Marathon petroleum plant (Photo by Wendy Sadoff)
You have to wonder whether the state Department of Environmental Quality really cares about the people of Michigan.
You might recall the agency kept telling the city of Flint that its water was safe to drink when in fact it was not, that it had dangerous levels of lead that may do great damage to the health of children and adults in that city for some time to come.
Now comes this.
Keith Matheny of the Detroit Free Press reports about a Southwest Detroit refinery:
State environmental regulators are poised to allow the Marathon Detroit Refinery to increase emissions of at least eight air pollutants at its southwest side facility, further angering nearby residents who say they're already suffering by having to deal with the smell of sulfur that hangs in the air, while white and gray billows of smoke from the refinery's stacks provide a dreary visual backdrop for their forgotten neighborhoods.
The state Department of Environmental Quality has announced it proposes to approve Marathon's revised air pollution permits, for a refinery modernization and expansion that would increase its emissions of oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, small particulate pollution, and sulfuric acid mist.
Marathon's proposal also would increase emissions of sulfur dioxide by 22 tons per year in an area the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has designated as being "in non-attainment" for the pollutant — meaning out of compliance with federal air pollution standards.
The paper says the change lets Marathon produce a lower-sulfur gasoline meeting EPA's "Tier 3" fuel standards, requirements for lower sulfur fuel that take effect in 2017. Some question whether local residents should suffer so the company can produce cleaner gasoline.
A hearing is set.
The state agency will hold an informational session on Marathon refinery's plan from 6-7 p.m. Wednesday at the River Rouge High School auditorium, 1460 W. Coolidge Highway, River Rouge, with a public hearing to follow at 7 p.m. The agency will consider public comments before final actions on Marathon's applications.
-- Allan Lengel
