Friday, December 26, 2014

WIMS Environmental News Blogs

 

WIMS Environmental News Blogs

 

NOW THAT WE ARE ON OUR HOLIDAY BREAK IT'S A GREAT TIME TO CHECK OUT OUR ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS BLOGS

<> White House News

<> Congressional News

<> Federal Agencies News

<> Industry News

<> Enviro Group News

<> Air Quality News

<> Hazardous Waste News

<> Transportation News

We'll be back on Monday, January 5, 2015.

Friday, December 19, 2014

EDITORIAL: U.S. Senate leaves Great Lakes high and dry

Subscribers Note: WIMS will not be publishing for the next two weeks of Christmas & New Years. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy & safe holiday season. We'll be back on Monday, January 5, 2015.

 

<> EDITORIAL: U.S. Senate leaves Great Lakes high and dry - Despite assurances that the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2014 was fast-tracked for passage before Congress shut down for the holidays, at least one unknown, unnamed senator torpedoed it

Thursday, December 18, 2014

EPA Awards Additional GLRI Funding to Federal and State Agencies to Expand Efforts to Target Harmful Algal Blooms in Lake Erie

<> EPA Awards Additional GLRI Funding to Federal and State Agencies to Expand Efforts to Target Harmful Algal Blooms in Lake Erie - U.S EPA announced the award of Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funds totaling over $3.1 million to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Geological Survey, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to target harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Great Lakes News for 12/17/14

<> Ohio EPA grant targets runoff feeding Lake Erie algae - Ohio's environmental regulators are handing out a grant that will be aimed at reducing farm runoff that contributes to algae in Lake Erie.

<> COMMENTARY: We need national program to access risks to Great Lakes - As the events of last summer showed, the threat to our Great Lakes -- and our water supply -- from algae blooms and cyanotoxins is real.

<> Ohio OKs funds to monitor toxic algae, Asian carp - In Ohio, the state Controlling Board OK'd funding for separate efforts to monitor streams for toxic algae and invasive Asian carp.

<> GVSU researchers find more of invasive snail species in Lake Michigan - The faucet snail is spreading in Lake Michigan, and that bodes ill for water birds native to Michigan, says Grand Valley State University's Annis Water Resources Institute.

 
WIMS REPORTS EACH DAY ON MAJOR GREAT LAKES ISSUES AND NEWS, along with National/International news, all U.S. Appeals Courts' environmental decisions, important Federal Registers announcemsnts, details environmental happenings in Michigan and complete Michigan environmental legislative tracking. Your one-stop source for environmental, energy and climate change issues and news (click here).

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Oil & Water Presents to Petroleum Task Force

<> Oil & Water Presents to Petroleum Task Force - Dec 15. In formal remarks to a state task force on oil pipelines, representatives of key environmental and Great Lakes groups – echoing the concerns of businesses, governments, and thousands of citizens – called on Governor Snyder to take swift and meaningful action to protect the Great Lakes from a catastrophic oil spill from a pair of 61-year-old Enbridge pipelines in the Straits of Mackinac.

Monday, December 15, 2014

Stabenow, Camp, Slaughter Introduce Guarding Our Great Lakes Act

<> Stabenow, Camp, Slaughter Introduce Guarding Our Great Lakes Act - Senator Debbie Stabenow and Representatives Dave Camp (R-MI) and Louise Slaughter (D-NY) introduced the Guarding Our Great Lakes Act, bipartisan legislation designed to protect the Great Lakes from the threat of invasive Asian carp.

Friday, December 12, 2014

Study casts doubt on leaking contaminates theory

<> Study casts doubt on leaking contaminates theory - In Ohio, two scientists cast serious doubt on claims that the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority's Facility 3 man-made island is leaching phosphorus into the Western Basin of Lake Erie

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Great Lakes on a record-breaking water-level rebound

<> Great Lakes on a record-breaking water-level rebound - Lakes Michigan and Huron have recovered 3.2 feet since January 2013; Lake Superior 2.3 feet, marking the fastest recovery over a 23-month period since the mid-1800s

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

H.R.5764 - Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2014

<> H.R.5764 - Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2014 - House debate may begin on the GLRI Act of 2014 which would formally authorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative for five years at up to $300 million annually.

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Great Lakes ice season -- confusion?

<> Lake Erie temperature at end of November was the coldest in decades - Lake Erie's water temperature at the end of November fell to 40 degrees.

