Take Action on COVID-19 for Environmental Justice!

Take Action on COVID-19 to Support Environmental Justice!

Make a call, send an email, or send a letter! Encourage friends and family to do the same.

1. Urge the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) and the City of Flint to:

Keep all families connected to clean water during and after the coronavirus pandemic.
Make water affordability possible by creating affordable, income-based water rates (Check out this U-M research for specific policy recommendations to support water affordability for all people.

2. Urge the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) to:

Prioritize Michigan residents by extending public comment period timelines by 60 days for any companies seeking permits to pollute while residents cannot attend in-person public hearings.
Also, tell EGLE that you’re concerned that companies are asking the State of Michigan to give them more time or other kinds of flexibility to not follow Michigan’s environmental laws. For more info on this and the downloadable list of companies, see the State’s webpage “EGLE Establishes Process for Handling Enforcement Discretion Due to COVID-19.”
Reject the EPA’s decision to relax enforcement of federal environmental laws - which encourages companies to pollute more and watch/report less for pollution they cause - across the U.S., including in Michigan.

3. With most people staying at home and increasing hand washing, Flint residents are coming into more contact with the Flint water and the water crisis state of emergency still has not been lifted. Ask the City of Flint to provide a community update on what’s happening with our water quality, pipes, and other water-related services.

Last, and definitely not least, please take care of yourself. Make your immune system as strong as possible. Connect with nature and show your immediate family how much you love them through outdoor activities (close to home and following social distancing) and storytelling. Stay home to stay safe, and not spread coronavirus in our community. You matter and we need you.

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