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  • EPA cites Sauder for clean-air violations

    The EPA is taking action against Sauder Woodworking Facility for alleged Clean Air Act violations at the company's furniture manufacturing plant in Archbold, Ohio. EPA proposed a $328,334 penalty.

    Allegations suggest Sauder has violated federal and state regulations by emitting excessive amounts of particulates (smoke, dust, ash), nitrogen oxides' [...]
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    Posted: July 15, 2009, 4:42pm EDT

  • Genesee County Files Application to Drain Lake Huron

    The Michigan DEQ received a water withdrawal permit request this week from the Genesee County Drain Commission for the withdrawal of 85 million gallons per day from Lake Huron as a public water supply source for Genesee County, the city of Flint and customer municipalities in Lapeer, Sanilac, Saginaw, and [...]
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    Posted: May 27, 2009, 4:38pm EDT

  • $10.3 Million in grants for contaminated land cleanup, economic development in Michigan

    Funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are being awarded to help communities in Michigan clean up sites known as “brownfields” which may be contaminated by hazardous chemicals or pollutants. The grants which include $2.5 million from the Recovery Act and $7.8 million from the EPA brownfields general program [...]
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    Posted: May 15, 2009, 4:01pm EDT

  • LOCAL SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS: Knu's Red Ball Rocker



    A re-introduction of a modern classic, Knu's Red Ball Rocker is sustainable and cool. 100% carbon offset production at Knu's facility in Zeeland. It's fun, functional sculpture for toddlers. A great way to get your kids to see the world in an artistic manner.[...]
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    Posted: April 10, 2009, 6:21pm EDT

  • New Environmental Justice Grants for Chicago and Milwaukee

    What is ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE??? In the United States, minority and low-income communities are disproportionately exposed to comparatively high levels of pollution and health risks. For example, in the early 1990's it was recognized that 96% of all hazardous waste dumping sites were in predominately minority owned communities. The federal government's [...]
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    Posted: April 06, 2009, 5:41pm EDT

  • Crown Chemical Fined for Dumping Caustic Waste into Local Water Supply

    Jim Spain, former president of Crown Chemical in Crestwood iL, has plead guilty to illegally dumping chemical wastes into a regional sewer system. He gets off easy with a fine, home confinement and a year's probation. Crown Chemical Inc., which also pleaded guilty to charges in the case, was sentenced' [...]
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    Posted: February 18, 2009, 7:45pm EST

  • EPA says Des Plaines River Oil Spill is Cleaned Up


    EPA said today that most cleanup activities associated with the Feb. 8 oil release from Caterpillar's Joliet facility are now complete. The work was performed with support from Illinois EPA and the U.S. Coast Guard.

    The poisoning of the river occurred when Caterpillar Corps waste' [...]
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    Posted: February 18, 2009, 7:32pm EST

  • PENNSYLVANIA TO HOLD FIRST STATEWIDE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CONFERENCE

    HARRISBURG – A first-of-its-kind conference will be held April 26 – 28 to educate and improve communication among members of environmental justice communities, community organizations, private sector organizations and government officials, the Department of Environmental Protection announced today.

    The conference, organized by the DEP's Environmental Justice Advisory Board and' [...]
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    Posted: January 27, 2009, 5:16pm EST

  • Open House on Kennecott Mine Proposal

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hold an open house on October 22 to answer questions about the federal role in regulating the proposed mine and the underground injection control permit application submitted by Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company. The open house will be held at the Holiday Inn, 1951 U.S. [...]
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    Posted: October 13, 2008, 4:45pm EDT

  • BIFMA Standards Unveiled in October

    From Environmental Leader - September 19, 2008
    Sustainability Guidelines for Office Furniture May Soon Be Finalized

    A new national sustainability standard for office furniture makers, developed jointly by NSF and the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association, may be finalized by early October, Western Michigan Business Review reports.

    [...]
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    Posted: September 23, 2008, 5:42pm EDT

  • Great Lakes Legacy Act ReAuthorized in Congress, still must pass Senate

    Buffalo, NY—The U.S. House of Representatives voted today to reauthorize and triple the amount being spent for cleaning up contamination at sites around the Great Lakes. Once approved by the Senate, the reauthorized Great Lakes Legacy Act (H.R. 6460/S.R. 2994) will:

    • Provide $150 million annually from 2009-2013
    • [...]
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    Posted: September 19, 2008, 4:26pm EDT

  • Eden Environments: Grand Rapids' Sustainable Design Center




    Yup, the bear attended opening night of Eden Environments and I was glad to see and meet so many likeminded green folk. Good food, good conversation and great design came together that evening with expectations of great things to come from [...]
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    Posted: September 15, 2008, 6:31pm EDT

  • The Ashtabula River Runs Clean Into Lake Erie Once Again

    The Ashtabula River Partnership recently hosted a party at the Ashtabula Yacht Club to celebrate the successful removal of nearly 630,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment from the river. The sediment contained a variety of chemicals including PCBs, heavy metals and uranium, radium and thorium. Dredging began in September 2006 [...]
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    Posted: September 08, 2008, 4:59pm EDT