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

IJC Provides Great Lakes Human Health Indicators for Governments' Consideration

<> IJC Provides Great Lakes Human Health Indicators for Governments' Consideration - A report proposing five indicators to assess the potential risk to human health from use of Great Lakes waters has been submitted to the Canadian and United States governments by the International Joint Commission (IJC) -- Recommended Human Health Indicators for Assessment of Progress on the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement was prepared by the IJC's Health Professionals Advisory Board (HPAB).

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Proposed rule for farms aims to improve Lake Erie

<> Proposed rule for farms aims to improve Lake Erie - Ohio's lawmakers are taking their first step toward slowing the spread of algae in Lake Erie since a toxin contaminated the drinking water for more than 400,000 people.

Monday, December 1, 2014

"Paddle to D.C." team to reach Washington

<> "Paddle to D.C." team to reach Washington this week with petition to protect Boundary Waters, Lake Superior from proposed sulfide mining - Dave and Amy Freeman of Ely, Minnesota, and members of their team  plan to arrive in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 2, 2014, with their canoe full of signatures for a petition to protect Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Lake Superior from plans for sulfide mining in northern Minnesota.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

An Invitation to Enjoy the 2014 Edition of Restoring the Great Lakes

<> An Invitation to Enjoy the 2014 Edition of Restoring the Great Lakes - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released this year's edition of Restoring the Great Lakes to learn more about the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative work it does and the people who make it happen.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Climate Change Could Affect Future of Lake Michigan Basin

<> Climate Change Could Affect Future of Lake Michigan Basin – USGS Summary: Climate change could lengthen the growing season, make soil drier and decrease winter snowpack in the Lake Michigan Basin by the turn of the century, among other hydrological effects.

Monday, November 24, 2014

Feds probe Great Lakes commercial fishing

<> Feds probe Great Lakes commercial fishing - two-year federal undercover operation into illegal fishing on Lake Superior has resulted in a series of recent raids, involving three northern Michigan fish markets and their fishing operations.

Friday, November 21, 2014

Great Lakes Commission Semiannual Meeting and Great Lakes Day

<> Save the date: the Great Lakes Commission Semiannual Meeting and Great Lakes Day - In Washington, D.C., Feb 24-26, 2015 - Events will feature dialogue on Great Lakes priorities by regional leaders and members of Congress who play a critical role in shaping Great Lakes policies.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

House Hearing On Cyanotoxins in Drinking Water

<> House Hearing On Cyanotoxins in Drinking Water - The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy: Drinking water contamination by algal blooms in the source water of public water systems gained national attention this summer when blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) laced with a toxin called microcystin (a cyanotoxin) were found in Lake Erie and Toledo's Collins Water Treatment Plant.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

The GLMRIS - Brandon Road control point effort

<> The GLMRIS - Brandon Road control point effort - The Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS) will assess the viability of establishing a single point to control the one-way, upstream transfer of aquatic nuisance species from the Mississippi River basin into the Great Lakes basin near the Brandon Road Lock and Dam located in Joliet, Illinois. Scoping & comment period will run through January 16, 2015

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Detroit River a suspect in Lake Erie algal growth

<> Detroit River a suspect in Lake Erie algal growth - Though still focused on the farm-enriched Maumee River watershed, Great Lakes scientists are increasingly curious how much phosphorus generated north of Toledo flows down the Detroit River and contributes to western Lake Erie's algal growth.

Monday, November 17, 2014

Chicago to Host First Ever Great Lakes Economic Forum

<> Chicago to Host First Ever Great Lakes Economic Forum - CHICAGO - Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Council of the Great Lakes Region are pleased to announce that Chicago will play host to the first Great Lakes Economic Forum, April 26-28, 2015.

Friday, November 14, 2014

HOW Coalition Supports Clean Water Rule

<> HOW Coalition Supports Clean Water Rule - The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition and 51 of its members, representing hundreds of thousands of people across the Great Lakes, submitted comments to the U.S. EPA in support of an Obama Administration rule clarifying Clean Water Act protections to streams and wetlands [WOTUS Proposed Rule].

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Webinar: Great Lakes Beach Association Conference

<> Webinar: Great Lakes Beach Association Conference - The 14th Annual Great Lakes Beach Association Conference is taking place Nov. 12-14 in Toronto, Ont., and will be broadcast live via free webinar and teleconference!

