Insider Intelligence

To help prevent Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Basin, Governor Gretchen Whitmer entered a coalition with other governors and premiers. The focus will be on taking action at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam on the Des Plaines River in Illinois, which provides a strategic focal point in the waterway that logically […]

On Wednesday, Governor Rick Snyder signed legislation creating the Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority (MSCA). The new authority will oversee construction and operation of a tunnel in bedrock beneath the waters of the Straits of Mackinac. The tunnel will house a replacement segment for the Line 5 petroleum pipelines that currently sit on the bottom of […]

The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is providing $80 million in loans to fund municipal water and sewer projects to improve water quality and protect public health. The Governor’s 21st Century Infrastructure Commission has reported that there is an $800 million annual gap in funding water-related infrastructure needs. The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) […]

The United States Coast Guard approved a Straits of Mackinac “no anchor” zone, which provides protections and safeguards to Michigan’s waters and the utility infrastructure in the area. Boats dropping anchors in the area where there is utility infrastructure could cause severe environmental damage and threaten to disrupt critical energy and communication services. In May, […]

This week, Governor Rick Snyder issued an Executive Directive to develop a readiness plan to manage expedited responses when PFAS contamination is discovered. It also encourages coordination between state and local agencies in response to nationally emerging PFAS contamination. PFAS contamination has been moving to the forefront of environmental issues facing Michigan and Governor Snyder […]

Governor Rick Snyder announced the initial appointments to the Environmental Review Committee. Created by Public Act in 2018, the committee was created as an independent body within the Office of Performance and Transformation to oversee all rule-making of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. The board is comprised of four ex-officio department heads and 12 […]

This week, the House of Representatives passed legislation strengthening pipeline safety standards in the Straits of Mackinac. The “Straits of Mackinac Safety, Protection, and Accountability” action plan seeks to: Improve reporting from pipeline operators to the State of Michigan. Increase the safety and security of utility lines that provide communities in northern Michigan and the […]

This week, the House Michigan Competitiveness Committee reported a four-bill package aimed at protecting the Great Lakes by strengthening pipeline safety standards. Named the “Straits of Mackinac Safety, Protection and Accountability” action plan, it seeks to: Improve reporting from pipeline operators to the State of Michigan. Increase the safety and security of utility lines that […]