Fight for Environmental Justice in Michigan

*Uploaded May 3, 2025

What’s Happening:
Michigan communities are still living with the impact of environmental neglect and water contamination. In Flint, residents continue to struggle with lead exposure. In Detroit and surrounding areas, outdated infrastructure and pollution have created unsafe conditions, especially for low-income and Black residents.

Why This Matters in Michigan:
Clean water and healthy environments should not be a privilege. Marginalized communities face the worst consequences when governments delay action. Michigan needs stronger infrastructure and faster emergency response to environmental health issues, especially in historically underserved areas.

Take Action Now:

• Write to your state and federal reps demanding investment in clean water infrastructure

• Support organizations that are actively pushing for environmental justice reform

• Sign the petition calling for emergency EPA action in Flint

🔗 Resources:

• ACLU Petition to the EPA – Flint Water Crisis

---

Why These Reps?

Environmental health is shaped by decisions made at every level of government. These officials influence funding, emergency response, and infrastructure priorities.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has the power to declare state emergencies, reallocate funding, and direct immediate state-level action on water safety and contamination issues.

Your State Representative and Senator can introduce or support legislation to improve infrastructure funding, environmental testing, and public health protections in under-resourced communities.

Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) sets statewide environmental policies and monitors pollution. Public pressure can influence their response timelines and enforcement efforts.

Federal Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow can help unlock federal emergency resources, grants, and infrastructure packages tied to environmental justice.

By sending letters to both state and federal officials, your voice supports long-term infrastructure investment and urgent local action for clean water access.

Send to:

• Governor Gretchen Whitmer

• Your State House and Senate Reps

• Michigan EGLE

• Senator Gary Peters

• Senator Debbie Stabenow (or Elissa Slotkin if newly seated)

---

Physical Letter Template

Your Name
City, ZIP Code
Email or Phone
Date

To: [Representative or Senator’s Name]
Michigan State Legislature
Lansing, MI 48933

Subject: Address Michigan’s Environmental Justice Crisis

Dear [Senator or Representative Last Name],

I am writing to ask you to take urgent action to address environmental injustice in Michigan, particularly in communities like Flint and Detroit that continue to suffer from unsafe water and pollution.

Clean water and a healthy environment should not be negotiable. Yet, low-income communities and communities of color are still living with contamination, infrastructure failures, and government inaction.

I urge you to support stronger environmental protections, immediate infrastructure investment, and emergency responses that prioritize the safety and wellbeing of all residents.

Thank you for your leadership on this issue.

Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[City, ZIP Code]

Email Template

Subject: Urgent Action Needed on Michigan Environmental Justice

Dear [Senator or Representative Last Name],

I am writing as a concerned constituent to ask you to prioritize environmental justice in Michigan. Flint still lacks clean, safe water. Many neighborhoods in Detroit and surrounding communities continue to suffer from outdated systems and pollution.

We need immediate investment in clean water infrastructure and a faster emergency response for environmental health crises.

Please take bold action to protect all Michigan residents, regardless of zip code or income.

Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[City, ZIP Code]

---

Governor Gretchen Whitmer

• Mailing Address:
  The Honorable Gretchen Whitmer
  P.O. Box 30013
  Lansing, MI 48909

• Phone: (517) 335-7858

• Website: michigan.gov/whitmer

Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)

• Mailing Address:
  Michigan EGLE – Constitution Hall
  525 W. Allegan St.
  Lansing, MI 48933

• Phone: (800) 662-9278

• Website: michigan.gov/egle

United States Senator Gary Peters

• Mailing Address:
  The Honorable Gary Peters
  724 Hart Senate Office Building
  Washington, DC 20510

• Phone: (202) 224-6221

• Website: peters.senate.gov

• Email Form: Contact Gary Peters

State Representative Kelly Breen (District 21)

• Mailing Address:
  Representative Kelly Breen
  S-785 House Office Building
  P.O. Box 30014
  Lansing, MI 48909

• Phone: (517) 373-2575

• Email: kellybreen@house.mi.gov

• Website: housedems.com/kelly-breen

State Senator Mallory McMorrow (District 8)

• Mailing Address:
  Senator Mallory McMorrow
  4300 Binsfeld Office Building
  P.O. Box 30036
  Lansing, MI 48909

• Phone: (517) 373-2523

• Email: senmmcmorrow@senate.michigan.gov

• Website: senatedems.com/mcmorrow