Despite two federal civil rights investigations and a lawsuit, Michigan allowed operations to start

Earthjustice Attorney Debbie Chizewer, who represented the five community groups, said the judge’s decision is urgent as Ajax began testing operations this week. “Environmental justice is critically important in this appeal because of the consequences of the facility,” Attorney John Petoskey, representing the community groups, said. “We’re hoping that that was communicated today and it…

Five community groups respond to Ajax in a final briefing before the Genesee County Circuit Court. The groups are appealing a decision by Michigan’s environmental agency to allow the Ajax corporation to install a toxic asphalt plant in a predominantly Black, low-income, and environmentally overburdened neighborhood.

Brief in Genesee County Circuit Court responds to Ajax’s arguments, which ask the court to undo the modest pollution controls included in their permit.

In the fall of 2021, Michigan’s environmental agency (EGLE) authorized the Ajax corporation to build a toxic hot-mix asphalt plant near Flint. Close to 3,000 people live within a one-mile radius of the plant site, in a low-income area already overburdened with industrial polluters. The asphalt plant will release harmful chemicals like sulfur dioxide and…

Community groups point to Michigan’s history of racial discrimination in environmental permitting

Members of the Coalition to Stop Ajax Asphalt Plant present arguments to the Genesee County Circuit Court to appeal a decision by Michigan’s environmental agency to allow the Ajax corporation to install a toxic asphalt plant in a predominantly Black, low-income, and environmentally overburdened neighborhood.

Archival research shows evidence of Genesee Township’s discriminatory intent when it approved the zoning and building permits for the Ajax asphalt plant.

The EPA responds to requests for guidelines and assistance following EGLE’s approval of the Ajax asphalt plant in Flint.

Environmental Protection Agency’s External Civil Rights Compliance Office (ECRCO) will investigate whether the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) discriminated in approving the Ajax asphalt plant specifically and through its air permit program generally.

On behalf of its members, directors, and staff, Flint Rising, the Environmental Transformation Movement of Flint, Michigan United, C.A.U.T.I.O.N., and the St. Francis Prayer Center claims an appeal of the decision of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), on November 15, 2021, to issue Air Permit to Install No. 90-21 (Permit) to Ajax Materials Corporation. The Permit is attached as Exhibit 1 to this Claim of Appeal.

The Ajax plant will dump lead and other air pollutants in a community still reeling from lead poisoning

Residents of Genesee County file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development over the local approval of a polluting hot-mix asphalt plant.

Asphalt plant will dump air pollution in a Black community unrecovered from lead poisoning

Asphalt plant will pump more pollution into the air in a community not yet recovered from lead poisoning

Comments submitted during the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) public participation period to oppose the air quality permit for Ajax, based on the cumulative impacts of adding another asphalt plant in an already environmentally over-burdened community.