news

TRENTON, MI – Today, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) led a tour of the former McLouth Steel site in Trenton with Dennis Schreibeis, Director of Crown Enterprises, representatives of US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), and contractors responsible for cleaning the site.

Joining the tour was Michael Samhat President of Crown Enterprises, Riverview Mayor Andy Swift, Trenton Mayor Kyle Stack, Downriver Brownfield Consortium Chairman Jim Wagner, Gibralter Mayor Jim Gorris, Brownstown Supervisor Andy Linko, Grosse Ile Township Treasurer Ted Van Os, Wyandotte Councilman Rob Desana, Riverview Councilwoman Lynn Blanchette, Wayne County Commissioner Joseph Palamara, State Representative Darrin Camilleri, State Representative Cara Clemente, and Downriver Community Conference Executive Director Jim Perry.

Photos from Wednesday’s visit are available here and here.

“Monthly I meet with Downriver mayors and leaders, I hear their communities concerns about the work being done at McLouth and ensuring that there will not be further water, land, or air contamination. Crown Enterprises welcomed the opportunity to show the work being done at the site. We heard directly from contractors responsible for the cleanup as they conducted the tour. We saw where buildings had been torn down, environmental monitors on the site, and heard plans for the 18 months, and processes to ensure work is being done safely.

“It is clear that there is deep community interest. Everyone understands that it is a top priority to cleanup this site in a safe and effective manner. For too long, it has been an eyesore in this community and it also has become a symbol of the past. Not one of us can do this alone. Protecting the environment and Downriver residents will take everyone working together,” said Dingell.

Last fall at the urging of Dingell, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed adding the McLouth Steel site to the Superfund Program’s National Priorities List.

Dingell continued, “The work to clean up the site is huge. Multiple environmental incidents over the decades must be addressed. Everyone must keep working together to clean up the site, get the plant taken down, and protect the air, the ground and the water.”

###