Stellantis seeks higher emissions limits in Detroit, Warren amid string of violations

After racking up 10 violation notices and more than $500,000 in nes for air pollution at factories in Detroit and Warren, automaker Stellantis NV is asking the state to approve higher emission levels at both plants.

e requests are tucked in a pair of applications to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy for permits intended to correct emissions violations.

At the Warren Truck Assembly Plant, which produces Jeep Wag- oneers and Ram Classic pickups, Stellantis wants to raise emission levels of volatile organic compounds and particulate matter, according to the permit. At the new Mack Assembly Plant in Detroit, where the new Jeep Grand Cherokee models are built, the automaker also wants to increase its release of particulate matter.

Proposing multiple unrelated permit changes in a single application is not unusual, according to EGLE. But residents and activists have slammed the automaker’s appeal for higher air pollution limits amid a long string of viola- tions that have sparked community health concerns and a federal investigation into the state’s permitting practices.

VOCs and particulate matter are linked to a wide range of health issues, from eye, nose and throat irritation to more severe problems, such as liver and kidney damage and asthma, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which cautions that much is still unknown about the health impact of air pollutants.