Detroit dust ordinance heads to City Council for final approval
The ordinance would allow the city to fine violators between $500 and $2,000 based on a visual test conducted by city inspectors.
A proposed ordinance to limit “fugitive dust” in Detroit and create more stringent air quality rules for commercial facilities is headed to City Council for final approval this week.
Fugitive dust is pollution that comes from commercial sites, often a side effect of construction and moving heavy materials around.
The ordinance would allow the city to fine violators between $500 and $2,000 based on a visual test conducted by city inspectors. It passed out of the Health and Safety Committee on Monday after a public hearing, though environmental advocates believe real-time air monitoring would be more reliable than the visual tests.
Dearborn recently updated its fugitive dust ordinance to help limit air pollution in the city, and Detroit City Councilmember Mary Waters says she is working to do the same.
She joined The Metro on Wednesday to talk about fugitive dust, and how she says it’s contributing to increased health complications for those in the community.
“The reason that we are looking into this is the lives of the citizens of the city of Detroit,” Waters said. “We suffer abnormally high rates of cardiovascular disease asthma, cancer and that is due to all the construction that’s going on, all the various trucks that are running throughout the city.”
Waters believes the ordinance will pass within the next week and says she will continue to advocate for clean air in the city of Detroit.
Use the video player below to hear the full interview with Waters, beginning at the 0:40 mark.
Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.
WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.
