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In: Authors, Latest News, Lisa John Rogers, News, PFAS News Roundup
PFAS Roundup: Biden administration updates chemical regulations for PFAS, while Trump allies already voice plans to roll them back

On Wednesday, December 5, the Biden administration updated the New Chemicals Regulations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). According to reporting by Rachel Frazin of The Hill, this aims to prevent a family of chemicals (or chemical cousins) known as PFAS from being approved through Low Volume Exemptions, “abridged reviews given to chemicals that will only be produced in small quantities.” 

Meanwhile, according to recent reporting from The Guardian, the incoming chair of the Senate environmental committee said in a hearing last week that she would target portions of new PFAS regulations.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/12/pfas-roundup-biden-administration-updates-chemical-regulations-for-pfas-while-trump-allies-already-voice-plans-to-roll-them-back/

Lisa John Rogers, Great Lakes Now

On:
In: bald eagle nestlings, emerging contaminants, Gavin Dehnert, National Sea Grant Law Center, new project, PFAS, Wisconsin Sea Grant

Caption: Gavin Dehnert, an emerging contaminants scientist at Wisconsin Sea Grant, investigates the impact of emerging contaminants on aquatic ecosystems. Photo Credit: Wisconsin Sea Grant.

Coastal and estuarine waters are important for human and ecosystem health. Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) are regularly detected in these waters; however, little is known about how they are transported, where they accumulate and their final destinations. There is also a lack of research on the health risks they pose to humans and aquatic life. It is critical to continue to support ongoing monitoring efforts and to address knowledge gaps around CEC exposures, which Sea Grant has established with previous funding.

For the last four years, Congress has directed Sea Grant to collaborate with state agencies and universities to expand emerging contaminant research and monitoring. Sea Grant is pleased to announce two projects receiving approximately $984,000 in federal funding in 2024. These projects were competitively selected through an opportunity focused on CECs. The projects, detailed below, will lead regional research competitions in the Southeast and Great Lakes regions focused on addressing CEC information needs. 

2024 project descriptions:

Wisconsin Sea Grant

Quantifying the health impacts of emerging and legacy contaminants on an apex bird predator in the Great Lakes region

Federal funding: $484,400

Project lead: Christina Remucal and Gavin Dehnert

Wisconsin Sea Grant plans to sample bald eagle nestlings, game fish and water from areas in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan known to have per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination. Researchers anticipate elevated PFAS levels near historical contamination sites and expect varying levels in game fish, which could lead to updating fish consumption guidelines. This study will inform long-term monitoring and bioremediation efforts and provide insights into the potential health impacts on both humans and wildlife. The findings will benefit local communities, including tribal nations, by offering updated fish consumption recommendations and contributing to future PFAS research.

The National Sea Grant Law Center

Strengthening and expanding regional CEC initiatives to promote research-to-application partnerships

Federal funding: $500,000

Project lead: Stephanie Otts

The National Sea Grant Law Center will assess and address the risks posed by contaminants of emerging concern to local communities through an interdisciplinary approach that involves both science and outreach. They will provide funding to the South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium for research projects through their contaminants grant program and will support partnership development in the Great Lakes and Southeast regions through a competitive grant process. The expected outcomes include a better understanding of the types, prevalence and movement of contaminants in the Southeast, stronger collaboration between researchers and policymakers in both regions, the creation of research-to-application partnerships that can serve as future models, and improved integration of research into policy decisions.

 

The post Sea Grant announces new projects to address community needs regarding contaminants of emerging concern first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.

Original Article

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/news/sea-grant-announces-new-projects-to-address-community-needs-regarding-contaminants-of-emerging-concern/

Wisconsin Sea Grant

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In: Uncategorized
* WHAT...Very cold wind chills as low as 20 to 25 below expected. * WHERE...Portions of central, east central, and northeast Wisconsin. * WHEN...Until 10 AM CST this morning. * IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 20 to 25 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.

