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Fresh, September 19, 2023: New Ruling Gives States and Tribes Greater Power To Protect Waterways
/in Fresh/by Christian ThorsbergSeptember 19, 2023
Fresh is a biweekly newsletter from Circle of Blue that unpacks the biggest international, state, and local policy news stories facing the Great Lakes region today. Sign up for Fresh: A Great Lakes Policy Briefing, straight to your inbox, every other Tuesday.
— Christian Thorsberg, Interim Fresh Editor
This Week’s Watersheds
Chippewa tribes in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin are rallying against a proposed natural gas power plant on the shores of Lake Superior.
Fresh from the Great Lakes News Collaborative
The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan; Circle of Blue; Great Lakes Now at Detroit Public Television; and Michigan Radio, Michigan’s NPR News Leader. We work together to produce news and information about the impact of climate change, pollution, and aging infrastructure on the Great Lakes and drinking water. This independent journalism is supported by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. Find all the work here.
‘Waters of the United States’ Ruling
Beginning in November, states and tribes will have greater power to block large-scale energy projects — including those related to oil pipelines, dams, and “other federally regulated projects” — thanks to a Biden administration ruling last week, the Detroit News reports. The decision reverses a Trump-era ruling that took these powers away in efforts to streamline energy and fuel development.
States and tribes will have a minimum of six months, and up to one year, to review proposed projects and consider the well-rounded effects of any particular development.
Per Detroit News, the new ruling is a pared-down version of a previous draft — the Supreme Court ruling that weakened wetlands protections will, in some cases, disallow states and tribes from exercising their restored powers.
In the News
Waukesha’s Water Recovery Delayed: City officials announced that Waukesha’s transition to Lake Michigan water will be delayed until October 9 because of a pump issue, WISN reports. For years, residents have been drinking water from wells that were discovered to be contaminated with radium. The change required approval from all eight Great Lakes region governors, and the town’s adherence to strict water planning and management guidelines.
Minnesota Drought: Residents of the Duluth area are being asked to conserve water as dry conditions have surpassed the ‘Drought Warning’ response phase, Northern News Now reports. The state has suffered from a summer-long drought affecting farmers, fishers, rural, and urban residents alike — multiple water conservation notices have been issued over the past few months. Duluth receives its water from Lake Superior.
Looking Ahead
Palisades Nuclear Generating Station: In the recently-approved Michigan state budget, $150 million was allotted to “restart” the former Palisades Nuclear Generating Station, which sits on the shores of Lake Michigan in the township of Covert. Wolverine Power Cooperative, a non-profit “serving rural communities across Michigan,” signed a deal earlier this week to purchase “up to two-thirds” of the plant’s to-be-generated power. But some concerns linger about waste and the effects of the plant on Lake Michigan, given the site’s history of “mechanical problems,” AP reports.
Upcoming Events
September 19-21 — Lakebed 2030 Conference — register
September 22 — Great Lakes Seminar Series: Bill Currie — learn more
September 22 — Old Woman Creek NERR Research Symposium and Open House — learn more
September 23 — September Adopt-a-Beach — learn more
September 25 — Webinar: IJC Great Lakes Science Advisory Board and Water Quality Board: Progress Toward Nutrient Management in Lake Erie and Lake Ontario — learn more and register
Other News
Erie PrOH: The Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Ohio Sea Grant have launched “Erie PrOH,” a new voluntary certification program and course for fishers to learn and then share responsible stewardship techniques on the Great Lakes, The Beacon reports.
Director of Urban Agriculture: Detroit has hired Tepfirah Rushdan as its first-ever director of urban agriculture, Michigan Radio reports. Rushdan’s primary responsibility is to “support the current farms in the city and help turn more vacant land into farms.”
Christian Thorsberg is an environmental writer from Chicago. He is passionate about climate and cultural phenomena that often appear slow or invisible, and he examines these themes in his journalism, poetry, and fiction.