DEQ releases 2015 State of the Great Lakes report
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March 23, 2016 is the deadline for Public Comment regarding the proposed removal of the Beach Closings Beneficial Use Impairment from the St. Clair River Area of Concern. A link to the Removal Recommendation document can be found at www.michigan.gov/deqaocprogram.More
Michigan will carefully review and accept public comment about an application submitted by the state of Wisconsin yesterday to the Great Lakes Compact Council and the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Water Resources Regional Body to divert water from the Great Lakes basin to the city of Waukesha, Wisc.More
The DEQ and Great Lakes Commission today announced the availability of $25,000 for small grants to support local efforts to clean up Michigan rivers, streams and creeks.
Michigan’s Volunteer River, Stream, and Creek Cleanup Program supports grants to local units of government to help clean Michigan waterways. Local units of government may partner with nonprofit organizations or other volunteer groups to carry out the work. A 25 percent minimum local match is required.
The program is funded by fees from the sale of Michigan’s specialty water quality protection license plates, available from the Secretary of State’s Office.
The application deadline is Jan. 25, 2016. The grant application package is available at http://projects.glc.org/streamclean/app16.htm. Applications are reviewed and assessed by the DEQ and Great Lakes Commission, with final decisions anticipated in April 2016.
To learn more about the grant program, contact Laura Kaminski, Great Lakes Commission, at 734-971-9135 or laurak@glc.org. Questions about the grant application process should be directed to Gary Kohlhepp, DEQ Water Resources Division, at 517-284-5540 or kohlheppg@michigan.gov.
Gov. Rick Snyder yesterday issued an executive order creating the Michigan Pipeline Safety Advisory Board and announced an agreement with Enbridge Energy Co. to further preserve and protect Michigan’s environment including our lakes, rivers and other world-class resources.More
The DEQ today made available about $4.2 million of state and federal funding for water quality projects that restore and protect Michigan’s lakes, streams and wetlands by controlling polluted runoff. State and local governments, nonprofits, and colleges and universities are eligible to apply.More
The Year of Clean Air – AQD 101 Webinar Series is a monthly webinar that will focus on specific topics associated with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Air Quality Division (AQD) and its associated programs.More
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Director Dan Wyant and Attorney General Bill Schuette today announced the release of the Michigan Petroleum Pipeline Task Force Report. The report calls for an immediate ban on transporting tar sands and heavy crude oil through the Straits of Mackinac pipelines, mandates full insurance coverage liability, requires an assessment of options to the Straits pipelines, requires Enbridge to disclose coverage pipeline safety reports and creates a public advisory board on pipeline safety.More
Michigan will become the first state to monitor beaches using a new, rapid testing method for water quality to quickly address potential public health concerns and keep people safe.More
The DEQ today announced grants totaling almost $3.1 million to improve water quality in Michigan lakes and streams. These grants will help restore impaired waters and protect high-quality waters by reducing nonpoint sources of sediment, nutrients and other contaminants.More