Political Quotes

“On November 26, 2019, during the Thanksgiving holiday, a dock piled with aggregates collapsed into the Detroit River. Local and State authorities were slow to communicate with each other, and misinformation quickly spread. Concerns about polluted drinking water, even radioactive contamination, caused confusion and concern in my district. Many of us learned about the collapse from a Canadian newspaper, which published an article days after the collapse. Over 2 months later, the site continues to deteriorate. The shoreline continues to erode, and contaminated soil is still spilling into the water. More recently, a sinkhole developed at the site, discharging even more contaminants into the water. The area's long-serving industrial history was another source of concern for public health and the environment. During the 1940s and the 1950s, the site produced uranium for the development of the atomic bomb. Recently, the site has been leased to companies openly storing toxic chemicals and piles of aggregates along the water. Mr. Speaker, I am disappointed in the site owner's lack of urgency to quickly fix this problem. Over 2 months later, aggregate is still spilling into the water. The owners have failed to address the erosion and, now, the emerging sinkhole. Mr. Speaker, I join with the EPA and the Michigan Department of Environmental, Great Lakes, and Energy, or EGLE, to hold this owner accountable to the fullest extent possible.…”