News (Page 37)

THIS WEEK: Feasibility Study Started for a Spaceport on Lake Superior Shores + Open Public Comment Period on Pollution Status of the Ashtabula River + First Nation Request for Herbicide Ban Gets Support from Green Party in Canada + Dr. Al Gredicks Calls for Greater Dam Safety and More Inspections + Plastics Found in Great Lakes, Our Food, and Us

Feasibility Study Started for a Spaceport on Lake Superior Shores

A proposed rocket launching site on the shores of Lake Superior has raised many questions.  A community group, Citizens for a Safe and Clean Lake Superior, recently organized to address the potential impact on the environment and community.  Not only is the project site on the shores of Lake Superior, it is home to the Granot Loma Lodge which is on the National Register of Historic places. 

Open Public Comment Period on Pollution Status of the Ashtabula River

The Ashtabula River, once a very polluted river, is recovering due to years of restoration efforts.  State and federal agencies are now requesting input on whether to remove the polluted status of the River, also called delisting.  Freshwater Future recognizes the work of the Ashtabula River Advisory Council for their progress on restoring the habitat. The public comment period regarding the status of the Ashtabula River is open until June 6th.  

Dr. Al Gredicks Calls for Greater Dam Safety and More Inspections

Dam safety is a major concern in the Great Lakes Region. Please take a moment and watch this 5-minute video that discusses dam safety in Wisconsin and Michigan and why state and federal funding for dam safety and infrastructure needs to be a priority.

First Nation Request for Herbicide Ban Gets Support from Green Party in Canada

First Nation leaders and environmental advocates in Canada are pushing for provincial and local governments to ban the herbicide glyphosate used widely in agriculture and forestry. Fredericton Green MP Jenica Atwin is now proposing legislation that would make it illegal to manufacture, possess, distribute, or use this herbicide.

Micro-Plastics Found in Great Lakes, Our Food, and Us

Great Lakes beach cleanup volunteers have estimated that nearly 85% of the trash collected is plastic and researchers believe a staggering 22 million pounds of plastic debris winds up in the Great Lakes each year. Much of this plastic is ground into microscopic particles that are ingested by fish, and in turn, consumed by humans. Micro-plastics are also showing up in our tap water and beverages such as beer, highlighting the urgent need for alternatives to single-use plastics. Listen to the full podcast here on All Things Considered, Morning Edition.

Original Article

Blog – Freshwater Future

Blog – Freshwater Future

https://freshwaterfuture.org/freshwater-weekly/freshwater-weekly-may-21-2021/

Freshwater Future

This week: New York Extends Moratorium that Prevents Utility Companies From Disconnecting Utilities + Urge the U.S. EPA to Keep PFAS Out of Our Water + Hundreds Protest Pipeline Operation + $9M in Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Available for Stormwater Projects + UIC Freshwater Lab Student Creates Art Activism with Lake Michigan Collage Project 

New York Governor Signs Legislation Extending Moratorium that Prevents Utility Companies From Disconnecting Utilities

Governor Cuomo signed legislation extending the moratorium on water and other utility shutoffs to assist residents still affected by the pandemic. “Freshwater Future applauds Senator Parker, Assembly Member Richardson and Governor Cuomo for their leadership in ensuring all New Yorkers have access to tap water in their homes to fight this pandemic,” said Kristy Meyer, Associate Director at Freshwater Future. “Now we must work together to ensure all New Yorkers have access to safe, clean and affordable water even after the moratorium has expired.”

Thanks to all of our New York friends for sending messages to the Governor to help get this moratorium in place.

Urge the U.S. EPA to Keep PFAS Out of Our Water

The more we learn about PFAS “forever chemicals,” the more clear it is that they are harmful to humans, wildlife, and the environment.  Fortunately, the U.S. EPA is now considering action to limit the dumping of PFAS into our rivers, lakes, and streams. Please sign on to this petition to support this action to protect our waters and source of drinking water for millions of people.  Chemical companies are fighting to stop or weaken the proposal. In fact, last week one company filed a lawsuit against the State of Michigan to invalidate recent standards adopted for levels of certain PFAS in drinking water. That’s why it is so crucial that EPA hears from us — so that the agency follows through and takes meaningful action. To sign on to the petition now, click HERE.

Hundreds Protest Pipeline Operation 

An eviction notice was posted on a gate to the Line 5 pipeline by hundreds of protesters on Thursday.  Representatives from several Michigan tribes and residents were there to support the shutdown of the pipeline and recent orders by Michigan Governor to revoke the easement. The company has continued operating the 68-year old pipeline.

