The suit is filed by the Concerned Pastors for Social Action, Flint resident and water activist Melissa Mays, the Michigan ACLU and the Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc.
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“I am not confident that he can serve in the best interest of the Flint citizens”, Garrett said of the attorney general. The source has since been switched back, but experts say the damage appears to have already been done.
Water response teams have distributed 186,309 cases of water, 94,301 filters and 29,841 test kits since January 9, the state’s joint information center said Tuesday. He will oversee all water testing done by the state and federal government.
National attention has been focused on Flint, Michigan, where residents continue to deal with the effects of a months-long problem with high lead levels in its water – a problem residents say is partially the fault of government mishandling.
The steps announced Wednesday appear intended in part to help Snyder, the state and other officials regain the trust of the city’s 100,000 residents, who are still unable to drink from their taps. The water faucets and drinking fountains in four of Flint’s schools tested above the federal limits for lead content-one at more than six times the federal limit. “The people of Flint can not trust the state of MI to fix this man-made disaster and that is why court oversight is critically needed”.
Flint, Michigan is apparently not the only place in the United States now facing a potential public health threat because of water contamination and alleged lax government oversight.
This case is not the only lawsuit filed regarding the Flint water crisis. “But residents should not have to pay for water that they can’t and haven’t used”. This can occur because lead can be dissolved by weak acids found in many water supplies.
The 17-member committee appointed by Snyder would recommend ways to help people exposed to lead, study Flint’s water infrastructure and determine possible upgrades, his office said.
The Michigan Civil Rights Commission said Tuesday it will investigate whether discrimination played a role in Flint’s water problems as the national leader of the NAACP said the residents of Flint may have been ignored because many are minorities.
Chief Deputy Attorney General Carol Isaacs and chief legal counsel Matthew Schneider will supervise any lawsuits against the state and Gov. Rick Snyder, the statement said. She noted that Schuette denied a Democratic legislator’s September request for a state investigation. Weaver noted the plan includes $3 million to help the city offset losses from customers who are behind on their water bills.
The state declared the contaminated water a public health crisis in early October but have yet to replace the lines.
Flint, Michigan, temporarily switched its water supply from Lake Huron to the Flint River in April 2014 to cut costs.
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However, it is uncertain for now if the investigation would result in civil or criminal charges, said Herald Whig.