Original Article

Current watches, warnings, and advisories for Brown County (WIC009) WI

Current watches, warnings, and advisories for Brown County (WIC009) WI

https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.da95821ec70706b3cd6f72c599bfce34552ae607.004.1.cap

NWS

On:
In: Uncategorized
* WHAT...Very cold wind chills as low as 20 to 25 below expected. * WHERE...Portions of central, east central, and northeast Wisconsin. * WHEN...Until 10 AM CST Thursday. * IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 20 to 25 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.

Original Article

Current watches, warnings, and advisories for Brown County (WIC009) WI

Current watches, warnings, and advisories for Brown County (WIC009) WI

https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.f512bf1487be9a1ff765a17deab86bbebeb9dd44.002.1.cap

NWS

On:
In: Uncategorized
At 450 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking snow showers along a line from 10 miles south of Oconto to near Denmark, or along a line from 11 miles northwest of Bay Shore Park to 11 miles southeast of Green Bay, moving east at 25 mph. The snow showers will be near... Luxemburg and Bellevue Town around 450 PM CST. Kewaunee around 515 PM CST. Other locations impacted by these snow showers include Dyckesville, Poland, Glenmore, Humboldt, Champion, Bellevue, Shirley, New Franken, Lark and Red Banks. Visibilities will drop quickly to less than a quarter of a mile in these snow showers. This includes Interstate 43 between mile markers 163 and 183.

Original Article

Current watches, warnings, and advisories for Brown County (WIC009) WI

Current watches, warnings, and advisories for Brown County (WIC009) WI

https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.cd11d975eca89424503707c4c91299e70248ffcb.001.1.cap

NWS

On:
In: Agriculture, Feature Homepage, Industry, Energy, Economic Development, Latest News, News
Agricultural runoff damages our water and kills wildlife. Could a simple drainage stopper be the solution?

The sight of the first snow on the horizon of Bill Wiley’s 500-acre farm in Shelby County, Ohio, is a welcome relief. The 2024 growing season has been incredibly dry.

“We are about eight inches behind regular precipitation for the year,” he said.

But Wiley, who farms corn, soybeans, wheat, pumpkins and gords, has installed two inline water control structures that control the flow of drainage water from two of his fields.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/12/agricultural-runoff-damages-our-water-and-kills-wildlife-could-a-simple-drainage-stopper-be-the-solution/

Stephen Starr

On:
In: Uncategorized
* WHAT...Very cold wind chills as low as 20 to 25 below zero expected. * WHERE...Calumet, Manitowoc, Winnebago, Brown, Kewaunee, Northern Oconto County, Outagamie, and Southern Oconto County Counties. * WHEN...From 10 PM this evening to 10 AM CST Thursday. * IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 20 to 25 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.

Original Article

Current watches, warnings, and advisories for Brown County (WIC009) WI

Current watches, warnings, and advisories for Brown County (WIC009) WI

https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.c8c1320940f864d7e6e305f03cf840904ff4b867.001.1.cap

NWS

On:
In: Uncategorized
At 229 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking snow showers along a line from near Embarrass to near St Anna, or along a line from 9 miles south of Shawano to 19 miles east of Oshkosh, moving east at 20 mph. The snow showers will be near... Appleton, Little Chute, Kimberly, Northern Lake Winnebago, High Cliff State Park, Menasha, Embarrass, Central Lake Winnebago and Clintonville around 230 PM CST. Black Creek and Darboy around 235 PM CST. Kaukauna, Chilton and St Anna around 240 PM CST. Navarino Wildlife Area around 245 PM CST. Other locations impacted by these snow showers include Harrison, Twelve Corners, Binghamton, Leeman, Kloten, Mackville, Stockbridge, Jericho, Deer Creek Wildlife Area and Wolf River Bottoms Wildlife Area. Visibilities will drop quickly to less than a half mile in these snow showers. This includes the following highways... Wisconsin Highway 441 between mile markers 4 and 10. U.S. Highway 10 between mile markers 289 and 291. Wisconsin Highway 29 between mile markers 233 and 256. U.S. Highway 41 between mile markers 137 and 173. Interstate 43 between mile markers 190 and 192.

