Governor Gretchen Whitmer is restructuring the state’s Department of Environmental Quality.
The DEQ has been under scrutiny and criticism following its handling of the Flint water crisis.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer says Michigan needs to be – quote – “laser focused” on ensuring Michigan has clean drinking water. The new Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy creates a few new offices – Those offices will be focused on environmental justice and water.
Sean Hammond is with the Michigan Environmental Council. He says this is a first step.
“We know these things need to happen and now we have kind of the groundwork to move forward.”
Whitmer also entered Michigan into the US Climate Alliance. That’s an agreement with more than a dozen other governors to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.