Environment
As water compact awaits action in Congress, Stupak’s concerns get some play
The Great Lakes Compact, a bill intended to maintain regional control over Great Lakes water, passed the Senate unanimously on Aug. 1, and Congress is expected to take the matter up when it reconvenes after the summer break.
So far, Democratic Congressman Bart Stupak from Menominee is the only representative who has expressed concern that the [...]
Mining Journal: Maybe not totally ‘craptastic’?
My colleague LoRayne Apo-Joynt recently blogged about her frustration with the Marquette Mining Journal. Given her difficult experience with the paper, I am happy to report that the cover of last weekend’s Sunday edition featured an excellent series by Miriam Moeller on the Protect the Earth Summit.
Vacationers experience less than ‘pure’ water at Michigan beaches
As Michigan markets its beaches to tourists with a multimillion-dollar “Pure Michigan” ad campaign, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency water data show sewage spills and storm water runoff are contaminating beachwater, particularly in the Great Lakes.
According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, which monitors EPA information:
Nationally, seven percent of beachwater samples violated health standards, showing no [...]
Air in northwest Michigan sometimes among worst in nation
Tourist region steeped in ozone from out-of-state emissions
The Lake Michigan town of Frankfort, population 1,490, had some of the highest ozone levels in the country this month — levels that would prompt action alerts and health warnings in more populated regions. But in this small tourist town next to the Sleeping Bear National Lake Shore, [...]
Controversial former MDEQ official to head EPA’s Midwest office
Thanks to Great Lakes Blogger Dave Dempsey for pointing out this Gristmill story on the appointment of Lynn Buhl as regional director for the Environmental Protection Agency’s region 5.
Buhl replaces Mary Gade, who resigned earlier this year, stating that she was forced out over her efforts to get the Dow Chemical Co. to clean [...]
Is it really the end of the Detroit trash incinerator?
National Sierra Club “sold its soul to highest bidder,” say protesters
Leaders of Traverse unit resign after Clorox profit-sharing deal
The leadership of the 800 member Traverse City-based Traverse Group of the Sierra Club has resigned in protest over a partnership between the national Sierra Club and Clorox that allows “eco-friendly” cleaning products to be sold with a Sierra Club logo in exchange for a cut of [...]
Compact may not stop water wars
Critics say Great Lakes legislation doesn’t protect against commercialization of water
The Great Lakes Compact may be headed for Congressional approval, but stormy waters could still lie ahead. The Compact agreement is intended to protect against misuse of the Great Lakes.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed it last week and it appears headed to Congress where it is [...]
Shell Canada scraps plans for controversial border refinery
Citing the “current project execution environment, market conditions and the current inflationary pressures across the oil and gas industry,” Shell Canada announced today that it is ending plans to build a tar sands crude oil refinery along the St. Clair River.
The project faced strong opposition from neighboring municipalities in Michigan and the
Detroit moves to end trash burning — are “green jobs” on the way?
Environmentalists seem cautiously optimistic about Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s announcement Monday that the city will opt out of buying the incinerator that burns two-thirds of the city’s trash.
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