I agree with David’s
nominations but think we should also include the declining Great Lake
levels. Lake Superior is at its lowest level in over 80 years and is 1 foot lower than it was just one year ago, which is a
direct result of the climate change we are experiencing.
Jan O’Connell
From: owner-enviro-mich@great-lakes.net
[mailto:owner-enviro-mich@great-lakes.net] On
Behalf Of David Holtz
Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2007
7:41 AM
To: enviro-mich@great-lakes.net
Subject: Re: E-M:/ What were the
most important environmental issues/stories/events of 2007?
My nominations for top Michigan environmental stories for 2007:
1, Michigan
Supreme Court overturns 30 years of law and in the Nestle v. MCWC case guts
citizen standing to sue under the Michigan Environmental Protection
Act. By 7-2 margin, public supports restoring MEPA in constitution
setting the stage for potential constitutional amendment in 2008.
2. Michigan DEQ buries its own consultants' report critical of
controversial Kennecott UP nickel mine proposal and then after an internal
review goes ahead and approves the mine permit setting the stage for wholesale
mining in the UP. The action undermines public confidence in the
department at a critical time when DEQ is under assault from Republican budget
cutters.
3. Highest dioxin contamination ever recorded is discovered in the Saginaw River On Dec. 7, the Detroit Free
Press reported that EPA officials charged in a confidential August internal
report that Dow concealed the dangers of dioxin contamination in local
waterways and insisted on negotiating cleanup details with Granholm's office
instead of the state Department of Environmental Quality's staff.
4. Despite wider recognition of climate change and declining interest
nationally in carbon-polluting coal plants, up to seven new dirty coal plants are
proposed for Michigan without objection from Michigan's legislature.
The new plants, if built, would negate any actions taken by the Legislature and
the governor to reduce global warming impacts in Michigan, which is the 10th largest producer
of carbon emissions in the nation.
Eartha Melzer wrote:
I'm working on a story that will review the top Michigan environmental
stories of the year, whether or not they received coverage.
Can anyone help out by sharing what you think the top
items were?
Declining lake levels? Wider recognition of climate
change? Plans for a UP nickel mine? Continuing surge in farmers markets?