Assessing the State of Environmental Justice in Michigan

Abstract

This study sought to address the research question, “What is the state of environmental justice in Michigan?” In doing so, the team addressed the feasibility of creating a publicly available, accessible Michigan-specific screening tool that would display environmental, social, and health data relevant to environmental justice. This research had two main components: one qualitative and one quantitative. Qualitative methodology involved conducting semi-structured, in-depth interviews with thirty environmental justice leaders in the state of Michigan. Quantitative methodology involved comparing the data and methodologies used in the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (US EPA) EJScreen, California Environmental Protection Agency’s (CalEPA) CalEnviroScreen, and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (MPCA) Story Map and What’s in My Neighborhood screening tools. Publicly available social and environmental data from the US Census Bureau, US Department of Housing and Urban Development, and US EPA were spatially and statistically analyzed according to CalEPA and MPCA’s methodologies. A map incorporating best practices from both agencies was created and uploaded onto ArcGIS Online to demonstrate the feasibility of creating a Michigan-specific screening tool. Results of this research demonstrate that environmental harms and goods are not equitably distributed throughout Michigan, that developing a Michigan-specific screening tool is feasible and desired, and that a screening tool must be accompanied by strong state-level policy addressing environmental justice. This study contributes to the understanding of vulnerable communities in the state, and serves as a baseline to which progress in environmental justice can be measured.