ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) was created as a staff department in 1996. The purpose of the Department is to conserve and protect the natural resources of Detroit, to promote improved social and economic conditions in the city, and to protect limited environmental resources.
The Department of Environmental Affairs responds to issues involving hazardous waste, underground storage tanks and emergency response activities. DEA also encourages and promotes sustainable economic development within Detroit and works with citizens, other agencies and developers to address environmental issues pertaining to sustainable development.
The Department provides information about environmental issues that affect Detroit residents and their communities and to comply with local, state and federal regulations. Once an environmental issue has been detected, a citizen may contact the Department for assistance in remedying the situation. The Department will handle the concerns itself or refer the issue to the appropriate agency for resolution.
Finally the Department of Environmental Affairs is the liaison between the City and other federal and state environmental agencies, such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), United States Coast Guard (USCG), and Army Core of Engineers (ACE) and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.