Original Article

Current watches, warnings, and advisories for Brown County (WIC009) WI

Current watches, warnings, and advisories for Brown County (WIC009) WI

https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.d3dfe9a193c8324957f44e74043ce2815a489e99.001.1.cap

NWS

On:
In: Daily News

By delivering 1,200 Christmas trees from Northern Michigan to Chicago families, the crew aboard the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw was carrying on the tradition of the Rouse Simmons. The worn-out schooner helmed by a man nicknamed “Captain Santa” and heavily weighed down by a load of Christmas trees bound for Chicago sank while running that route in 1912. Read the full story by MLive.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241211-christmas-ship

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is investigating contamination near BASF’s Wyandotte site, not far from the city’s water intake facility. The site has a history of pollution stretching back decades, with hazardous chemicals like mercury, PFAS, and DDT reportedly seeping into the surrounding environment. Read the full story by WDIV-TV – Detroit, MI.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241211-groundwater-contamination-prevention

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

Canada-based McKeil Marine converted one of its ships to water-lubricated propeller shaft and grease-free rudder bearings to ensure the vessel does not discharge oil or grease into the Great Lakes. Following this conversion, many other Great Lakes operating vessels converted to Thordon Bearings, helping to raise the profile of the Burlington, Ontario-headquartered company across the global shipping industry. Read the full story by the Burlington Gazette.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241211-shipping-conversion

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

A Huron Pines community educator recently appealed to the city council of East Tawas, Michigan, to consider the Lake Huron Forever Pledge to prioritize water quality protection and preservation with a long-term view of sustainability of Lake Huron for future generations. So far, three Michigan communities have taken the Pledge – Bay City, Au Gres, and Alpena. Read the full story by the Iosco County News-Herald.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241211-protection-pledge

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

Since the start of the shipping season, total cargo shipments on the St. Lawrence Seaway came to more than 32 million metric tons. The totals are proportional to last year’s numbers, showing consistency in the waterway system. Read the full story by KBJR-TV – Superior, WI.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241211-cargo-tonnage

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

Over the summer, Force Blue, a nonprofit organization made up of veterans transitioning to civilian life, worked with the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary to install and remove mooring buoys at eight different shipwrecks in Lake Huron. They also assisted with the fresh water acidification project to study how the water is changing in Lake Huron which could affect fish feeding behaviors and reproductive abilities. Read the full story by Interlochen Public Radio.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241211-nonprofit-research

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

Audubon Great Lakes, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and several local partners began planning to restore coastal wetland in Allouez Bay in Superior, Wisconsin, three years ago. This week, the first phase of construction was completed as part of the Marsh Bird Restoration Project which aims to transform dense stands of invasive cattails into a more diverse and dynamic marsh environment for marsh birds, waterfowl, fish and people. Read the full story by the Superior Telegram.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241211-restoration-project

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

The Soo Locks Children’s Museum in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, is intended to be an educational resource to help kids get acquainted with one of the most significant pieces of infrastructure in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and the science behind how the locks work. Museum officials said they hope to open to the public sometime in 2025. Read the full story by The Sault Ste. Marie Evening News.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241211-soo-museum

James Polidori

On:
In: Uncategorized
Conditions are favorable for brief, heavy snow showers this afternoon into the early evening. These heavy snow showers could result in a rapid increase in snow intensity, reduced visibility to a half mile or less, and wind gusts up to 40 mph with blowing and drifting snow. Any heavy snow showers would last about 15 to 30 minutes and then depart. If driving, be alert for sudden changes in road conditions and exercise winter driving precautions. These heavy snow showers will impact the afternoon and early evening commute. Colder temperatures will follow the snow showers, which could lead to roads remaining slick tonight.

