EPA Stunts Urban Renewal

[Career/Pro <cpro@igc.apc.org>]

Thursday May 28, 7:38 pm Eastern Time

Company Press Release

SOURCE: Michigan House of Representatives

Michigan House of Representatives: EPA Stunts Urban Renewal

LANSING, Mich. -- The Michigan House of Representatives today issued the 
following release: 

Southeast Michigan lawmaker Andrew Richner supports preserving the 
state's environment but opposes federal regulations that curb urban 
revitalization to preserve ``civil rights.'' 

Richner, R-Grosse Pointe Park, earlier introduced House Resolution 272, 
which urges the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to rescind its 
decision to treat some environmental concerns as civil rights matters. 

Richner will be available to discuss HR 272 while attending the Detroit 
Regional Chamber Mackinac Conference Thursday, May 28, through Sunday, 
May 31, at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. 

While at the conference, Richner will participate in panel discussions 
Friday and Saturday morning. He will participate in the ``Environmental 
Issues'' panel in the Terrace Room at 7:45 a.m. Friday and the ``Judging 
the Judicial Process'' panel at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Brighton pavilion. 

Richner and other state lawmakers also will be available for informal 
``lunch with the legislators'' discussions Friday and Saturday. 

Richner hopes to bring more attention to House Resolution 272 during the 
conference. ``Treating environmental concerns as civil rights matters 
stifles urban renewal that would benefit everyone,'' he said. 

``The EPA guidelines will raise the cost of doing business in urban areas 
and will drive business out into greenfield areas,'' Richner said. ``It 
is in direct contravention of our efforts to redevelop brownfields and 
urban industrial sites.'' 

EPA and U.S. Justice Department officials claim any state regulatory 
decision that increases the environmental burden on a minority community 
could violate the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964. 

Forty-nine of fifty states which are members of the Environmental Council 
of States have voted to pass a resolution urging the EPA to rescind its 
interim guidelines, in light of the detrimental consequences of the 
guidelines. 

HR 272 urges the EPA to work with states to develop a policy that 
maintains state authority and establishes definitions, standards and 
methods to deal with issues such as cumulative exposure, human health, 
local zoning and land use and urban renewal efforts. 

"States know best how to handle urban renewal projects," Richner said. 
"The federal government shouldn't get involved in approving and denying 
local permits." 

"And states can curb local discrimination," Richner said. 

"Michigan has a strong commitment to preventing discrimination," he said. 
"Sound enforcement of state laws and regulations is the best way 
to provide social and environmental equality."

SOURCE: Michigan House of Representatives