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Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Director Dan Wyant speaks during a news conference in Flint on Oct. 2, 2015.
(Danny Miller | MLive.com )
LANSING, MI -- Gov. Rick Snyder on Tuesday accepted a resignation from Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Director Dan Wyant after a task force laid responsibility for the Flint water crisis at the feet of the department.
Snyder, in a statement, announced Wyant's resignation and apologized to Flint residents after he received a letter from the Flint Water Advisory Task Force.
"...MDEQ Director Dan Wyant has offered his resignation, and I've determined that it's appropriate to accept it. I'm also making other personnel changes at MDEQ to address problems cited by the task force," Snyder said.
Wyant and the DEQ have come under fire in recent months for handling a Flint drinking water crisis that lead to corrosive water running through city pipes and resulted in children with elevated levels of lead. In October, Wyant acknowledged a mistake in oversight from his office, saying DEQ officials were confused about federal regulations on making the drinking water less corrosive.
The task force in its letter blamed the department for the crisis.
"We believe the primary responsibility for what happened in Flint rests with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)," read the letter to Snyder.
"Although many individuals and entities at state and local levels contributed to creating and prolonging the problem, MDEQ is the government agency that has responsibility to ensure safe drinking water in Michigan. It failed in that responsibility and must be held accountable for that failure."
The task force cited DEQ's involvement as regulatory failure, failure in substance and tone of response to the public and a failure of interpreting the lead and copper rule.
Gov. Rick Snyder recently named the Flint water crisis as his biggest disappointment in 2015.
Wyant had a long track record of service for the state. He served as director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture under both Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Republican Gov. John Engler before Gov. Rick Snyder tapped him to head up the DEQ in 2011.
He shepherded the department through a transition into being its own entity again after Gov. Jennifer Granholm had combined it with the Department of Natural Resources, forming the Department of Natural Resources and Environment. He also led the "quality of life group" within state government, meaning he coordinated efforts between the DNR, DEQ and Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The statement from Snyder alluded to other structural changes within the DEQ, and spokesperson Dave Murray said those decisions would be made in the coming days. DEQ spokesperson Brad Wurfel did not immediately return a call for comment.
Wyant's resignation met with mixed reaction from political groups and leaders.
Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich (D-Flint) released the following statement:
"If these personnel moves and change in tone lead to a more aggressive response and resources to improve public health, then we are finally making progress. I still believe that legislative hearings will be required to get all the answers and help shape the necessary policy changes, and ensure this never happens again."
Attorney General Bill Schuette praised Wyant's service to the state.
"I am saddened to hear of the resignation of Department of Environment Quality Director Dan Wyant. In my 20-plus years of knowing him, Dan has been a hardworking, dedicated public servant. I am committed to working with all parties, including the legislature and Governor, to ensure the public's health and the well being of Michigan residents."
Democratic Congressman Dan Kildee, who represents Flint, said the steps taken today were appropriate but encouraged further action.
"Governor Snyder's apology over the Flint water crisis is appropriate, as are personnel changes announced today at the Department of Environmental Quality," Kildee said.
"Through this ongoing crisis, the people of Flint did nothing wrong - they are victims of this failure of government. The State of Michigan must not only acknowledge its role in this crisis, but also take responsibility and act right away to make it right."
He urged the state to establish a fund to ensure that kids receive developmental, nutritional and educational resources to help overcome the effects of their lead exposure.
Rep. Sheldon Neeley, D-Flint, said Wyant was not the only offender.
"For months, the call has been public and aggressive for Dan Wyant to remove himself from his position, or to have Gov. Rick Snyder do the deed for him. There are many culpable parties involved in the continued decline of health and safety during the water crisis in the city of Flint, and Wyant was just one figure in a menagerie of offenders," Neeley said.
"While there is still much cleanup to be done, I am glad Mr. Wyant realized he could no longer continue as the head of the disorganized and flawed DEQ, and I call on Gov. Snyder to take careful effort in repairing this department so that it earns back the trust of the people of Flint and this great state.
Progress Michigan said there had been a lack of accountability for the Flint water crisis.
"So far under Gov. Rick Snyder's watch, there has been zero accountability in this crisis and that continues today," said Lonnie Scott, executive director of Progress Michigan.
"Dan Wyant gets to walk away from this crisis, but the people of Flint do not. There's a lot we don't know about this man-made catastrophe. What did Gov. Snyder know and when did he know it? We need complete transparency so that justice for the families of Flint can be realized and the proper people can be held accountable. All documentation related this this crisis needs to be released to the public immediately."
Emily Lawler is a Capitol/Business reporter for MLive. You can reach her at elawler@mlive.com, subscribe to her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter: @emilyjanelawler.