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Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) at this time wrote a letter to the CEOs of Ford Motor Firm, Toyota, Common Motors, and Stellantis calling on the businesses to solely interact with environmentally accountable suppliers and cease using hexavalent chromium, a recognized carcinogenic chemical, of their provide chains. This letter follows the discharge of hexavalent chromium into the Huron River by Tribar Applied sciences, a provider for main auto producers.
“On August 1, 2022, we realized of experiences of a significant hexavalent chromium launch close to the Huron River watershed from Tribar Applied sciences Inc., an automotive plating firm, situated in Wixom, Michigan,” Dingell writes. “Whereas a lot of the contamination was captured earlier than it might make its means into the surroundings this might have been a significant environmental catastrophe and the State of Michigan continues to conduct sampling out of an abundance of warning. In accordance with experiences, nonetheless, it’s my understanding that Ford, Common Motors, Stellantis, Toyota, and different corporations at the moment use Tribar Applied sciences, Inc., which makes use of hexavalent chromium in its manufacturing course of, as provider. That is unacceptable.”
“Not solely is Tribar Applied sciences, Inc. accountable on this occasion, however the firm additionally has an extended historical past of dangerous environmental air pollution. For example, it is without doubt one of the foremost corporations liable for the contamination of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) discovered within the Huron River—and we all know using hexavalent chromium sometimes requires using PFAS mist suppressants,” Dingell continues. “This alarming occasion has strengthened the necessity for the automotive business to behave instantly to not solely take away hexavalent chromium from its provide chains, however the business should additionally take significant steps to assessment the actions of its present and future suppliers to make sure they’re assembly sturdy environmental and public well being security requirements. Moreover, automotive corporations should frequently monitor the suppliers they’ve contracts with for any environmental violations and have zero tolerance when future violations happen. Sturdy, respectable American corporations ought to maintain their suppliers to the identical caliber as their very own.”
“Michigan put the world on wheels and stays the house and chief of the worldwide automotive business. With this management comes an necessary accountability to guide by instance on all fronts of the enterprise,” Dingell concludes. “Thanks in your consideration on this necessary public well being and environmental matter within the automotive manufacturing provide chain. It’s time for all automotive producers publicly decide to ending their use of hexavalent chromium and to strengthen their manufacturing provide chains long-term by solely contracting with environmentally accountable suppliers. Failing to take action unnecessarily endangers employees, endangers public well being, and endangers our wildlife and surroundings throughout Michigan and america.”
View the complete letter texts: Ford Motor Company, Toyota, General Motors, Stellantis.
In August, Dingell responded to the Tribar release of hexavalent chromium into the Huron River by promptly urging the EPA to get entangled in investigating the spill and serving to to distribute public security info. Dingell has additionally labored diligently to handle different environmental crises in Michigan’s 12th district, together with the Gelman Plume, diesel release in Trenton, BASF contaminated groundwater releases, Arkema property, McLouth Steel Plant, and others.
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