holds power accountable, and spotlights solutions. Planet Detroit has received awards and recognition from the Society for Professional Journalists Detroit, the Institute for Nonprofit News, and LION Publishers since its establishment in 2019. Prior to her journalism career, Nina worked in urban planning in local government and nonprofit sectors, holding a Master of Science in Natural Resource Ecology and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.