Congressman Bill Huizenga is asking the Environmental Protection Agency to remove parts of southwest Michigan from its list of areas that are in violation of air quality standards. He tells us Berrien County is among the counties the EPA says have high smog levels. However, it’s Huizenga’s belief the pollution comes from across Lake Michigan. He says having this designation could lead to real problems in Berrien County.
“They have not put the specific consequences in place as of yet, but going back to when I was a staffer for Peter Hoekstra back in the late 90s and early 2000s when the state was going through that, at the time what they were proposing was things like banning outdoor barbecues, banning the ability to use a gas lawn mower, doing tailpipe emissions testing,” Huizenga said.
It’s more likely some industries would face certain emissions limits as a result of the decision. Also on the EPA’s nonattainment of air standards list are parts of Allegan and Muskegon counties. Huizenga, along with Congressmen Tim Walberg and John Moolenaar, have sent a letter to the EPA voicing their concerns. He says the three have not had success in finding a sympathetic ear in Lansing, particularly from the governor.
