U.S. House approves bill to ban plastic microbeads

<> U.S. House approves bill to ban plastic microbeads - The House on Monday approved a bill by unanimous voice vote, co-sponsored by Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), that would phase out the production and sale of tiny bits of plastic called microbeads in personal-care products, starting in 2017 -- the Microbead-Free Waters Act, sponsored by Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ). H.R.1321 - To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prohibit the manufacture and introduction or delivery for introduction into interstate commerce of rinse-off cosmetics containing intentionally-added plastic microbeads

Michigan Can do More to Protect Lake Erie, Curb Harmful Algal Blooms

<> Michigan Can do More to Protect Lake Erie, Curb Harmful Algal Blooms - The National Wildlife Federation and Michigan League of Conservation Voters today urged the state of Michigan to bolster its plan to protect Lake Erie from harmful algal blooms like the 2014 bloom that left more than 400,000 people without access to safe drinking water and the largest bloom on record this year.

Funding Opportunity: NOAA's Great Lakes Regional Habitat Restoration Partnerships

<> Funding Opportunity: NOAA's Great Lakes Regional Habitat Restoration Partnerships - NOAA's Restoration Center has released a federal funding opportunity (FFO) for habitat restoration in Great Lakes Areas of Concern -- the closing date is February 2, 2016.

IJC Calls for Improved Great Lakes Atmospheric Mercury Monitoring

<> International Joint Commission Calls for Improved Great Lakes Atmospheric Mercury Monitoring - IJC, concerned by the lack of sustained funding for the number of monitoring sites, is recommending in a new report that the Canadian and U.S. governments provide stable long-term funding to monitor atmospheric deposition of mercury in the Great Lakes region -- concerned that mercury concentrations in some Great Lakes fish in some locations are increasing or may increase in some fish species in the future due to significant increases in coal burning in Asia.  Report: Atmospheric Deposition in Pollution of the Great Lakes

Toxic Lake Erie shipwreck never should have been on Great Lakes, research shows

<> Toxic Lake Erie shipwreck never should have been on Great Lakes, research shows - The Argo, a tanker barge that sank Oct. 20, 1937, in a storm, was operating illegally during its final journey — a trip from New Jersey to Sault Ste. Marie and back to load 4,700 barrels of benzole that is still threatening the lakes eight decades later.

Canada delays decision on Lake Huron nuke waste storage

<> Canada delays decision on Lake Huron nuke waste storage - Canada's environmental minister will delay making a final decision on a controversial plan to bury nuclear waste within a mile of Lake Huron in Kincardine, Ont., until March 1, 2016.

NOAA graphics show how a Mackinac straits oil spill might look

<> NOAA graphics show how a Mackinac straits oil spill might look - Water currents model used during Enbridge exercise.