  • Troy Ohio added to SuperFund Priorties List

    The East Troy Contaminated Aquifer site in Troy, Ohio, to the Superfund National Priorities List. Three other sites - the Behr Dayton Thermal System VOC Plume site in Dayton, the New Carlisle Landfill in New Carlisle, Ohio, and the U.S. Smelter and Lead Refinery in East Chicago, Ind. - were [...]
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    Posted: September 05, 2008, 3:05pm EDT

  • CORPORATE POLLUTERS PAY STIFF FINES IN THE GREAT LAKES

    1) An agreement has been reached with Republic Engineered Products Inc. on alleged Clean Air Act violations at the company's steel mill at 1807 E. 28th St., Lorain, Ohio. Republic has agreed to pay a $210,000 penalty.

    2) EPA proposed a $114,740 penalty and filed an administrative complaint' [...]
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    Posted: September 02, 2008, 5:41pm EDT

  • HERE'S A FACT THAT YOU DON'T KNOW

    There are an estimated 243 million cell phone users in the United States. That number is dwarfed only by the estimated number of unused cell phones lurking in junk drawers and closets – 500 million. And the number of obsolete and unused cell phones is growing by an estimated 100 [...]
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    Posted: August 15, 2008, 5:02pm EDT

  • Protect the Earth Summit August 2 and 3

    Help Stop Metallic Sulfide and Uranium Mining

    Keepers of the Water, Yellowdog Summer, and Students Against Sulfide Mining are organizing a Protect the Earth Summit on the shores of Gichigami for August 2 and 3 to bring communities together throughout the Great Lakes Region and the Midwest that are [...]
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    Posted: August 14, 2008, 5:16pm EDT

  • Dow will Clean up dioxin in Saginaw

    The Feds have reached an agreement with Dow Chemical Co. that requires the company to clean up dioxin contamination in the Riverside Boulevard neighborhood of Saginaw. Construction work in this neighborhood on the Lower Tittabawassee River is expected to begin in late July and continue through the fall.

    There [...]
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    Posted: July 25, 2008, 4:18pm EDT

  • New EPA Regional Administrator for the Great Lakes

    Lynn Buhl will become Regional Administrator for EPA Region 5, which encompasses Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. Bharat Mathur, EPA's Acting Regional Administrator since May of 2008, will resume his position as Deputy Regional Administrator.

    Since September 2006, Buhl has served as Deputy Assistant Administrator in the' [...]
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    Posted: July 25, 2008, 4:15pm EDT

  • Coast Guard Enlists Alliance, Public in Michigan Beach Trash Investigation

    The Alliance for the Great Lakes is assisting the U.S. Coast Guard in its investigation to identify the source of tons of strange trash washing up along the Lake Michigan shoreline in West Michigan. The Alliance is calling on its West Michigan beach adopters and any other members of the [...]
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    Posted: July 25, 2008, 4:08pm EDT

  • Wolf Killings Continue in Yellowstone Region

    The Bush Administration stripped wolves of their endangered species protection in March. 106 wolves have been killed in the past 118 days.

    Almost one per day. And if Wyoming, Idaho and Montana have their way, at least 900 wolves -- nearly 60 percent of the population -- could be [...]
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    Posted: July 17, 2008, 4:23pm EDT

  • Lt. Governor Cherry Speaks out on Great Lakes Protection

    Lt. Governor Cherry has been touring the state to raise public awareness of preserving the Lakes – especially to urge Congress to reauthorize the Great Lakes Legacy Act. He's been posting on blogs during his trip and today I'm fortunate enough to announce that he is using Black Bear Speaks [...]
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    Posted: July 11, 2008, 3:10pm EDT

  • Bogus Recycling Company Owners Jailed

    Oh yes, sometimes your government gets it right. This time
    three folks were arrested in Lapeer County for racketeering and money laundering.

    Between 2000 and 2004, World Waste Services and Cove Landfill were
    permitted by the state of Michigan to conduct a solid waste business. World Waste Services submitted [...]
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    Posted: July 08, 2008, 5:19pm EDT

  • Book Recommendation: EcoDesign Sourcebook

    For the growing number of people looking to embrace an eco-friendly lifestyle without sacrificing high style, ecoDesign — now fully revised and updated — is the ultimate one-stop shopping resource. The latest edition of this definitive sourcebook includes up-to-the-minute listings for more than seven hundred consumer products [...]
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    Posted: May 31, 2008, 1:10pm EDT

  • Is Your Child?s Car Seat Toxic?

    Most popular 2008 child car seats being tested for toxic chemicals

    Vote for Your Choice at www.HealthyCar.org by Monday, June 23

    Last year the Ecology Center released the first-ever consumer guide to toxic chemicals in cars and child car seats. (You may have read about it here [...]
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    Posted: May 31, 2008, 12:51pm EDT

  • Chicago Green Festival This Weekend on Navy Pier

    Head's up! Knú will be exhibiting at the Chicago Green Festival on Navy Pier!

