In the public health crisis over the lead contamination of the City of Flint's drinking water, a cascade of culpability has been leveled at federal, state and local officials. But, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has borne much of the blame.
In his testimony before a congressional committee on March 17, Gov. Rick Snyder said his administration's investigations into the crisis, "uncovered systemic failures" at the DEQ

"The fact is, bureaucrats created a culture that valued technical compliance over common sense — and the result was that lead was leaching into residents’ water," Snyder said.

But Flint wasn't the first time the DEQ took that approach. And as public anger and outcry over the crisis continues to grow, more scrutiny is being heaped on to the DEQ and its processes and mission, which critics say values business over people.

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