[dailynews] 28 February 2011

Great Lakes Daily News: 28 February 2011

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Taxing natural gas is a political football in Pennsylvania
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Unlike 30 other states, Pennsylvania doesn't have a tax on extracting that particular nonrenewable energy source. "For us to be the only state that doesn't tax shale gas makes no sense," said Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Squirrel Hill. "Eliminating that important revenue option from the upcoming budget is irresponsible." Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (2/27)


Best northern lights viewing in Michigan
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The Aurora Borealis is entering a new cycle of higher activity, offering the best viewing in 10 years in Michigan, said astronomer Dick Cookman, a retired professor of astronomy, geology and environmental science at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City. Source: Mlive.com (2/27)


Eco-groups take shots at all parties
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A coalition of environmental groups is launching a website Monday urging the Ontario government and opposition parties to "come clean" on their environmental intentions: www.comeclean.ca. Source: Toronto Star (2/27)


Regulation lax as gas wells' tainted water hits rivers
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The risks are particularly severe in Pennsylvania, which has seen a sharp increase in drilling, with roughly 71,000 active gas wells, up from about 36,000 in 2000. The level of radioactivity in the wastewater has sometimes been hundreds or even thousands of times the maximum allowed by the federal standard for drinking water. Source: The New York Times (2/26)


Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research takes lead
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The University of Windsor continues it climb up the academic ladder after learning that one of its professors will lead a $6.5 million network of some of Canada's top scientists dedicated to finding solutions to the growing problem of aquatic invasive species in Canada's rivers, lakes and coastal waters. Source: The Windsor Star (2/26)


Building a sustainable Huron
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Huron County is launching a pilot program to promote local sustainable business practices. The Sustainable Business and Efficiencies Project is a tri-partite program between the county, the Huron Manufacturing Association and Lura Consulting, a Toronto-based firm that helps build sustainable communities. Source: The Huron Expositor (2/26)


EPA takes Great Lakes cleanup funding applications
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is inviting states, cities, native tribes and nonprofit groups to seek financial support for their ideas under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Applications for project grants must be submitted to EPA's Chicago office by April 11. Source: Wall Street Journal (2/25)


Illinois' oversight of nuclear power plants falls through the cracks
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Four of the states power plants, including the facility in Byron, were not properly inspected by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. That's according to a report by the state auditor general. The IEPA says many of their workers simply didn't know how to do the inspections. Source: WTVO (2/25)


Regulators say Kewaunee nuclear plant can operate until 2033
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The Nuclear Regulatory Commission renewed the operating license Thursday for Kewaunee Power Station, east of Green Bay on the Lake Michigan shore, allowing the nuclear plant to run for 20 additional years until December 2033. Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (2/24)


Clarkson, SUNY to receive $6.5 million from EPA to monitor Great Lakes fish
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded Clarkson University a $6.5 million five-year grant to continue its partnership with SUNY Fredonia and SUNY Oswego to conduct the Great Lakes Fish Monitoring and Surveillance Program. Source: MyABC50.com (2/23)


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