Great Lakes Blogger

MN House backs continued nuclear moratorium

The Minnesota House has rejected an effort to lift the state's ban on new nuclear power plants.

Lawmakers voted 70-62 today to uphold a 1994 moratorium on the construction of nuclear facilities. The vote was an amendment to an energy policy bill.

Full story here.

a petition to honor the Millikens

An on-line petition directed at the Governor and Legislature of Michigan is now on-line. It calls for the state to name a state forest or natural area after former Governor William Milliken and former First Lady of Michigan Helen Milliken.

On Michigan and wetlands

Two recent takes.

One. Can the Corps protect Michigan's wetlands?

Two. What gives with the state's proposal to stop protecting wetlands from destruction?

shipping industry in spat with Corps: no $ for Soo lock

“The Great Lakes shipping industry is in a state of shock,” and finds the Corps’ decision “incomprehensible,” said GLMTF president Donald Cree. He said Congress “has strongly supported the project, authorizing the lock at full Federal expense in 2007 and approving tens of millions of dollars in Federal construct ion funding,” including $17 million in FY09.

Full story here.

why the renewed Lake Erie algae blooms?

One theory:

The herbicide Roundup may be contributing to the growth of harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie, according to Ohio Sea Grant researchers. Drs. R. Michael McKay and George Bullerjahn of Bowling Green State University are studying the impact of glyphosate, a phosphonate and the main ingredient in the commonly used herbicide, on the strains of blue-green algae found in Lake Erie. 

Download Algae_round_up_osu_0409

what dioxin?

One man in a Lions Club polo shirt said that he was a life-long Freeland resident and said that he agreed with the message proclaimed in the unofficial “Dioxins My Ass” Walleye Fest hat, something that illustrates the broad local skepticism of the dioxin dangers. The hats have been a hot commodity.

Thank you once again, Eartha Melzer of Michigan Messenger.

Last week's post here urging the event (or at least rumored 'gifting' of dioxin tainted fish to a local food bank) be cancelled elicited these two comments:

#1

You should become educated in what your talking about before just blurting out words. Let me guess, you voted for OBAMA, lol. Let me ask you a question - how's those promises working out for ya?

#2

I proudly voted for Obama. I am a professional biologist, and I would be concerened about the millions of tons of toxics that were dumped in that river, many of which reside in sediments, buried in the stream.

To be clear, I'm not saying I agree with this article, but common sense tells ya' that there are some risks here. Good for the writer for calling it to our attention.

good news on high speed rail

High-speed rail may be coming faster to the Twin Cities than previously thought.

Driving to Chicago takes six hours on a good day. Counting waiting time and transit time to and from the airport, flying takes four to five hours door-to-door. Even if the time savings were minimal -- a 4-hour trip -- it would be a far more enjoyable experience.

Jeff Alexander's final news report

...for the Muskegon Chronicle. But a new challenge awaits this gifted journalist at the National Wildlife Federation.

My head throbbed and there was a lump in my throat the size of a golf ball as I struggled to write my last article for The Chronicle.

As my colleagues worked diligently to produce the next day's newspaper, I pondered how to say farewell. Today is my last day at The Chronicle; this also marks the end of my 25-year career in journalism.

EPA to Michigan on wetlands

"If you insist on dumping your program, we'll work with you."

Download Letter to chester 4-13-09

Jim Olson on Public Trust

This is the issue that too many Great Lakes environmental organizations have refused to face.

Time is running out.

The real issue is not bottled water. It is about who will own and control the largest flowing body of fresh surface water in the world. Corporations behind the U.N World Water Forum have been angling to turn water into a tradable commodity.