Century of contamination: How Zug Island became Detroit’s industrial epicenter

March 28, 2026

Zug Island, an industrial site on the Detroit River near Michigan's most polluted zip code, has evolved from a marshy peninsula with sulfur springs into a heavily polluted steel production facility over more than a century. DTE Energy and its subsidiary EES Coke Battery now face a $100 million federal judgment for Clean Air Act violations related to excessive sulfur dioxide emissions that contributed to premature deaths, respiratory illnesses, and other health problems in surrounding communities. The facility has accumulated 62 state air quality violations between 2013 and 2026, with pollution traveling as far as Maine and North Carolina.

Who is affected

Residents of Detroit's 48217 zip code, particularly those in southwest Detroit and the former village of Delray
River Rouge community members bordering the island
Windsor, Canada residents who have experienced pollution, odors, and the "Windsor Hum" noise since at least 1949
Theresa Landrum (71-year resident and environmental activist)
Dolores Leonard (resident since 1957 and environmental justice advocate)
An estimated 26 people who died prematurely in 2019 due to facility pollution
Individuals who suffered 3.8 nonfatal heart attacks, 14.5 new asthma cases, and additional Alzheimer's cases linked to the facility
1,500 workers laid off when Great Lakes Works shut down steel production in 2020
Current 170+ employees at EES Coke Battery

What action is being taken

EGLE issued a violation notice to EES Coke Battery on March 5, 2026, requiring a response by March 26 regarding failed September 2025 stack tests
EES Coke Battery is taking compliance actions on the six most recent violations
DTE Energy is planning to appeal U.S. District Judge Gershwin Drain's February 17 ruling
The facility continues operations producing coke for the steel industry while maintaining systems for regulatory compliance

Why it matters

This case represents a critical test of environmental enforcement at a time when federal oversight is weakening, potentially allowing Detroit to repeat its history of unchecked industrial pollution. The $100 million judgment addresses over a century of pollution that has made the surrounding area Michigan's most polluted zip code, contributing to premature deaths, cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses, and significantly diminished quality of life for residents who cannot safely enjoy outdoor activities. The case demonstrates how regulatory gaps—such as the 2014 state permit change that removed coke oven gas limits—can result in massive increases in harmful emissions (over 1,000 additional tons of sulfur dioxide in multiple years). The Trump administration's two-year exemption from the Coke Oven Rule undermines recent progress and signals potential nationwide rollbacks of air quality protections, while Detroit's ranking as sixth worst in the nation for particle pollution illustrates the ongoing public health emergency facing environmental justice communities.

What's next

EES Coke Battery must respond to EGLE by March 26 regarding the March 5 violation notice, including violation dates, causes, duration, ongoing status, and corrective actions
DTE Energy and EES Coke Battery are required to pay the $100,000,001 civil penalty to the government
The companies must obtain necessary New Source Review permits to comply with the Clean Air Act
They must form a community air quality committee and fund it with $20 million for community air quality improvement projects
DTE plans to appeal Judge Drain's February 17 order
The facility has a two-year exemption (granted in November by the Trump administration) from compliance with the Biden-era Coke Oven Rule, meaning it would otherwise have had to meet new pollution-control standards by January 5, 2026

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com