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Minnesota Supreme Court agrees to hear PolyMet permit appeal

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Supreme Court has agreed to hear PolyMet Mining Inc.’s appeal of a ruling that canceled three permits needed for its proposed copper-nickel mine in northeastern Minnesota.

In January, the Minnesota Court of Appeals gave environmentalists a major victory by rejecting some of the most important permits for the planned mine.

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https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/ap-minnesota-supreme-court-polymet-permit-appeal/

The Associated Press

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Minnesota Court of Appeals sends PolyMet permit back to MPCA

By Amy Forliti, Associated Press Writer

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Court of Appeals sent an air-emissions permit for the PolyMet copper-nickel mine back to state regulators for further review on Monday, giving another victory to environmental groups who oppose the project.

The appeals court found that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency did not adequately evaluate whether the air permit requested by PolyMet was a “sham permit” — meaning one that didn’t accurately reflect the size and scope of PolyMet’s proposed mine.

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https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/ap-minnesota-court-appeals-polymet-permit-mpca/

The Associated Press

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In: AP, Drinking Water, Duluth, economy, environment, Great Lakes, infrastructure, Minnesota, News, pollution, water
Scientists testing alternative to road salt to protect water

DULUTH, Minn. (AP) — Researchers in Minnesota are trying to find an alternative to road salt in an effort to protect the state’s water bodies from contamination.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported Saturday that road salt is the top source of chloride in state waters. Scientists have been ramping up warnings that rising chloride levels could harm aquatic life and turn tap water salty.

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https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/ap-scientists-testing-alternative-road-salt/

The Associated Press

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Great Lakes Energy News Roundup: Mich. “energy freedom” bills, Toledo low-income community solar project, Minn. Supreme Court backs frac-sand mining ban

Catch the latest in Great Lakes energy news in Great Lakes Now’s fortnightly energy-related headline roundup.

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https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/energy-solar-low-income-court-appeal/

Ian Wendrow

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In: AP, Drinking Water, economy, environment, Minnesota, News, pollution, Protect, water
Judge backs Minnesota’s Twin Metals mine in lease dispute

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A federal judge on Tuesday rejected a challenge by environmental groups against the proposed Twin Metals copper-nickel mine in northeastern Minnesota, saying the Interior Department had the authority to reverse itself and renew the project’s federal mineral rights leases.

The Obama administration tried to kill Twin Metals by rejecting the company’s application to renew its leases, citing the risk of acid mine drainage to the nearby Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

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https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/ap-judge-minnesota-twin-metals-mine-lease-dispute/

The Associated Press

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In: Advocacy, Better Government Association, Chicago, environment, Great Lakes, Illinois, Latest News, News, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, pollution, Protect, water
Student Protesters Demand Lightfoot Live Up To Campaign Promises on Environmental Protection

By Brett Chase, Better Government Association, through the Institute for Nonprofit News network

 

More than two dozen Chicago young activists Friday called on Mayor Lori Lightfoot to reinstate a city department of environment to combat heavy pollution in black and Latino neighborhoods and increase efforts to fight climate change.

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https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/student-protesters-chicago-lightfoot-campaign-environmental-protection/

Better Government Association

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In: economy, environment, Great Lakes, Latest News, Michigan, Minnesota, News, Ohio, PFAS, pollution, Ric Mixter
PFAS News Roundup: Ohio starts testing, Minnesota cleanup could cost $1.2 billion, DuPont might dodge liabilities

Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.

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https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/pfas-ohio-minnesota-dupont-settlement-milk-ski-racing/

Ric Mixter

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In: AP, Detroit, Drinking Water, economy, environment, Feature Detroit, Great Lakes, Michigan, News, pollution
Water authority transfers funding for bill assistance

DETROIT (AP) — The Great Lakes Water Authority is transferring more than $1.6 million to Detroit and Flint for conservation education and to help customers pay past-due water bills.

Board members transferred the Water Residential Assistance Program funding from uncommitted 2019 bill assistance funds from Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.

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https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/ap-water-authority-transfers-funding-bill-assistance/

The Associated Press

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In: economy, environment, Equity and Environmental Justice, Great Lakes, James Proffitt, lake erie, Latest News, News, Ohio, Policy, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, pollution, Protect, water
Struck Down: Federal court rules Lake Erie Bill of Rights unconstitutional

Judge Zouhary says LEBOR’s too vague to be a law.

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https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/lake-erie-bill-rights-federal-court-unconstitutional/

James Proffitt

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Michigan Supreme Court hears case over Flint water liability

By Ed White, Associated Press Writer

DETROIT (AP) — Lawyers urged the Michigan Supreme Court on Wednesday to clear the way for Flint residents to sue state officials over lead-contaminated water.

The case at the state’s highest court is one of many in state and federal courts over the scandal.

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https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/ap-michigan-supreme-court-flint-water-liability/

The Associated Press

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In: Budget, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, detroit river, Drinking Water, economy, Energy, Clean Energy, Ethanol and Fracking, environment, epa, Feature Cleveland, Feature Detroit, Feature Milwaukee, Feature-Chicago, Gary Wilson, Great Lakes, Groundwater Contamination, Illinois, Industry, Energy, Economic Development, infrastructure, Latest News, Michigan, Milwaukee, News, Ohio, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, pollution, Protect, Recreation, Tourism and Culture, Shipping and Ports, The States, Tourism, water, Waterfront Development, Wisconsin
Who’s in charge: Lack of storage facility oversight puts waterways at risk

In major lakeside cities around the Great Lakes, there isn’t a clear answer on who handles oversight of industrial storage facilities.

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https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/seawall-inspections-industrial-storage-pollution-government/

Gary Wilson