Minnesota Supreme Court to review drainage projects ruling

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Supreme Court announced Tuesday it will review a ruling by the Minnesota Court of Appeals that provided environmental protections for Renville County’s last free-flowing stream.

The October appeals court decision called for an environmental review to determine whether a proposed drainage ditch improvement could harm the stream in the heavily agricultural western county.

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Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/12/ap-minnesota-supreme-court-drainage-projects/

The Associated Press

I Speak for the Fish: Center stage alongside Great Lakes steelhead trout 

In the spirit of yuletide reminiscing, I recently found myself looking back at my journey to bringing more freshwater fish content to PBS audiences. One particularly poignant and mildly terrifying turning point was the first time I stepped onto a really big stage to speak on behalf of freshwater fish.  

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Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/12/center-stage-steelhead-trout/

Kathy Johnson

Court rules against proposed frac sand plant in Wisconsin

By Scott Bauer, Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A state appeals court on Thursday refused to reinstate a permit for a proposed $75 million frac sand operation in western Wisconsin, a victory for environmentalists who have been fighting for years to protect the 16 acres (6.5 hectares) of pristine wetlands.

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Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/12/ap-court-frac-sand-plant/

The Associated Press

Old Business: EPA broadly designates legacy toxic sediment sites for funding priority

The seemingly endless process of crafting, negotiating and passing the infrastructure legislation is over. 

The bill topped out at a trillion dollars, and $1 billion of that funding is coming to the Great Lakes region for continued restoration of the lakes. That’s in addition to the ongoing federal funding of over $300 million annually the lakes have received since 2010.  

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Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/12/epa-toxic-sediment-funding/

Gary Wilson

Banned decades ago, PCBs still posing threat to wildlife

By Michael Casey, Associated Press

HOLDERNESS, N.H. (AP) — Navigating her boat toward a wooden platform floating in an idyllic New Hampshire lake where “On Golden Pond” was filmed, biologist Tiffany Grade spotted what she had feared.

An olive brown loon’s egg with black speckles was sitting on an nest, abandoned by its parents and with no chance to hatch.

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Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/12/ap-pcbs-threat-wildlife/

The Associated Press

Filter Fix: Study shows washing machine filters keep harmful microfibers out of the Great Lakes

Great Lakes communities on both sides of the border have diversion and reclamation programs for plastics, hoping to keep the trash out of the lakes.  

But how everyday people can deal with microscopic pieces of plastic is a more challenging question. Now a two-year-long study into washing machine filters in an Ontario community shows something can be done.  

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/12/study-washing-machine-microfibers/

Sharon Oosthoek

Great Lakes Moment: Small habitat patches can have big ecological impact

Great Lakes Moment is a monthly column written by Great Lakes Now Contributor John Hartig. Publishing the author’s views and assertions does not represent endorsement by Great Lakes Now or Detroit Public Television. 

Contradicting the historical conservation planning tenet that gave preference to protecting larger, more intact areas, a recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science has shown that small, isolated patches of habitat are inordinately important for biodiversity conservation.  

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Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/12/small-habitat-patches-ecological-impact/

John Hartig

BP agrees to $500K penalty, soot limits at Indiana refinery

By John Flesher, Associated Press

Oil giant BP agreed Thursday to pay a $512,450 penalty and reduce soot emissions from its Whiting refinery in Indiana under an agreement with regulators and activists who accused the company of violating an earlier deal.

The U.S. District Court settlement modifies a previous consent decree that required BP Products North America Inc.

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Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/12/ap-bp-500k-penalty-soot-indiana/

The Associated Press

Science report: US should make less plastic to save oceans

By Seth Borenstein, Associated Press

America needs to rethink and reduce the way it generates plastics because so much of the material is littering the oceans and other waters, the National Academy of Sciences says in a new report.

The United States, the world’s top plastics waste producer, generates more than 46 million tons (42 million metric tons) a year, and about 2.2 billion pounds (1 million metric tons) ends up in the world’s oceans, according to the academy’s report.

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Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/12/ap-science-report-plastic-oceans/

The Associated Press

Great Lakes groups hope EPA regional administrator revitalizes infrastructure, morale

This article was republished here with permission from Great Lakes Echo.

By Gabrielle Ahlborn, Great Lakes Echo

Environmental groups say they hope that a new Environmental Protection Agency administrator for the Great Lakes region works to restore infrastructure while revitalizing an agency they say is depleted and demoralized.

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Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/11/epa-regional-administrator-infrastructure/

Great Lakes Echo

Winning Work: Great Lakes Now recognized for communication excellence by Great Lakes Protection Fund

Each year, the Great Lakes Protection Fund chooses a theme and looks for innovation and excellence in work around that theme related to the Great Lakes. Then the best individuals and organizations receive the Fund’s Great Lakes Leadership Award.

This year’s theme is communication, and Great Lakes Now is one of the 2020 award winners!

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/10/great-lakes-now-communication-excellence-great-lakes-protection-fund/

GLN Editor

Flood raises fears of pollution at Michigan toxic waste site

By John Flesher, AP Environmental Writer

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — It took seven years to settle on a plan for cleansing two rivers and floodplains polluted with dioxins from a Dow Chemical Co. plant in central Michigan. The work itself has lasted nearly twice as long, with plenty still to do.