    Show Hours:
    Saturday 10AM- 8PM
    Sunday 11AM- 6PM

    Venue and Address:
    Navy Pier
    600 E Grand Avenue, Chicago

    Celebrating what works, the Green Festival showcases more than 350 diverse local and national green' [...]
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    Posted: May 13, 2008, 1:11pm EDT

  • Congress moves will support major coal interests, not renewables

    On April 15, the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources & Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands conducted an oversight hearing on state and community impacts from the West-Wide Energy Corridor Process. The process, mandated by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, would designate [...]
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    Posted: May 09, 2008, 9:21am EDT

  • 37 Yellowstone National Park Wolves Shot Dead


    The restoration of the gray wolf in the Northern Rockies is one of America's greatest environmental success stories. Wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone and the central Idaho wilderness in 1995 after being exterminated by settlers, trappers and the federal government. Since then, these new populations have' [...]
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    Posted: May 03, 2008, 7:30am EDT

  • Elkhart Indiana Gets SuperFund Research Money for Groundwater Contamination

    Cedarcreek Wisconsin also gets $2.7Million

    The Lusher Street ground water contamination site in Elkhart, Indiana has been added to the Superfund National Priorities List. The NPL is a list of the nation's most contaminated hazardous waste sites eligible for cleanup under EPA's Superfund program.

    The Lusher site [...]
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    Posted: April 06, 2008, 5:38pm EDT

  • EPA Testing for Dioxin in Saginaw Neighborhood

    A residential neighborhood in Saginaw is being screened for dioxin-contaminated soil. Approximately 10 residential properties along the Tittabawassee River will be sampled. Small plugs from up to 36 inches below the surface will be sent for laboratory analysis.

    Lab testing may take two to three weeks. Once the [...]
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    Posted: April 03, 2008, 7:11pm EDT

  • 18 States Sue EPA over Greenhouses Gases

    From the Associated Press: Eighteen states are suing the EPA in an attempt to force it to comply with a Supreme Court ruling in April that found the EPA has authority to regulate vehicle emissions, AP reports. The plaintiffs say that the ruling requires the EPA to decide whether to [...]
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    Posted: April 03, 2008, 10:23am EDT

  • Coastal Populations Losing Livelihoods to Polluted Waters

    News from the World Resources Institute think tank...

    Coastal communities worldwide are witnessing their livelihoods choked by agricultural and industrial pollution, according to findings released today by the World Resources Institute.

    "A significant portion of the world's population - nearly half of which lives [...]
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    Posted: April 03, 2008, 9:30am EDT

  • Wind Power Resources, A Few Good Books to Read

    I've been thinking a lot about building my own wind generator and getting the funding to do so as well. The way my brain functions, I need to gather every scrap of useful information first before making a decision about going forward. (I've learned the hard way.) I'm investigating all [...]
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    Posted: March 30, 2008, 12:55am EDT

  • It must be the water...

    All I can say is "Wow, We've finally found a replacement for Muiderman."

    Duke Greene is undeniably the best acoustic guitar player to emerge from the West Michigan music scene since Erik Muiderman left the Folk Lizards behind and headed out west to [...]
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    Posted: March 29, 2008, 7:49pm EDT

  • Wild West Michigan

    GUEST BLOGGER: Tom Leonard
    Mr. Leonard examines the virtues of Grand Rapids and surrounding landscape from the perspective of a place-centered eco-ethic. I concur, take a stand for what you believe in the place that you love.

    For the last century and more, Michigan has had a reputation [...]
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    Posted: March 27, 2008, 5:00pm EDT

  • Carbon Neutral Sugar, Baby

    Beyond the Organic Label, Florida Crystals and Carbonfund.org Partner to Introduce Organic Sugar Line to Carbon-Conscious Consumers

    Silver Spring, MD – March 19, 2008 – Carbonfund.org and Florida Crystals Corporation today announced the CarbonFree® certification of Florida Crystals Organic Sugar, marking a growing trend of [...]
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    Posted: March 20, 2008, 5:46pm EDT

  • Steelcase Tackles Wind Power

    Steelcase will purchase all the renewable energy credits produced by a new 10 megawatt wind farm in Panhandle, Texas developed by John Deere Renewables, the wind-energy development unit of Deere & Co., for at least the first five years of its operation.

    Naming rights come with the agreement. The [...]
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    Posted: March 19, 2008, 10:38am EDT

  • NEW YORK JOINS GREAT LAKES WATER RESOURCES COMPACT

    Spitzer leaves and Paterson signs the compact...

    Ye olde press release from the state of New York:

    Governor Designate David A. Paterson today announced that legislation has been signed authorizing New York State to join the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact. The Compact is a [...]
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    Posted: March 17, 2008, 9:56pm EDT

  • Greening the Great Lakes

    Michigan State University and WJR have launched a web site called "Greening of the Great Lakes" with the goal of providing information and insight into the organizations committed to making the Great Lakes region a leader in environmental practices.

