environment

Radon Testing Urged as Families Spend More Time at Home

January is Radon Action Month. Radon is a radioactive gas and is produced through natural decomposition in soil. The gas can migrate from the ground and into basements and entire buildings.

Radon is second only to smoking as a leading cause of lung cancer and is considered to be a leading environmental culprit for cancer deaths in the nation. With many people setting up home offices in the basement or elsewhere throughout their homes during the pandemic, as well as being home more than ever before, it is important to know the risk in every home.

There is no way to know if there is radon in a home without testing. Radon testing should be done every two to five years. Test kits are available at hardware and home improvement stores. If radon is detected, mitigation systems, which circulate the contaminated air out of the house quickly, can be installed. At least one quarter of all homes in Michigan are estimated to have radon levels above the acceptable limit.

More information and a link to obtain a test kit can be found at Michigan.gov/radon.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

State-Ordered Review of EGLE is Complete

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, or “EGLE”, has been under scrutiny since the handling of the environmental disaster that led to hazardous material leaking onto I-696 in Madison Heights. A review of compliance monitoring and enforcement procedures was ordered after the debacle in December 2019.

The review came up with eleven high-level recommendations to improve procedures but also noted that EGLE had strong internal policies, education, outreach and compliance assistance to regulated businesses.

The deficits noted include internal structures, staffing, and governance, management of cases, communication and collaboration, and use of data.  

EGLE Director Liesl Clark said, “The changes suggested in this report will help EGLE more quickly identify and address violations that can cause public health and environmental risks. It is important that EGLE accomplishes this critical role in a timely, transparent and consistent manner. The public and those we regulate should expect EGLE to make reasonable decisions that restore compliance with the law as quickly as possible.” 

A link to the full report can be found at:

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/egle/EGLE_Compliance_and_Enforcement_Report_2020_712405_7.pdf 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Michigan and Illinois Working Together to Keep Asian Carp Out of Great Lakes

Michigan and Illinois are working together to protect the Great Lakes from invasive Asian Carp. The agreement gives Illinois the right to use up to $8 million in funds appropriated in 2018 by the Michigan Legislature. The money will go toward the pre-construction engineering and design phase of the Brandon Road Ecosystem Project.

The Brandon Road Lock and Dam near Joliet is a critical “pinchpoint” for snagging bighead, silver and black carp before they get free reign on the Great Lakes. The advanced technology will include an electric barrier, underwater sound, an air bubble curtain, and a flushing lock in a newly engineered channel to keep the invasive carp away while still allowing commercial barge traffic.

Michigan DNR Director Dan Eichinger said, “Michigan and Illinois agree on the importance of keeping invasive carp out of the Great Lakes, and natural resources staff from both states have been working together to support the Army Corps’ actions to deter and remove invasive carp in the waterway. This agreement is the natural progression of our existing partnership as we take steps toward a more permanent solution to prevent this serious threat to the economy and ecology of the Great Lakes.” 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Finch “Irruption” Brings Rarely Seen Birds to the Area

Local bird watchers may have noticed different kinds of birds in greater numbers at bird feeders this year. 2020 marks the biggest “irruption”, or rapid population growth, of northern finches in recent history.

The National Audubon Society reports that this year is a “superflight” year in which every species of finch is moving southward in search of food. The boreal forests, which are in the northernmost parts of the world, do not have enough food, so these birds who are not often seen in the Blue Water Area, as well as much of the United States, are making a rare winter appearance this year.

Forest feast and famine cycles are natural, but COVID-19 plays a role in the irruption as well. The virus prevented spring treatment for invasive “budworms” in Quebec, which hurt the trees of the forest but contributed to a baby boom for finches, as there was a huge food supply.

When backyard bird watchers in the Blue Water Area see new and unusual birds this winter, they are seeing the results of a rare and complex ecological “perfect storm”.

More information about the “finch irruption” is available at:

https://www.audubon.org/news/this-winter-marks-incredible-superflight-hungry-winter-finches

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

It’s Christmas Tree Month!

It’s officially Christmas Tree Month in Michigan. The proclamation honors the economic, environmental, and social benefits of the Christmas tree industry in the state.

MDARD Director Gary McDowell shared, “Real Michigan Christmas trees are an important tradition for many families, whether you visit a Christmas tree farm or a retail tree lot. You not only get a fresh, fragrant, beautiful tree as the centerpiece of your holiday decorations, but at many locations you also get to experience a variety of activities like hayrides or sleigh rides, petting farms, visits with Santa and more.”

Michigan is a top producer of Christmas trees, ranking third in the nation. Around 2 million fresh trees with a value of up to $40 million are produced each year on more than 560 tree farms in the state. Michigan has the largest variety of species, with nine kinds of trees on the wholesale market.

Natural trees have a positive environmental impact as they can grow where other crops can’t. They also provide cover for animals, create oxygen, and can be recycled into wood chips after use.

A directory of tree farms can be found at MichiganFarmFun.com .

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Bridge to Bay and North Channel Projects on the DNR Funding List

Until the pandemic subsides, outdoor recreation is the safest kind of recreation. Responding to the uptick in Michigan residents spending time in public outdoor spaces, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund Board has advised 76 recreation development projects and land acquisitions.

Included in the recommendation are two projects in St. Clair County: the acquisition of property on the North Channel Shoreline and further development of the Bridge to Bay Regional Trail Connector.

DNR Director Dan Eichinger said. “This year’s grant recommendations represent a broad range of land acquisition and outdoor development projects that will make a real difference. With the results of Proposal 1 this fall, it’s clear that Michigan’s residents support this program and its continued investment in projects that speak to the recreational needs of communities across our state.”

The recommendations from the Trust Fund Board will go to the Michigan Legislature appropriations review. Trust Fund Board Chair Bill Rustem remarked, “Under the challenges of gathering with friends and family this year, outdoor spaces and public recreation played a major component in people’s lives.”

A link to the full list of projects can be found at Michigan.gov/MNRTF.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland