The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, also known as EGLE, is the main agency in the U.S. state of Michigan responsible for handling environmental matters. It was previously called the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, often abbreviated as Michigan DEQ, MDEQ, or simply DEQ. The department was established in 1995.

History

In 1995, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) was created by Executive Order No. 1995-18. This order moved environmental rules from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to the new DEQ. This change was part of Governor John Engler’s plan to have more direct control over environmental policies and reduce the number of environmental workers by cutting the state budget.

The first director of the DEQ was Russell J. Harding, chosen by Governor Engler. Harding was known for opposing state or federal actions on climate change and other policies. During his time, the DEQ refused to accept federal money for climate change studies and ignored outreach from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Harding believed that working on climate change could harm the state’s economy.

In 1996, Executive Order No. 1996-1 moved responsibilities for drinking water and radiation safety from the Michigan Department of Public Health to the DEQ. Executive Order No. 1996-2 also moved the Low Level Radioactive Waste Authority from the Michigan Department of Commerce to the DEQ.

In 1997, Executive Order No. 1997-2 moved the Above Ground Storage Tank Program and inspections of dry cleaning businesses from the Department of State Police to the DEQ. Executive Order No. 1997-3 moved the Michigan Environmental Science Board and the Environmental Administration Division from the Michigan Department of Management and Budget to the DEQ.

In 1999, the Water Quality Advisory Board was created by Executive Order 1999-10. This group helps the DEQ plan long-term water quality monitoring to check the health of Michigan’s rivers, lakes, and streams.

In 2009, Governor Jennifer Granholm tried to combine the DNR and DEQ into a new department called the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE). The state Senate opposed this, but Granholm’s Executive Order No. 2009-45 merged the two agencies anyway.

In early 2010, a new Saginaw Bay District headquarters for the Michigan DNR opened in Bay City. This building was reported to be the most energy-efficient in Michigan and the first government building in the state to get LEED Platinum certification.

In 2011, Governor Rick Snyder’s first executive order, No. 2011-1, split the DNRE, returning the DNR and DEQ to separate agencies. Snyder said this would let each focus on its main tasks. A law passed in October 2011 moved the Michigan Geological Survey from the DEQ to Western Michigan University’s Department of Geosciences, making the university responsible for studying the state’s geological resources.

In 2015 and 2016, the DEQ faced criticism for its role in the Flint water crisis. Officials ignored concerns from Flint residents about water quality, delaying action to fix lead poisoning in the city’s water supply. The DEQ also changed water test results to falsely show that the water was safe. DEQ Director Dan Wyant admitted in October 2015 that the department had broken federal rules and made other mistakes.

The DEQ also ignored reports from a researcher about rising lead levels in Flint children. A 2015 report by the Flint Water Advisory Task Force said the DEQ was mainly responsible for the crisis and had failed to protect drinking water. Governor Snyder apologized, and DEQ Director Wyant and a public information officer resigned.

In April 2019, a documentary called Flushing Flint claimed that the DEQ had tested water incorrectly by letting water run from taps before taking samples. This method went against federal guidelines, which require samples to be taken directly from taps without flushing.

In 2019, Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s first reorganization plan for the department was rejected by the legislature because it removed three panels the legislature had created. Whitmer later signed a new order that kept two of the panels and renamed the department to the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. This order also created new offices, including the Office of Climate and Energy, and moved the Office of the Great Lakes from the DNR. The changes took effect on April 22, 2019.

Administration and budget

The EGLE is located at Constitution Hall in Lansing, the state capital. The DEQ managed ten district and field offices, each responsible for a specific group of counties. These offices are located in the following cities: Bay City, Cadillac, Gaylord, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Jackson, Lansing, Marquette, Warren, and Detroit.

Under Michigan Public Act 252 of 2014, the DEQ's budget for fiscal year 2015, which ran from October 1, 2014, to September 30, 2015, was approximately $502 million. In April 2014, Governor Snyder requested this funding to increase Michigan's residential recycling rate, which was about 14.5 percent at that time.

MiCorps

MiCorps, also known as the Michigan Clean Water Corps, is a group of volunteer programs that monitor water in Michigan. It was started by an official order from Governor Jennifer Granholm to help the Department gather and share water quality information for use in managing and protecting water resources.

List of directors

Russell J. Harding served from 1995 to 2003 under Governor John Engler. Steven E. Chester served from January 2003 to January 2010 under Governor Jennifer Granholm. Dan Wyant served from 2011 to December 29, 2015, under Governor Rick Snyder. Keith Creagh served from December 30, 2015, to July 2016 as an interim official under Governor Rick Snyder. Heidi Grether served from August 1, 2016, to December 1, 2018, under Governor Rick Snyder. Liesl Clark served from 2019 to 2022 under Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Dan Eichinger served from December 2, 2022, to April 28, 2023, as an interim official under Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Aaron Keatley served from April 28, 2023, to June 30, 2023, as an interim official under Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Phil Roos has served from June 30, 2023, to the present under Governor Gretchen Whitmer.