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Harmful Algal Blooms forums in Ontario and Ohio

<> Harmful Algal Blooms forums in Ontario and Ohio - Sponsored by the International Joint Commission (IJC) Nov. 12 at the Leamington Municipal Complex in Leamington, Ontario, and Nov. 13 at the Maumee Bay Lodge and Conference Center in Oregon, Ohio, near Toledo.

Friday, November 7, 2014

Research suggests drier winter than normal could impact lake water levels

<> Research suggests drier winter than normal could impact lake water levels - The National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a drier-than-average winter for the duration of December, January and February, though there is nothing to suggest yet whether or not temperatures will be higher or lower than normal.

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Space station to give CATS scan to Great Lakes

<> Space station to give CATS scan to Great Lakes - NASA is set to launch an instrument aboard the International Space Station that can track air pollution across the Great Lakes and measure how much clouds are contributing to climate change

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

RFP for FY2015 Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act

RFP for FY2015 Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is accepting project proposals to protect, restore and enhance Great Lakes fish and wildlife habitat under the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act.

Monday, November 3, 2014

Industrial Water Stewardship - Creating a Positive Impact in the Great Lakes Region

Industrial Water Stewardship – Creating a Positive Impact in the Great Lakes Region – [from the Great Lakes Protection Fund] How does an industrial facility know it is being responsible in its use of water?  It is a straightforward question that needs to be addressed differently across the country and in our many varied ecosystems.

Friday, October 31, 2014

S.S. Badger's $2 million coal ash retention system to be ready for 2015 season

S.S. Badger's $2 million coal ash retention system to be ready for 2015 season - According to Terri Brown, director of media relations for LMC, the Ludington-based company has placed a purchase order for an onboard conveyor system which will allow the vessel to transport ash from the boiler room to ash retention containers.

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Red Cliff Band: Lake Superior barrel retrieval project update

Red Cliff Band: Lake Superior barrel retrieval project update - Since the mid-1990s, the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa has been looking into the nearly 1,500 barrels that were dumped into Lake Superior by the U.S. military between 1959 and 1962

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

America's last coal-fired ship finally stops dumping coal ash into Lake Michigan

America's last coal-fired ship finally stops dumping coal ash into Lake Michigan - The 2014 season for Lake Michigan's only coal-powered passenger and car ferry came to a close Sunday, signaling the end of the controversial practice of dumping coal ash into the Great Lake. . .

Monday, October 27, 2014

Lake Erie's algal bloom fading

Lake Erie's algal bloom fading - With Lake Erie's 2014 harmful algal bloom fading away in the lake's cold water, a scientist who studies the blooms is looking back on his forecast for this year. It turned out to be accurate said an algal bloom forecasting expert

Friday, October 24, 2014

Great Lakes States' Representatives Support $300 million Funding For GLRI

Great Lakes States' Representatives Support $300 million Funding For GLRI - The Healing Our Waters - HOW Great Lakes Coalition has identified House members and is urging support for $300 million through FY 2016 for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI)

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Webinar: Great Lakes Phragmites Collaborative

Webinar: Great Lakes Phragmites Collaborative - The Great Lakes Phragmites Collaborative webinar series focuses on invasive Phragmites in the Great Lakes region, and encourages dialogue and technology transfer. Register now for the next free webinar. . .

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Why are the Great Lakes on the rise?

Why are the Great Lakes on the rise? - During the late summer and early fall, the water level on the Great Lakes usually drops several inches. This year, three of those lakes, Superior, Michigan and Huron, have seen the opposite happen - rising water levels.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

EPA Awards Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Grants to Ohio, Michigan and Indiana to Target Harmful Algal Blooms in Lake Erie

EPA Awards Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Grants to Ohio, Michigan and Indiana to Target Harmful Algal Blooms in Lake Erie (IN, MI, OH) - (Oct. 20, 2014) -- U.S. EPA Region 5 Administrator/Great Lakes National Program Manager Susan Hedman announced the award of four Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grants totaling over $8.6 million to Ohio, Michigan and Indiana state agencies

Monday, October 20, 2014

Spiny water fleas in Great Lakes indicate a larger problem

Spiny water fleas in Great Lakes indicate a larger problem - The self-sustaining populations of the spiny water flea, an invasive species, suggest a greater problem in the Great Lakes, according to researchers.