    The new site has video, podcasts and numerous links [...]
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    Posted: March 05, 2008, 8:43am EST

  • Michigan Punishes Granola Manufacturer

    Settlement Reached with G.K.I. Foods, Inc.

    The Department of Environmental Quality has reached a settlement with G.K.I. Foods, Inc. of Livingston County over allegations of illegal discharges to Michigan’s waters. GKI is a manufacturer of chocolate candy and granola that discharged production wastewater to its sanitary wastewater system which [...]
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    Posted: February 29, 2008, 2:55pm EST

  • New Ohio Steel Plant Will Emit Tons of Mercury

    Russian firm MMK America has plans to construct a steel plant on the Ohio River at Haverhill, OH that will emit over 1800 pounds ofmercury per year. That would be larger than all of the point and fugitive mercury air emission sources in the United States as per U.S. EPA's [...]
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    Posted: February 23, 2008, 8:27pm EST

  • Environmentalists Should NOT vote for McCain

    Info from the League of Conservation Voters

    WASHINGTON, DC, February 21, 2008 (ENS) - In the 2007 National Environmental Scorecard released today by the League of Conservation Voters, Republican presidential hopeful Senator John McCain received a score of zero. The Scorecard is an annual measure of lawmakers' votes on [...]
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    Posted: February 22, 2008, 12:23pm EST

  • 2006 Toxics Release Inventory data finally available online

    The TRI is an on-line electronic database, housing information about chemical releases at facilities across the country. According to the EPA, nation-wide chemical releases into the environment are down by two percent from 2005 - of course, this is the Bush Administration, most likely they are lying.

    TRI tracks [...]
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    Posted: February 22, 2008, 8:40am EST

  • Corporate Greenwashing at its finest

    Just in time for Easter, Cadbury has unveiled a range of "eco-eggs" called "Cadbury Treasure Eggs", which rather than being sold in a box are simply foil wrapped. The company says that the Treasure Eggs represent a reduction of over 75 percent plastic and 65 percent less cardboard than previously [...]
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    Posted: February 21, 2008, 11:14am EST

  • Don't Give Up On Biofuels

    Today's guest writer is Tom Leonard, former executive director of West Michigan Environmental Action Council and all-around cool human being. Enjoy!

    GRAND RAPIDS---Will America's Biofuel Boom survive the decade?

    It may sound counterintuitive to some, drawing attention to the cloudy future of biofuels in the midst of [...]
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    Posted: February 20, 2008, 9:09am EST

  • Project Hotseat Pushing Dingell on Climate Legislation

    Guest Writer today: Kelli Bosak, Project Hot Seat, Greenpeace USA

    In order for the country to unilaterally decrease its carbon emissions,
    Congress must continue creating new climate legislation. Global
    warming is happening now, but there is still much we can do to avoid
    suffering from its worst effects. Our [...]
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    Posted: February 19, 2008, 8:58am EST

  • Arghh! Proposed Mega-Dairy threatens public health and water quality

    We have a BIG problem trying to come into NW Illinois' Jo Daviess County.

    Wealthy California business man, AJ Bos is trying to set up a 12,000 head mega-dairy near Nora, Illinois. There will be about 70 acres of manure lagoons. The stench will travel for miles. Folks down [...]
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    Posted: February 17, 2008, 6:13pm EST

  • Further proof that Stabenow is an Idiot

    Our dear Senator did not read the amendment to the Senate bill S.Amdt. 3907 to S.Amdt. 3911 to S. 2248 (FISA Amendments Act of 2007)

    The amendment as written: "To strike the provisions providing immunity from civil liability to electronic communication service providers for certain assistance provided to the [...]
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    Posted: February 16, 2008, 3:16pm EST

  • Great Lakes Commission urges Congress to reauthorize Great Lakes Legacy Act

    Calling it one of its top legislative priorities for 2008, the Great Lakes Commission is calling on Congress to reauthorize the Great Lakes Legacy Act in order to continue progress in remediating contaminated sediments in the Great Lakes Areas of Concern.

    First passed in 2002, the Great Lakes Legacy [...]
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    Posted: February 16, 2008, 12:18pm EST

  • Great Lakes Citizens Health Report Blocked by Feds

    For more than seven months, the nation?s top public health agency has blocked the publication of an exhaustive federal study of environmental hazards in the eight Great Lakes states, reportedly because it contains such potentially ?alarming information? as evidence of elevated infant mortality and cancer rates.