Original Article

Current watches, warnings, and advisories for Brown County (WIC009) WI

Current watches, warnings, and advisories for Brown County (WIC009) WI

https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.b239c65bc858baa8c8cc6779be0ff8d1d8d38796.001.1.cap

NWS

On:
In: Collaboration, Lake Ontario, Latest News, News, Ontario
The past, present and future of a changing Lake Ontario

By Daniel Macfarlane

This story is an excerpt from Daniel Macfarlane’s book The Lives of Lake Ontario: An Environmental History.

The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan, Circle of Blue, Great Lakes Now at Detroit PBS, Michigan Public and The Narwhal who work together to bring audiences news and information about the impact of climate change, pollution, and aging infrastructure on the Great Lakes and drinking water.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/12/the-past-present-and-future-of-a-changing-lake-ontario/

The Narwhal

On:
In: Adopt-a-Beach

Thanks to our amazing volunteers, Adopt-a-Beach celebrated three big firsts in 2025.

Adopt-a-Beach on your phone

This spring, our beach cleanup program launched a new system that allows volunteers to tally litter data on their phones.

“Adopt-a-Beach volunteers helped shape this project from start to finish,” says Olivia Reda, Volunteer Engagement Manager. “Volunteers asked for a way to tally litter data on their phones. They gave us feedback as the system was being developed. A small group of volunteers tested out the system last year. And volunteers are still helping improve it with their responses to a recent survey.”

The new system provides many benefits for Adopt-a-Beach volunteers. “It saves waste to use your phone instead of paper forms,” says Reda, “and you don’t have to deal with the wind blowing away your paper.” Volunteers get instant feedback on how many pieces of litter they’ve picked up without having to count hash marks on paper forms. Team Leaders – especially leaders of large cleanups – “save a lot of time” using phones for check-in and data collection. “It’s a smoother process overall,” says Reda. “Team Leaders spend less time on logistics, so there’s more time for them to educate and advocate at their cleanups.”

 “It’s great to see how ideas from our volunteers improve Adopt-a-Beach for everyone!” says Reda.

10 million pieces of litter

Tallying litter year after year helped reveal an amazing accomplishment. Volunteers have removed more than 10 million pieces of litter from the five Great Lakes’ shorelines since Adopt-a-Beach started tracking litter data in 2003.

Keeping 10 million pieces of litter out of our lakes is no small feat. And Adopt-a-Beach volunteers have done even more. The data they’ve collected show litter patterns, raise awareness about plastic pollution, and help pass policies to reduce plastic pollution and litter.

“One of the things I love about Adopt-a-Beach is how long our volunteers’ work lasts,” says Reda. “On the days of their cleanups, volunteers keep plastic and other trash out of the Great Lakes. People who see the cleanups are often inspired to do cleanups of their own weeks or months later. And the litter data our volunteers collect becomes part of a 20-plus year dataset that’s helping communities find solutions to plastic pollution.”

A groundbreaking report

In April, the Alliance released a groundbreaking report based on the dataset volunteers have collected. The report, which found that the vast majority of litter volunteers collect is plastic, gained national media attention and has strengthened national and state-level efforts to reduce the scourge of Great Lakes plastic pollution.

“Thanks to Adopt-a-Beach volunteers, we know that 86% of shoreline litter is plastic,” says Reda, who authored the report. “40% is in the ‘tiny trash’ category. Much of the plastic comes from single-use items.”

Plastic pollution threatens human health and the environment. The report outlines solutions that include businesses, governments, and manufacturers.

Thanks to volunteers’ work, momentum is building to reduce plastic pollution. You can read about some recent wins in the fight against plastic pollution here.

