KALAMAZOO, MI – The Green Party of Michigan calls on all officials elected and appointed to put an immediate stop to the poisoning of Kalamazoo citizens residing near Graphic Packaging International’s paper plant and the city’s wastewater treatment facility.

Despite hundreds of complaints, and no less than 14 violation notices from the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, as well as fines and recommendations from the same department, this problem has persisted for over ten years. It shows a willful disregard of the safety of the neighborhood and Kalamazoo in general by Graphic Packaging.

Green Party of Michigan
https://migreenparty.org/

For Immediate Release
June 20, 2023

Contact:
Press Contact/Communications Manager, Jim Becklund  [email protected]

From an article published by WWMT Channel 3 a neighbor, Ms Andrews spoke on the situation: “You say that there are no short term effects but there are, so many of us here have felt them,” she said. “I have asthma and I smell Graphic Packaging all the time. Often times the odors are present on the weekends when Egle is not in the office, early in the morning and late at night.”

For the safety of nearby residents and plant workers, GPI must be compelled to transition to clean and sustainable operations. Half-measures aimed at merely reducing the amount of toxic gasses being released by the facilities are inadequate.
The Green Party of Michigan supports the 150+ households who have filed suit against GPI for $5M in damages, and Brandi Crawford-Johnson, who has filed complaints with a department of the Environmental Protection Agency against EGLE for its mishandling of this issue.

More info:
https://www.michigan.gov/egle/about/organization/air-quality/facility-specific-info/graphic-packaging

Graphic Packaging spill into Kalamazoo River triggers state and city violations - mlive.com

Town Hall KzooCitizens protest over toxins found in the air near their homes in Kalamazoo - mlive.com

Feds launch civil rights investigation over state's permits for Graphic Packaging Plant | WWMT

Judge allows federal air pollution lawsuit to move forward against Kalamazoo factory | WWMT

Her 17-Year-Old Daughter Died of a Severe Asthma Attack, Son on Life Support Due to TOXIC Kalamazoo Paper Mill

Concerns over Graphic Packaging emissions are 'top priority,' city says A $600 million lawsuit accuses GPI and the City of Kalamazoo of Clean Air Act violations

Status Coup report (the Kalamazoo situation begins at 51:25)

Photo
Kalamazoo Graphic Packaging Plant
Copyright: Joel Bissell, MLive.com ©2022