    Researchers found low [...]
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    Posted: February 09, 2008, 7:44am EST

  • Town Hall Meeting with State Representatives On Water Withdrawal and Export Issues

    The Great Lakes Great Michigan Coalition will host a town hall meeting with local community leaders in Muskegon to help answer the question: "Who decides where our Great Lakes waters go?" on Thursday, January 24, 2008 at 7pm. Panelists include Dr. Mark Luttenton of Grand Valley State University, Don Studaven, [...]
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    Posted: January 22, 2008, 8:02pm EST

  • 378 Million pounds of pollutants flowed into Lake Michigan in 2005-06

    Pounds of pollutants discharged into Lake Michigan and tributaries during 2005-2006

    2,4-Dimethylphenol 0.791
    Acenaphthene 0.038
    Acenaphthylene 0.042
    Aldrin 0.001
    Ammonia 471,623
    Anthracene 0.018
    Arsenic 493
    Benzene 51.31
    Benzo(a)pyrene 11.83
    BOD, carbonaceous 3,173,501
    Cadmium 548
    Carbon, total org. 466,675
    [...]
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    Posted: January 20, 2008, 11:19am EST

  • Great Lakes Surfing, Refining, on Tap for Chicago Coastal Allies Network

    Join the Chicago Coastal Allies Network for two January events that are guaranteed to get your blood pumping.

    Surf's up at the Alliance for the Great Lakes Chicago office on Thursday, Jan. 17 from 5:45 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., when the C.A.N. is scheduled to host a screening of [...]
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    Posted: January 20, 2008, 11:05am EST

  • Face It: There is a Solution to Global Warming

    According to Architecture 2030, there is a silver bullet solution to global warming and its time the nation faced up to it. To get its message out, the non-profit organization will be hosting a nationwide webcast, called Face It, focusing on the solution. During the webcast, they will unveil two [...]
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    Posted: January 17, 2008, 6:27am EST

  • OOOh, I love a good court battle!

    Groups Appeal Court Decision Blocking Ohio Citizens from Lake Erie Shoreline

    COLUMBUS, OHIO (January 8)-Conservation groups today took the first step to appeal an Ohio lower court decision that blocks Ohio citizens from walking, fishing and recreating along the shores of Lake Erie.

    The groups seek [...]
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    Posted: January 13, 2008, 9:30pm EST

  • Black Bear Speaks Goes to Oregon

    Hi there,

    I'm on my way to Portland tomorrow and maybe even Eugene! I will return soon, don't dispair. I'll be back at the beginning of the new year.

    Layoffs in the furniture industry in West Michigan continue. Don't worry though, things will be brighter soon. [...]
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    Posted: December 21, 2007, 9:21pm EST

  • Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation Testifies at Congressional Hearing

    Washington, DC The House Subcommittee on Domestic Policy in Washington heard testimony on environmental impacts of water bottling and extractions on communities and the environment across the country. Michigan Citizens for Water Conservations (MCWC) president Terry Swier forcefully rebutted Nestle's claims. She pointed out that three courts have concurred [...]
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    Posted: December 21, 2007, 9:14pm EST

  • Green Drinks Grand Rapids @ the Green Well!


    Hey, Hey, Hey, it's the first ever Green Drinks, Grand Rapids gathering! Join other sustainability enthusiasts for casual networking and drinks organized by JF New, The Image Shoppe & West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum:

    December 20th, 2007, 5p - 7p at the Green Well, 924 [...]
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    Posted: December 17, 2007, 8:17am EST

  • Benzie County School Board pushing Wind Energy for Schools

    Benzie County Central Schools Board of Education will be addressing Wind Energy for Schools as an agenda topic at the February 11th, 2008, 7:30pm board meeting to be held at Benzie Central Middle School, 9300 Homestead Rd., Benzonia, MI. This is the first step in determining the feasibility of putting [...]
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    Posted: December 08, 2007, 6:02pm EST

  • Groundwater Contaminated with Gasoline in Rockford

    The drinking water supply for homes not at risk, area served by a municipal
    water system

    Nearly half of Michigan's population relies on groundwater for their drinking water source, yet contamination from leaking underground storage tank sites remains a significant problem for the state. Michigan ranks third in the [...]
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    Posted: December 08, 2007, 5:25pm EST

  • Lead, Cadmium, and Other Harmful Chemicals Found in Popular Holiday Toys

    Environmental Health Groups Release Testing Results Today at www.HealthyToys.org
    Holiday Favorites, Including Hannah Montana
    & Circo Contaminated with High Levels of Toxic Chemicals

    The Ecology Center, a Michigan-based nonprofit organization, today released the results of their testing of 1,200 popular childrens toys for toxic chemicals at www.HealthyToys.org.
    [...]
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    Posted: December 05, 2007, 9:43am EST

  • The Self-Sufficency Handbook



    The Self-Sufficency Handbook
    A Complete Guide to Greener Living
    Alan and Gill Bridgewater

    If anyone in your family is considering a shift to a greener way of living, you should pick up this guide for the holidays. With easy-to-read layouts and simple text, it [...]
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    Posted: December 02, 2007, 8:17pm EST

  • Migratory Bird Deaths Linked to new Invasive Species

    More than 100 dead loons and other migratory birds have washed up on New York's Great Lakes shores in the past week, prompting the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to suspect another botulism-poisoning episode linked to the spread of invasive species.

