Document 1gRzk2NEB14OG6w2z8aYZkRbX

RICK SNYDER GOVERNOR St a t e o f M ic h ig a n EXECUTIVE OFFICE LANSING BRIAN GALLEY LT. GOVERNOR July 10, 2018 Dear Environmental Justice Work Group, Thank you again for your efforts over the past year to provide me with your recommendations and insights on Environmental Justice (EJ). Over the past few months I've had time to review your recommendations, and I'm proud to say I'm ready to announce a series of initiatives based off the input I received from this body. First, as you recommended, I will assign a member of my office to fulfill the role as Environmental Justice Ombudsman. This employee should serve as statewide point of contact for the public to raise concerns regarding potentially environmental justice issues. In their official capacity, the ombudsman will identify EJ related issues that transcend departmental jurisdictions and work with the interagency working group to seek solutions. It is envisioned that the ombudsman will be a highly regarded professional and be granted appropriate administrative power to facilitate the investigation of environmental injustices and the implementation of recommended solutions. Second, as you also recommended, I will be issuing an executive directive instructing the Department of Civil Rights, the Department of Environmental Quality, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Transportation, and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to form an Environmental Justice interagency Working Group (IWG). This working group will be led by our EJ Ombudsman in the Governor's Office. They will be tasked with responding to arising environmental justice issues around the state, as well as implementing recommendations from your report across state government. The departmental representatives on the IWG should be the director or their designee, and the co-chairs of the IWG should be the environmental justice ombudsman and the Governor's environmental policy advisor. The IWG may form an Environmental Justice Advisory Council to advise the IWG on the exercise and fulfillment of its responsibilities and duties described in the executive directive. Third, the Environmental Justice Ombudsman and the iWG shall work with the Civil Service Commission to develop comprehensive environmental justice/social equity training for state and local employees. This training shall incorporate specific recommendations made in the Environmental Justice Work Group Report. Finally, I will be referring several of your recommendations to my Public Health Advisory Council and my Childhood Lead Elimination Commission, as recommendations from the Public Health Advisory Commission, Childhood Lead Elimination Commission and the Environmental Justice Working Group overlap. I want to thank you once again for your time, dedication and effort in providing me with your recommendations. I have taken your report very seriously and look forward to implementing your recommendations. Sincerely. Rick Snyder Governor / v GEORGE W. ROMNEY BUILDING * 111 SOUTH CAPITOL AVENUE LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909 w v vw .m lch igan .go v Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 10 ED 002061 00178124-00001