GreenEnvironmentNews.com | Michigan Environment News

$16 Million Set for Small Businesses Focused on Energy Technologies

Wed, 15 May 2013 07:00:00 +0100

The Energy Department on May nine announced that it will award 88 grants to small businesses in 28 states to develop clean energy technologies with a strong potential for commercialization and job creation. These awards, totaling in excess of $16 million in investments, will help small businesses with promising ideas that could enhance manufacturing processes, boost the efficiency of buildings, reduce reliance on foreign oil, and generate electricity from renewable sources. Biomass, geothe...

Members Launch Endangered Species Act Working Group

Thu, 09 May 2013 07:00:00 +0100

WASHINGTON, D.C. , May 9, 2013 - Members of the House of Representatives, representing a broad geographic range, today announced the creation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Working Group. This Working Group, led by House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings and Western Caucus Co-Chair Cynthia Lummis, will examine the ESA from many angles. Throughout this year, the Working Group will hold a series of events, forums, and hearings that will invite discussion and input on ways in w...

FRIDAY: Federal Urban Waters Partnership to Declare New Plan Locations and Partner Agencies

Thu, 09 May 2013 07:00:00 +0100

WASHINGTON - On May 10, the E.P.A., in partnership with the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the U.S.D.A., the U.S. Department of the Interior and other federal, state and local partners, will declare that the Urban Waters Federal Partnership is adding eleven new locations and 2 new federal partner agencies to restore waterways, help local economies, create jobs and protect Americans' health. The Urban Waters Federal Partnership works to reconnect urban communit...

E.P.A. Takes Action Against Violators of the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule

Thu, 02 May 2013 07:00:00 +0100

WASHINGTON - Today, E.P.A. announced 17 enforcement actions for violations of the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting rule (RRP). The RRP rule protects homeowners and tenants from dangerous lead dust that can be left behind after common renovation, repair, and painting work. It requires that contractors and subcontractors be properly trained and certified, and use lead-safe work practices to ensure that lead dust is minimized. Lead exposure can cause a range of health effec...

Energy Department Renews Backing for Bioenergy Research Centers

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0100

The Energy Department announced on April four that it would fund its 3 Bioenergy Research Centers for an additional five-year period, subject to continued congressional appropriations. The 3 centers were established by the Department's Office of Science in 2007 as an innovative plan to accelerate fundamental research breakthroughs toward the development of advanced next-generation biofuels. The centers include the BioEnergy Research Center (BESC), led by the Department's Oak Ridge National...

UPDATE: Here’s What They’re Saying about EPA’s Suggested Cleaner ...

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 07:00:00 +0100

WASHINGTON - Based on extensive input from auto manufactures, refiners, and states, the E.P.A. (EPA) today suggested sensible requirements for cars and gasoline that will significantly reduce harmful pollution, prevent thousands of premature deaths and illnesses, while also enabling efficiency enhancements in the cars and trucks we drive. These cleaner fuels and cars requirements are an important component of the administration's national plan for clean cars and trucks, which also in...

Here’s What They’re Saying about EPA’s Suggested Cleaner Fuels ...

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 07:00:00 +0100

Michigan Computer Company Owner Sentenced for International Environmental, Counterfeiting Crimes

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 07:00:00 +0100

WASHINGTON - A Michigan computer company and its owner were sentenced today for trafficking in counterfeit goods and services and violating environmental laws. U.S. District Judge David M. Lawson sentenced Mark Jeffrey Glover, to 30 months in prison and a $10,000 fine, and his company, Discount Computers, Incorporated (DCI), a $2 million fine with $10,839 in restitution to Mich. landlord, for trafficking in counterfeit goods and services. DCI was also sentenced for st...