    Evidence closely matches die-offs related [...]
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    Posted: November 15, 2007, 6:51am EST

  • New Dioxin Hotspot in Saginaw River

    Dow Chemical recently reported a preliminary result of over 1.6 million parts per trillion (ppt) from a single sediment sample in the Saginaw River. Until now, the highest level found in the Saginaw River was 32,000 ppt. Under June 2007 EPA orders, Dow has been removing three dioxin hotspots from [...]
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    Posted: November 15, 2007, 6:43am EST

  • Auto Workers and dealers lead fight for higher fuel efficiency standards

    The Auto Lobby Doesn't Speak For Us website (www.35mpgby2020.com) went live on Friday in an attempt to enlist industry workers who believe the domestic auto makers not only can but must build more fuel-efficient cars if the industry is to survive.

    The campaign includes local and state speaking [...]
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    Posted: November 11, 2007, 5:39pm EST

  • Bad Dow, Bad!

    EPA notifies Dow of clean-air and hazardous waste violations

    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 notified Dow Chemical Co. on Friday that it has found clean-air and hazardous waste violations at the company's Midland facility. EPA issued a 'finding of violation' under the Clean Air Act and a 'notice [...]
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    Posted: November 11, 2007, 5:20pm EST

  • WRITE FOR THE BEAR!

    Overwhelmed with the daily drumbeat of work, commute, family and more, I could use some writing assistance with Black Bear Speaks. The quality and timeliness of The Bear is slipping due to inattention and increasing importance of other projects.

    I can't pay anyone, Black Bear Speaks does not turn [...]
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    Posted: November 08, 2007, 7:02am EST

  • Millennium Inorganic Chemicals dumped PCB's

    Millennium Inorganic Chemicals in Ashtabula, Ohio has been ordered to address newly discovered PCB contamination in Fields Brook, which flows into northeast Ohio's Ashtabula River, and eventually Lake Erie.

    Fields Brook is on the Superfund National Priorities List. During 1999 - 2001, cleanup activities were conducted on almost four [...]
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    Posted: October 28, 2007, 2:34am EDT

  • BP Fined $60Million for Clean Air Violations

    BP Products North America, Inc. has agreed to pay a total criminal fine of more than $60 million for violations of federal environmental regulations in Texas and Alaska. In addition to the penalty, the company will spend approximately $400 million on safety upgrades and improvements to prevent future chemical releases [...]
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    Posted: October 28, 2007, 2:31am EDT

  • Conference: Making A Great Lake Superior

    The Making A Great Lake Superior conference will be held at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center Oct. 29 -31. The conference will bring together for the first time researchers, government officials, educators and the public to present and exchange information on the critical issues facing the Lake Superior ecosystem [...]
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    Posted: October 28, 2007, 2:28am EDT

  • One Bear's Thoughts on Sustainable Economics

    You dont' know me from Adam, but - if you don't mind - I'm going to give you an assignment.

    If you've taken the time to stop and read this blog, I'm certain that you realize the importance of shifting the manufacturing industry in Michigan toward a more [...]
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    Posted: October 25, 2007, 10:34pm EDT

  • More EPA objections to Indiana's permit for US Steel Gary Works

    In a letter sent October 16th, 2007 to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, EPA outlined three more objections to the draft wastewater discharge permit the state of Indiana has proposed for US Steel Gary Works. EPA had raised initial objections to the permit in a letter sent earlier this [...]
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    Posted: October 20, 2007, 11:40am EDT

  • Another killer site

    If you haven't already, you need to check out www.solarpowerrocks.com

    It turns out that solar is better than coal and nuclear, and over the long term it's a hellofa lot cheaper. Whodathunkit.

    Oregon owes Dave and Dan a hearty thank you. They have produced a quality site [...]
     | Rate | Archive
    Posted: October 19, 2007, 8:07pm EDT

  • Edutopia

    This incredibly beautiful woman named Rachel sent me some info on a new program by the George Lucas Eductational Foundation.

    The Foundation recently launched a "Go Green Database", www.edutopia.org/go-green, on Edutopia.org. Rachel says it is "the centerpiece of an ambitious new package on the state of environmental awareness [...]
     | Rate | Archive
    Posted: October 19, 2007, 7:50pm EDT

  • US Steel to increase toxic dumping in Lake Michigan

    From the Chicago Tribune

    Indiana is moving to scrap, relax or omit limits on toxic chemicals and heavy metals dumped into a Lake Michigan tributary by the U.S. Steel Corp. mill in Gary, according to environmental lawyers and former federal regulators who have reviewed a proposed water [...]
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    Posted: October 13, 2007, 12:29pm EDT

  • EPA vs Dow Chemical

    The following is a press release from EPA Region 5

    EPA to Dow Chemical: 60 day clock to negotiate on Tittabawassee River system cleanup starts today

    CHICAGO (Oct. 10, 2007) - At a meeting today in Chicago, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 formally notified Dow Chemical that [...]
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    Posted: October 11, 2007, 8:31am EDT

