![[logo] US EPA](../gif/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Environmental Issues in Southwest Detroit
Contact Information
Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance
Mark Messersmith (messersmith.mark@epa.gov)
312-353-2154 or 800-621-8431, ext. 32154
Map of EPA activity in Southwest Detroit (click to enlarge)
Notice of EPA Community Information Meeting
Regarding Settlement of Air Pollution Claims Against AK Steel
June 24, 2015; 6:00 to 7:30 PM
Salina Elementary School
2700 Ferney Street, Dearborn, MI
The US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) will host a meeting to explain a settlement reached with AK Steel Corporation over past alleged violations of the Clean Air Act. The public may review and comment on the settlement agreement until July 10, 2015Comments should be sent in writing to the Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division; P.O. Box 7611, Washington, DC 20044-7611. Comments can also be sent by email to: pubcomment-ees.enrd@usdoj.gov.
The meeting is for information only. You do not need to attend this meeting to comment on the consent decree. Nor will comments made during the meeting be considered by the court in deciding whether to approve the consent decree.
Background
EPA is responding to environmental concerns raised by citizens in southwest Detroit. We are studying environmental conditions, inspecting facilities, and enforcing environmental laws when violations are found. We are maintaining this web page to provide information and foster communication between local citizens and the many agencies working to protect the environment and public health in southwest Detroit.
Enforcement
Air enforcement documents
MDEQ violation notices against Severstal/AK Steel from August 12, 2008 to October 27, 2014 are available upon request.
- Summary of Consent Decree (PDF) (1pp, 9KB)
- Summary of Consent Decree in Spanish (PDF) (1pp, 39KB)
- Summary of Consent Decree in Arabic (PDF) (1pp, 1099KB)
- AK Steel Proposed Consent Decree(PDF) (56pp, 444KB)
- AK Steel Complaint (PDF) (18PP, 45KB)
- Severstal (currently AK Steel) Finding of Violation 6/15/12 (PDF) (9pp, 85KB)
- Severstal (currently AK Steel) Finding of Violation 3/5/13(PDF) (6pp, 73KB)
- Fritz Products Finding of Violation December 2013 (PDF) (8 pp, 174 K) Dec. 20, 2013
- Recycling and Treatment Technologies of Detroit LLC Administrative Consent Order (PDF) (15 pp, 126K) Sept. 26, 2013
- Recycling and Treatment Technologies of Detroit LLC Consent Agreement and Final Order (PDF) (12 pp, 107 K) Sept. 30, 2013
- DTE Energy Notice and Finding of Violation (PDF) (15 pp, 126K) March 13, 2013
- Severstal Dearborn LLC Notice of Violation/Finding of Violation (PDF) (7 pp, 62K) March 5, 2013
- Severstal Dearborn LLC Notice of Violation/Finding of Violation (PDF) (9 pp, 80K) June 15, 2012
- Marathon Petroleum Company, LP and Catlettsburg Refining, LLC Settlement — April 5, 2012
- Detroit Water and Sewerage Department Notice of Violation (PDF) (8 pp, 61K) January 2012
- Detroit Water and Sewerage Department Administrative Consent Order (PDF) (11 pp, 75K) December 2011
- Recycling and Treatment Technologies of Detroit, LLC Notice of Violation (PDF) (8 pp, 60K) December 2011
- Notice of Violation issued by Michigan DEQ (PDF) (3 pp, 58K) Sept. 19, 2011
- U.S. Steel Corporation-Great Lakes Works Notice of Violation and Finding of Violation (PDF) (6 pp, 64K) June 2011
- Metal Dynamics Detroit, L.L.C. Notice of Violation (PDF) (7 pp, 46K) January 2011
- Fritz Products Finding of Violation (PDF) (9 pp, 265K) September 2010
- Recycling and Treatment Technologies of Detroit, LLC Notice of Violation and Finding of Violation (PDF) (8 pp, 225K) September 2010
- U.S. Steel Corporation - Great Lakes Works Notice of Violation and Finding of Violation (PDF) (30 pp, 1.3MB) September 2009
- DTE Energy Notice of Violation and Finding of Violation (PDF) (17 pp, 861K) July 2009
- Severstal North America, Inc. Notice of Violation and Finding of Violation (PDF) (8 pp, 288K) February 2009
- Metal Dynamics Finding of Violation (PDF) (6 pp, 255K) December 2008
- EES Coke Battery, LLC Notice of Violation and Finding of Violation (PDF) (12 pp, 582K) June 2007
Permits
The following links provide useful information about the Clean Air Act permitting program, and how local citizens can become involved in this process.
- Air Permit Programs
- Public Input in the Title V Permit Program
- Frequently Asked Questions About Air Permits
- EPA Region 5 Plan to Promote Meaningful Engagement of Overburdened Communities in Permitting (PDF) (5 pp, 114 K) April 2013
Health Information and Resources
Outdoor Air Quality
On December 10th, 2014, MDEQ, U.S. EPA and local university partners held a training on understanding air quality data for interested parties in Detroit and surrounding areas. The training covered EPA's air databases, monitoring data, enforcement and compliance data, and other studies that have been conducted in Detroit. The workshop was designed to inform community members about air data and air monitoring in Detroit.
Here 
you will find links to documents and materials from the workshop such as the agenda, summary, and speaker presentations as well as other resource materials.
Asthma and Indoor Air Quality
Community Resources from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
- ATSDR Brownfields /Land Reuse Action Model - helps communities find ways to make health part of the redevelopment process
- ATSDR Hydrogen Sulfide FAQs
- Environmental Health Education for the Public
- Risk Communication Materials
- A Primer on Health Risk Communication - a training course
- A Citizen’s Guide to Risk Assessments and Public Health Assessments
Research
- Detroit Air Toxics Initiative - MDEQ's 2010 risk assessment of air pollutants in the Detroit area
- Assessing Outdoor Air Near Schools - EPA and local agencies monitor the outdoor air around schools for pollutants, including Spain Elementary School in Midtown Detroit
- National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) is EPA's ongoing comprehensive evaluation of air toxics in the US
- Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative - government, communities, non-profit organizations and private companies working together to reduce emissions from diesel engines in the Midwest
- The Detroit Asthma Morbidity, Air Quality and Traffic (DAMAT) Study
- Ozone Transboundary Air Quality Pilot (PDF) (66 pp, 829K) 2005 - addressed ground-level ozone, an important component of smog
- Detroit Steel Mill Project (PDF) (93 pp, 575K) 2006 - Evaluation of PM2.5 Emissions and Controls at Two Michigan Steel Mills and a Coke Oven Battery
- Detroit Multipollutant Control Strategy (PDF) (9 pp, 639K) 2010 - A multi–pollutant, risk–based approach to air quality management: Case study for Detroit
- Community-Scale Air Toxics Ambient Monitoring Project: Delray Community Monitoring Project (PDF) (27 pp, 1.0MB) 2008 - investigate the impact of the international border crossing on air quality and to collect background measurements before the Detroit Intermodal Freight Terminal (DIFT) was built.
Funding Opportunities
- EPA/CDC/ATSDR Federal Grants Guide for Community Environmental and Public Health Activities (PDF) (29 pp, 544K)