Michigan LCV hails reintroduction of Polluter Pay legislation

Bills hold polluters accountable for paying to clean up contamination they cause, not taxpayers  

LANSING – The Michigan League of Conservation Voters today hailed the reintroduction of “Polluter Pay” bills in the Michigan Legislature, which will hold corporate polluters accountable for paying to clean up the toxic contamination they cause instead of making Michigan taxpayers foot the bill. The six-bill package was introduced in the Michigan House and Senate and would set more stringent cleanup standards for contamination, increase transparency, and help protect the health of Michigan communities.

“When corporations pollute the land and water of Michigan communities, they should be responsible for paying to clean it up, not taxpayers,” said Nick Occhipinti, government affairs for the  Michigan League of Conservation Voters. “The number of contaminated sites in Michigan continues to grow, threatening our economy and the health of Michigan families. This much-needed legislation will increase transparency, and help make progress on cleaning up thousands of contaminated sites across Michigan.”

The legislation – long supported by a broad coalition of advocates, experts, and voters – would strengthen Michigan’s clean-up regime. Michigan’s 1990 Polluter Pay law saved taxpayers over $100 million in cleanup costs before it was repealed in 1995. Since then, Michigan’s contaminated sites have surged to more than 24,000 – many threatening our drinking water, Great Lakes, and public health.