  • American Electric Power Corp Gets Hammered by Feds

    Record-Breaking $4.6 Billion Clean Air Act Settlement Announced
    After Eight-Year Battle, American Electric Power Agrees to Major Power Plant Upgrades, Pollution Reductions, Environmental Improvements

    CHICAGO (October 9, 2007) -- The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 8 states, and 12 other [...]
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    Posted: October 09, 2007, 4:33pm EDT

  • War Before Kids

    It is utterly revolting to know that yesterday the Congress of the United States voted to pay an additional $150 Billion dollars for continuing the war in Iraq, but today only 24 hours later, President Bush vetoed the Children's Health Insurance Program, The Children's Health Insurance Program would have provided [...]
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    Posted: October 03, 2007, 2:13pm EDT

  • NASA image, Fall Colors Emerge Around Lake Superior

    From the NASA MODIS Satellite and the NASA Earth Observatory, 9/23/07

    The forests along the eastern shores of Lake Superior are putting on a brilliant display of color for the first days of autumn. Click image to enlarge.


    Check out this link for more [...]
     | Rate | Archive
    Posted: September 29, 2007, 8:48pm EDT
    by Jerome Alicki

  • Funding Cuts to the DNR and the DEQ Threaten The Great Lakes and Your Health

    Michigan's state conservation agencies, the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Environmental Quality, are vastly and disproportionately under-funded, according to a new report released today by the Michigan League of Conservation Voters Education Fund. The report analyzes the state's fiscal budget over the last 25 years and finds [...]
     | Rate | Archive
    Posted: September 29, 2007, 1:05pm EDT
    by Jerome Alicki

  • Knu: what it means to be sustainable

    I'm proud to say that over here at Industrial Woodworking/Knu LLC in Zeeland, Michigan we have just completed our first video project to inform consumers about our efforts toward becoming a fully sustainable furniture manufacturing company.




    Industrial Woodworking Corp/Knu LLC has joined the Sustainable Furniture [...]
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    Posted: September 27, 2007, 4:10pm EDT
    by Jerome Alicki

  • Other BP Permits Slipping Under the Radar Screen

    Number of comments: 2
    This week in the Great Lakes Town Hall Carolyn A. Marsh

    This week, the Great Lakes Town Hall is presenting Carolyn A. Marsh of Whiting, Indiana. A devoted birdwatcher, Carolyn played a pivotal role in blocking the construction of what would have been the nation's [...]
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    Posted: September 02, 2007, 2:55pm EDT
    by Jerome Alicki

  • Clean Water Action Job Announcement

    Number of comments: 1
    Grand Rapids Area Community Organizer
    Full-time position with Clean Water Action

    Application Deadline:
    September 1, 2007 or until position is filled.
    Clean Water Action, Michigan’s largest grassroots environmental group, is looking for a true progressive leader and self-directed individual to mobilize citizens to take action on behalf of environmental [...]
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    Posted: August 25, 2007, 10:06pm EDT
    by Jerome Alicki

  • Nestle Fight Continues, Getting Uglier

    Number of comments: 2
    Citizens Group Fighting Nestle Water Extraction Seeks Reversal of Supreme Court's Crippling Blow to Environmental Citizen Suit Law

    Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation, the citizen group who won a major court victory that limited groundwaterpumping by Nestle for its Ice Mountain bottled water that harmed a stream, two lakes, [...]
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    Posted: August 22, 2007, 8:02pm EDT
    by Jerome Alicki

  • Sustainable Living on the Great Lakes

    "Sustainable Living on the Lakes" will be the theme of the 2007 Annual Meeting of the Great Lakes Commission, Oct. 1-2 in Chicago, Ill. The meeting will feature expert panels on climate change and its impacts on the Great Lakes, water conservation, and renewable energy and economic development. There will [...]
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    Posted: August 22, 2007, 7:44pm EDT
    by Jerome Alicki

  • Great Lakes Restoration Conference - Chicago

    Join key players from government, business and advocacy groups who are at the center of the movement to restore the Great Lakes. Help set the Great Lakes restoration agenda for the coming year; hear first-hand about the issues facing the Great Lakes; and help advance the actions needed to protect [...]
     | Rate | Archive
    Posted: August 22, 2007, 7:42pm EDT
    by Jerome Alicki

  • Illinois ratifies Great Lakes Compact

    Illinois has become the second Great Lakes state to ratify the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact, an interstate agreement to protect and conserve the waters of the Great Lakes basin. Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed the legislation into law on Friday, Aug. 17, joining Minnesota in approving the [...]
     | Rate | Archive
    Posted: August 22, 2007, 7:39pm EDT
    by Jerome Alicki

  • Eco-heads File BP Pollution Permit Appeal

    Seeking to put on hold BP’s permit to discharge more pollution to Lake Michigan and allow the public to weigh in formally on the matter, the Alliance for the Great Lakes today filed a petition asking the court to suspend the permit and re-start the public appeal process.