The numbers for 2024

Thank you to all the Adopt-a-Beach Team Leaders and volunteers who cared for their shorelines this year! Here are some highlights of what they accomplished in 2024: 

573,608 pieces of litter.
Litter Type: 37% tiny trash. 26% food-related. 19% smoking-related. 18% other.
11,324 volunteers.
23,560 pounds of litter.
Litter Material: 79% plastic. 21% other materials.
28,312 volunteer hours.

A special thanks to this year’s top Adopt-a-Beach sponsors: Dr. Scholl Foundation, Freudenberg, HSBC, Meijer, and Unilever.

The post 3 Big Firsts for Adopt-a-Beach appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Original Article

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

https://greatlakes.org/2024/12/3-big-firsts-for-adopt-a-beach/

Judy Freed

On:
In: Feature Homepage, invasive species, Latest News, News, Science, Technology, Research
Construction will soon begin on project to keep invasive carp out of Great Lakes

By Danielle Kaeding, Wisconsin Public Radio

This article was republished here with permission from Wisconsin Public Radio.

Efforts to build a barrier to keep invasive carp out of the Great Lakes are one step closer to reality.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Wednesday that it awarded the first construction contract on the $1.15 billion project at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam on the Des Plaines River in Joliet, Illinois.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/12/construction-will-soon-begin-on-project-to-keep-invasive-carp-out-of-great-lakes/

Wisconsin Public Radio

On:
In: Daily News

Under a portion of the state’s environmental protection laws, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy has been banned from updating rules to deal with certain kinds of water pollution. Bills to restore the agency’s authority are before the lame duck session of the legislature. Read the full story by Michigan Public.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241209-michigan-environmental-laws

Taaja Tucker-Silva

On:
In: Daily News

Michigan has debated for decades but never passed a uniform statewide septic code and remains the only state without one. Whether the latest push can get over the finish line seems unlikely after a state Senate panel adjourned without voting on legislation this week. Read the full story by MLive.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241209-michigan-septic-legislation

Taaja Tucker-Silva

On:
In: Daily News

The clock is ticking in a legal battle over a Minnesota mining project that some warn could inflict catastrophic damage on Lake Superior and nearby communities. Environmental advocates argue that the risks posed by the project’s tailings dams could have dire consequences for the Great Lakes ecosystem and residents living downhill. Read the full story by Newsweek.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241209-minnesota-tailings-dam

Taaja Tucker-Silva

On:
In: Daily News

Last Friday, a large part of the Detroit River’s waterbed was exposed as strong winds pushed the water to the northeastern banks of the Great Lakes in a seiche event. The Windsor Harbor Master said mariners have to take extra caution navigating the river due to the lower water level and strong winds. Read the full story by the CBC.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241209-detroit-river-seiche

Taaja Tucker-Silva

On:
In: Daily News

Water bottler BlueTriton announced it will cease operations in Puslinch, Ontario, in January 2025. Activists said their exit could be due to issues with the well from where water is drawn, and the company was getting pressure to exit from the Indigenous Six Nations who claim the land. Read the full story by Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241209-ontario-bottled-water

Taaja Tucker-Silva

On:
In: Daily News

Michigan looks to get $700 million to clean up contaminated sediment in the Detroit River, but according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, decades of unchecked pollution from BASF’s Wyandotte facility could stand in the way. Read the full story by Planet Detroit.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241209-detroit-river-pollution

Taaja Tucker-Silva

On:
In: Daily News

The U.S. Senate has approved the reauthorization through 2031 of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Now the measure moves to the U.S. House of Representatives for a vote. Read the full story by WTTW-TV – Chicago, IL.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241209-glri-house-vote

Taaja Tucker-Silva

On:
In: Daily News

The historic tugboat Robinson Bay was officially handed off to the Great Lakes Maritime Academy in Traverse City, Michigan, in a ceremony last month. The Robinson Bay will allow maritime cadets to learn towing, ship handling, and engineering processes onboard the historic vessel, built in 1958. Read the full story by WPBN-TV – Traverse City, MI.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241209-maritime-academy-tugboat

Taaja Tucker-Silva