Stellantis says it has now installed the equipment needed to address the chronic odor issues that the residents living near the company’s newest Jeep plant say have severely degraded the quality of life in their east-side Detroit neighborhood.
In a letter to the community dated Monday, Linda Trbizan, Stellantis senior vice president and head of North America Assembly Operations, said the work at the Detroit Assembly Complex-Mack plant is now finished.
“Today, we are pleased to report that installation is complete, and the system is now fully operational to remove odors from sources identified through our investigation. The exhaust from two existing stacks will be routed to this new system to destroy odor contributing compounds. Additionally, actual volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions will be reduced through this process,” the letter said.
Stellantis, which also owns the Ram, Chrysler, Dodge and Fiat brands, has faced repeated complaints about odors from the plant despite violation notices from the state, and the situation has prompted allegations of environmental racism. An environmental activist recently referred to a $5,000 fine for the global automaker that was assessed by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy as a “joke,” according to one recent Free Press report.
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Neighbors have said the odors can make it difficult to be outside.
The letter also highlighted “a new building management system at Southeastern High School in the coming weeks that will improve the functionality and efficiency of the building’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning system” to be installed by the Detroit Public Schools Community District as part of Stellantis’ supplemental environmental project. That work is expected to be complete by the start of the school year.
“From the beginning, we committed to making this right and will continue to comply to the fullest extent with the terms of our air permit,” the letter said.
Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber.