VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP, Mich., Aug, 30, 2024 — State Rep. Reggie Miller (D-Van Buren Township) has called on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to halt plans to dispose of hazardous waste in Wayne County. In a letter sent today to EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan, Miller expressed concerns about the potential risks of the proposed disposal of hazardous waste from the Manhattan Project at the Wayne Disposal facility in Van Buren Township.
“I am making the call for the immediate stop of the delivery of this toxic waste to my district. The potential that this waste could be brought into our hometown, where it could endanger both citizens and their health, is unacceptable,” Miller said. “Residents deserve to live without hazardous waste in their backyard. Not to mention that the Great Lakes, the largest supply of freshwater in the nation, requires safeguards against any risk of contamination.”
In her letter, Miller emphasized the importance of finding alternative disposal sites that are located far from densely populated areas and freshwater resources. She also noted that low-income communities and communities of color often bear a disproportionate burden of toxic waste disposal. She urged the agency to put people first to prevent the long-term consequences the waste may have.
“As we advocate for the safety and health of all Michiganders, I am urging the EPA to take immediate action to stop this dangerous plan,” Miller continued. “We must explore all available options to ensure that this waste is disposed of in a manner that poses no threat to local communities or natural resources.”
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