S.S. Badger Coal Ash Discharge to Lake Michigan to Cease by End of 2014 Sailing Season

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 07:00:00 +0100

CHICAGO - The E.P.A. today announced the lodging of a suggested consent decree that requires Lake Michigan Carferry Service, Incorporated (LMC) of Ludington, Michigan, to eliminate the discharge of coal ash into Lake Michigan by the end of the 2014 sailing season. In 2013 and 2014, the ferry will reduce its discharge of coal ash and LMC will pay a $25,000 civil penalty for violating mercury water quality requirements in 2012, according to the suggested consent decree. "Thi...

E.P.A. Orders Enbridge to Perform Additional Dredging to Remove Oil from Kalamazoo River

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 07:00:00 +0100

For Immediate Release No. 12-OPA008 CHICAGO (March 14, 2013) - The E.P.A. today issued an administrative order that requires Enbridge to do additional dredging in Michigan's Kalamazoo River to clean up oil from the company's July 2010 pipeline spill. EPA's order requires dredging in sections of the river above Ceresco Dam, upstream of Battle Creek, and in the Morrow Lake Delta. E.P.A. has repeatedly documented the presence of recoverable submerged oil in the sections...

E.P.A. Declares Membership of Great Lakes Advisory Board

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 07:00:00 +0100

WASHINGTON - The E.P.A. today announced on behalf of 16 federal agencies the membership of the 1st advisory board to support implementation of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. "Protecting the Great Lakes -- the biggest surface freshwater system on Earth -- is important for the health and well being of millions of people," said E.P.A. Acting Administrator and Acting Interagency Task Force Chair Bob Perciasepe. "Today I'm pleased to declare the membership of the first-e...

Wind Power Leads New U.S. Generating Capacity in 2012: AWEA

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 07:00:00 +0100

The U.S. wind energy industry had its strongest year ever in 2012, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) announced on January 30. The industry installed a record 13,124 megawatts (MW) of U.S. electric generating capacity, achieving over 60,000 MW of cumulative wind capacity, enough to power almost 15 million homes. The yearly total far surpasses the previous record of 10,000 MW installed in 2010. For the 1st time, wind energy became the number one source of new U.S. electric generati...

U.S.D.A. Scientists Help Select U.S. Dogwood Trees for Planting in Japan

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 07:00:00 +0100

Visitors to Tokyo, Japan, will have a chance to see first-hand the beauty of flowering dogwood trees, thanks in part to U.S.D.A. (USDA) scientists who helped select specific dogwoods best suited to the Japanese climate. The U.S. government announced in April 2012 a gift of 3,000 flowering dogwoods to Japan to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Japan's gift of flowering cherry trees to the United States. Thos...

New experimental tool offers customizable views of Great Lakes water level data

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 07:00:00 +0100

Low water levels at Old Mission Point Lighthouse at Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan, taken in July 2000.

Team led by Argonne National Lab selected as DOE�€™s batteries and energy ...

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 07:00:00 +0100

November 30, 2012

4 PNNL scientists elected AAAS fellows

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 07:00:00 +0100

November 29, 2012

Scientists Find Aphid Resistance in Black Raspberry

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 07:00:00 +0100

There's good news for fans of black raspberries: A U.S.D.A. (USDA) scientist and his commercial colleague have found black raspberries that have resistance to a disease-spreading aphid. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) horticulturist Chad Finn with the agency's

$5.5 million to support watershed education plans for K-12 students around the country

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 07:00:00 +0100

N.O.A.A. Office of Education's Bay-Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Plan participants. Download here. (Credit: NOAA.)

National Marine Sanctuaries: Protecting oceans' natural treasures

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 07:00:00 +0100

Pennantfish, Pyramid and Milletseed butterflyfish - school in great numbers at Rapture Reef, French Frigate Shoals in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

E.P.A. Awards Grant to Protect Women and Children from Mercury in Lake Superior Fish

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 07:00:00 +0100

Chicago (Oct. 4, 2012) - The E.P.A. today announced a $1.4 million Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) grant to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to reduce mercury exposure risk for women and children who live along Lake Superior's north shore. Excessive blood mercury levels have been documented in infants in this area. The backing will be used to enhance health screening and to develop more effective fish consumption advisories. "Many Great Lakes fish are un...