LANSING – State Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) today is applauding local residents for taking a stand on the proposed plan to build a second Ambassador Bridge span, saying their opposition at a public hearing on Tuesday night has pushed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to take a closer look at the project.
"This is a victory for our residents who refused to back down on this plan that has the potential to do so much damage in our community," Tlaib said. "I have heard from people who fear that their children are going develop asthma and other serious health complications because of the increased pollution that a second Ambassador span would bring. This meeting was the last chance to insist that the federal government require an Environmental Impact Study, and it looks like it has paid off."
A final public hearing on the bridge expansion took place at Amelia Earhart Middle School on Tuesday, drawing a crowd of more than 500 people. Many people turned out to testify against the federal government's finding that a second Ambassador Bridge span would have "no significant impact" on the air quality of Southwest Detroit. Tlaib said she spoke with an official from the EPA who attended the meeting. Due to the concerns expressed by the residents who turned out in droves, the EPA will now be taking a closer look at the impact that a second span would have on southwest Detroit, Tlaib said.
Tlaib pointed out that prior to the federal government's finding of "no significant impact," a bi-national study between the United States and Canada determined that the proposed twin span would raise significant air quality issues in Southwest Detroit.
"I found it extremely upsetting that the government originally determined a second span would have 'no significant impact' on our community," Tlaib said. "As the federal Environmental Protection Agency stated in 2007, the twin span plan is poorly researched. After seeing how deeply concerned our residents are about this project, the EPA will be taking a closer look at this project. This is great news for Southwest Detroit and for those residents who took a stand and came forward to share their concerns."