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Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/05/ap-michigan-flood-pollution-dioxins-superfund-site/

The Associated Press

Great Lakes Learning: How to clean up an “oil spill” at your kitchen table

As the author of Great Lakes Now’s Collection of Lesson Plans, educational consultant Gary Abud Jr. is now providing more support for parents, teachers and caregivers who want to incorporate Great Lakes learning into their time with children and students. His series of writings can be found HERE along with the lesson plans and a Virtual Field Trip.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/04/great-lakes-learning-clean-up-oil-spill/

Gary Abud Jr.

PFAS News Roundup: Indianapolis and Rhinelander find PFAS, PFAS testing and projects stalled due to COVID-19

PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of widespread man-made chemicals that don’t break down in the environment or the human body and have been flagged as a major contaminant in sources of water across the country.

Keep up with PFAS-related developments in the Great Lakes area.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/04/pfas-indiana-wisconsin-testing-covid-19/

Ric Mixter

Regulation During COVID-19: Canadian, U.S. agencies lighten monitoring priorities

Oil companies successfully request lighter oversight amid coronavirus pandemic. Farmers support the move.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/04/epa-suspends-enforement-covid-19-coronavirus/

George Elkind

Great Lakes Moment: Earth Day turns 50

Great Lakes Now Contributor John Hartig shares his own memories of the first Earth Day and the changes he’s noticed in the nature around him since then.

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Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/04/great-lakes-moment-earth-day-turns-50/

John Hartig

Michigan’s efforts to root out and deal with PFAS contamination

In this web exclusive, Great Lakes Now looks at Michigan’s PFAS Action Response Team.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/04/episode-1012-web-extra-pfas-mpart/

Ric Mixter

Coping with PFAS: How have families been dealing with PFAS contamination in their communities

In this web exclusive, two residents from Kent County, Michigan, share about their struggles with PFAS.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/04/episode-1012-web-extra-pfas-families/

Ric Mixter

Michigan bans spreading manure on croplands in winter months

Michigan EGLE said the ban is intended to prevent manure from flowing into waterways. Manure is a leading polluter of the Great Lakes, inland lakes and streams.

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Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/04/ap-michigan-ban-manure-croplands-winter/

The Associated Press

Great Lakes Learning: Tips for growing a fatberg at home (safely!)

In this lesson, help kids understand what not to flush down the toilet and do a fun at-home science experiment at the same time.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/url-great-lakes-remote-learning-fatberg-experiment/

Gary Abud Jr.

Tighter Restrictions: COVID-19 makes it harder to cross Great Lakes borders between U.S. and Canada

Customers who attempt to pay with cash at the Blue Water Bridge will be prohibited from crossing.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/covid-19-coronavirus-tighter-border-crossing/

Kathy Johnson

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.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

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

The Associated Press

PFAS News Roundup: Indiana restricts PFAS foam, Wisconsin utility sued, 651 military bases likely polluted

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

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/pfas-indiana-wisconsin-new-york-landfill-military/

Ric Mixter

Wetland Wisdom: Documentary looks at breakthrough in Great Lakes wetland research

In this Q&A, Central Michigan University Professor Don Uzarski talks about how critical healthy wetlands are for the Great Lakes region.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/wetland-wisdom-documentary-looks-at-breakthrough-in-great-lakes-wetland-research/

Gary Wilson

PFAS Around the Great Lakes Region: Actions taken in each state or province and standards set, if any

The eight Great Lakes states and Canada are approaching PFAS contamination in their own ways and setting their own standards.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/pfas-standards-actions-state-canada/

Natasha Blakely

Taking It in Stride: How Great Lakes islanders are weathering the COVID-19 storm

The tourism that usually rises around this time is on hold, but residents are battening down with ease.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/great-lakes-islands-ferry-coronavirus-covid-19/

Sharon Oosthoek

Headline: Cutting Contact: U.S. and Canada cut cash transactions and non-essential travel at border

At the Blue Water Bridge, International Bridge, Detroit-Windsor Tunnel and Mackinac Bridge, tolls will stop taking cash.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/bridge-tolls-travel-no-cash-coronavirus/

Kathy Johnson

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.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

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

The Associated Press

COVID-19 Changes: Great Lakes parks and tourist spots are closing, remaining open and waiting for summer

The agencies and businesses running the services, centers and parks are adapting daily, hourly.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/great-lakes-parks-centers-tourism-coronavirus-covid-19/

James Proffitt

Flushing Caution: Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner asks people to properly dispose of cleaning products

Anything that says “Flushable Wipes” is not flushable, commissioner says.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/flushable-wipes-coronavirus-covid-19-sewers/

Natasha Blakely

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.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

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

Better Government Association

Detroit set to restore water service amid coronavirus fears

DETROIT (AP) — Thousands of Detroit residents who have had their water service shut off due to nonpayment of bills can have it restored under a plan that aims to allow them to wash their hands at home as a way to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/ap-detroit-restore-water-service-coronavirus/

The Associated Press

Struck Down: Federal court rules Lake Erie Bill of Rights unconstitutional

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

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

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

James Proffitt

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.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

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

Gary Wilson

Great Lakes Moment: Decline of bird species should serve as a warning

In this month’s column from Great Lakes Now writer John Hartig, he looks at how climate change is impacting birds around the Great Lakes.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/black-terns-michigan-bird-climate-change/

John Hartig