$9M in Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Available for Stormwater Projects

Funding from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative will support up to 24 projects to reduce stormwater runoff carrying polluted runoff to Great Lakes waters with an emphasis on reducing  nutrients from agricultural runoff.  To find out more about this funding opportunity visit this website.

UIC Freshwater Lab Student Creates Art Activism with Lake Michigan Collage Project

Chicago resident and student at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Freshwater Lab, Amy Heldman has created an art activist project entitled “Thinking Relationships to Lake Michigan: An Art Collage for Reflection” which draws inspiration from city residents and reflects on people’s deep personal connections to the Lake. In this week’s blog post, Amy discusses her course project details and her meaningful conversations with strangers about water. Read more here.  This summer, Amy will assist Freshwater Future with our lead in drinking water program as an intern.

Original Article

Blog – Freshwater Future

Blog – Freshwater Future

https://freshwaterfuture.org/freshwater-weekly/freshwater-weekly-may-14-2021/

Freshwater Future

This week: Dr. Rob Letscher — Board Spotlight + Groups Continue Fight to Protect a River from an Open Pit Mining Project + Bureaucracy Blamed for Poor Communication + Need Our Water Urges More Aggressive PFAS Cleanup + CPI International Generously Donates a Portion of Sales to Freshwater Future

Dr. Robert Letscher — Board Spotlight

Meet Dr. Robert Letscher, who has served as secretary of Freshwater Future’s Board since 2019. As a professional Earth scientist and assistant professor of chemical oceanography at the University of New Hampshire, Rob’s expertise and knowledge have been invaluable to our organization. Though living full-time on the East Coast, Rob feels fortunate to spend summers along the northern shores of Lake Michigan. Read more about Rob’s research interests and his work focused on protecting our water resources.

Groups Continue Fight to Protect a River from an Open Pit Mining Project

A proposed open pit metals mine, just 150 feet from the shore of the Menominee River, was dealt a blow with a recent verdict overturning a wetland permit. Several organizations in Wisconsin and Michigan, including SAVE the Menominee River, Menominee Indian Tribe, Menikanaehkem, and Mining Action Group, banned together to voice their concerns about the potential impacts to the wetlands and river that is the drinking water source for nearby cities. In addition, another recent court decision ruled that new evidence from the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin should be allowed to be submitted in regards to the mining permit.

Congratulations to the Coalition to SAVE the Menominee River and Mining Action Group for being  Frehwater Heroes.

Bureaucracy Blamed for Poor Communication

Michigan regulators waited eight months to inform residents about potential contamination of their drinking water with the “forever chemicals” called PFAS near the Traverse City airport. During this time the state had regular communications with airport officials. Unfortunately, other communities have experienced similar delays in learning of nearby contamination. It makes us wonder what would have happened in Pellston, Michigan if high school students hadn’t played a role in discovering the PFAS contamination in partnership with Freshwater Future–how long would the state have waited before testing residential wells? New leadership at the state agency overseeing PFAS has vowed to change and inform residents when pollution is found. This change is long overdue, and we hope is a first step for Michigan Agencies to remember their responsibility to protect Michigan residents and not just profits.

Need Our Water Urges More Aggressive PFAS Cleanup

In Oscoda, MI ‘Need Our Water’ advocacy group has composed a letter urging the Air Force to implement more aggressive PFAS cleanup protocols. The Air Force has been kicking the can down the road for years, neglecting the cleanup on PFAS and causing harm to many of the residents in the area. Now, over 200 sign-ons support this letter urging the cleanup that is long overdue.

Congratulations to Need Our Water (NOW) for being a Freshwater Hero. We are proud to recognize their efforts to address the PFAS contamination of drinking water and surface waters.

CPI International Generously Donates a Portion of Sales to Freshwater Future

During the month of May, CPI International, a leader in lab supply equipment and materials, will be donating a portion of sales directly to Freshwater Future and the Flint Community Lab to help ensure the healthy future of our waters in the Great Lakes region. The company is committed to making a social impact to ensure clean water. CPI International is a worldwide supplier of certified reference material, laboratory consumables, small equipment, and test kits to scientific professionals working in spectroscopy, chromatography, mass spectrometry, and microbiology. To learn more about CPI International, please visit www.cpiinternational.com.

Original Article

Blog – Freshwater Future

Blog – Freshwater Future

https://freshwaterfuture.org/freshwater-weekly/freshwater-weekly/

Freshwater Future