    Filed [...]
     | Rate | Archive
    Posted: August 17, 2007, 10:31pm EDT
    by Jerome Alicki

  • Anti-BP video from YouTube

    Number of comments: 2
    Thanks to Michigan Liberal for this video. Scroll down for more information on the BP refinery in Whiting, Indiana and then do your part. Join the nationwide boycott of BP!

    [...]
     | Rate | Archive
    Posted: July 27, 2007, 5:03pm EDT
    by Jerome Alicki

  • Michigan Supreme Court Sides with Nestle Corp

    A Message from Jim Olson, Attorney for Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation

    The Supreme Court Clerk's office left a message this morning that it issued an opinion and order today. While Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation, and the Doyle and Sapp families reserve further comment after digesting the opinion [...]
     | Rate | Archive
    Posted: July 27, 2007, 4:42pm EDT
    by Jerome Alicki

  • US Congress Opposes BP Refinery Plan

    Number of comments: 1
    This article was in the Detroit Free Press....


    House says BP can't dump more pollutants

    Members of the U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly this afternoon to send a strong message opposing expansion plans by BP to dump more pollutants into Lake Michigan as part of [...]
     | Rate | Archive
    Posted: July 27, 2007, 11:25am EDT
    by Jerome Alicki

  • Indiana Environmental chief should resign

    Citizens in Whiting, Indiana are calling for Indiana Department of Environmental Management Commissioner Thomas Easterly to resign, claiming he has "failed to protect the public interest" regarding the increase of toxic pollution from the BP refinery directly into Lake Michigan.

    The Hoosier Environmental Council will be asked to approve [...]
     | Rate | Archive
    Posted: July 25, 2007, 8:21am EDT
    by Jerome Alicki

  • Chicago Battles BP Refinery Over Lake Michigan Pollution

    Number of comments: 6
    from the Chicago Tribune, July 19, 2007

    The City of Chicago joined the fight Wednesday to stop the BP refinery in Whiting, Ind., from dumping significantly more ammonia and industrial sludge into Lake Michigan.

    City administrators said they hope to meet with BP officials next week. They've [...]
     | Rate | Archive
    Posted: July 20, 2007, 8:36am EDT
    by Jerome Alicki

  • BP Increases Toxic Sludge Dumping into Lake Michigan

    Number of comments: 11
    BP will now be allowed to dump an average of 1,584 pounds of ammonia and 4,925 pounds of sludge mixed with 21 million gallons of contaminated wastewater into Lake Michigan EVERY DAY. An immediate boycott of BP is necessary.

    There are thousands upon thousands of people who get [...]
     | Rate | Archive
    Posted: July 15, 2007, 1:05am EDT
    by Jerome Alicki

  • Bush Administration to Slaughter Recovering Wolf Population



    The Bush Administration has just issued plan that will order the extermination of half the gray wolves in Wyoming and Idaho, starting in October. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is accepting public comments on this proposal until August 6.

    Our best hope [...]
     | Rate | Archive
    Posted: July 13, 2007, 6:55pm EDT
    by Jerome Alicki

  • Your Water, Your Rights, Your Future

    Number of comments: 1

    Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation Releases Report About Problems with Bottled Water

    Choosing tap water over bottled water is better for consumers’ health, their pocketbooks, and the environment, according to a new report written by Food & Water Watch and released today by Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation [...]
     | Rate | Archive
    Posted: July 08, 2007, 3:42pm EDT
    by Jerome Alicki

  • Watch This.




    Thanks to Liberal Lucy for this. I am her secret admirer. [...]
     | Rate | Archive
    Posted: July 08, 2007, 12:26am EDT
    by Jerome Alicki

  • Big Ideas

    Number of comments: 2


    I've been sick on the couch for a couple days, not moving much, so I've had the time to check out the Sundance Channel's new documentary series Big Ideas for a Small Planet. I can't recommended this highly enough, these short half-hour programs are [...]
     | Rate | Archive
    Posted: July 07, 2007, 11:55pm EDT
    by Jerome Alicki

  • The Conservative Minority, Continuing Decline

    Media Matters and Campaign for America's Future have just completed a new joint report called, "The Progressive Majority: Why a Conservative America is a Myth."

    The report uses non-partisan polling data gathered over the course of 20 years to show that conventional wisdom that Americans are overwhelmingly conservative [...]
     | Rate | Archive
    Posted: July 07, 2007, 11:18pm EDT
    by Jerome Alicki

  • Positive Move, But Why Wait So Long?

    Two congressmen from Illinois announced legislation Thursday that, starting in 2027, could quadruple fines for cities that release sewage into the Great Lakes.

    The legislation by Republican Rep. Mark Kirk and Democratic Rep. Dan Lipinski also would start a fund to help pay for wastewater treatment and wetland restoration.
    [...]
     | Rate | Archive
    Posted: July 07, 2007, 5:07pm EDT
    by Jerome Alicki
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