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MI ENVIRONMENT
New EGLE office helps to sustain communities along the Great Lakes through the lens of Environmental Justice
Date: May 18, 2021
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The connection between Michigan and other Great Lakes communities is based not only on the region s abundant natural resources and interdependent economies, but also on the impact of those connections on the wellbeing of the area s residents.
As a region with a longstanding industrial past, its residents, particularly those in vulnerable and Environmental Justice communities, have dealt with legacy challenges for decades. Recognizing the resulting complexities, ranging from access to drinking water to residents affected by pollution, the state took action to address impacts on people across the state. In early 2019, Governor Whitmer created the Office of the Environmental Justice Public Advocate and the role of the Environmental Justice Public Advocate.
Event to focus on rebuilding trust, reimagining justice and removing barriers
White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan will address a new federal focus on environmental justice and the connection to state efforts during the inaugural Michigan Environmental Justice Conference, set for May 18-20.
The three-day virtual conference will feature environmental justice experts, advocates, and business leaders, as well as government officials. It is free to attend, but registration is required.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and EPA Administrator Regan will jointly launch the conference at the opening plenary. Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist will serve as the second-day keynote speaker focusing on the intersection of the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities work and environmental justice in Michigan. White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Mallory will serve as the keynote s