Insider Intelligence

Members of the House Democratic Caucus introduced six resolutions urging the federal government to take action to protect the health, economy, and ecology of the Great Lakes region. The resolutions in the package reflect the core platforms of the Great Lakes 2020 Agenda. The provisions call for: Immediate action to address PFAS contamination Larger investment […]

Next month, the first-ever regional Great Lakes Environmental Remediation and Redevelopment Conference will be held in Lansing. Hosted by the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), the event will bring together over 500 environmental professionals from around the Great Lakes region. They will hear from experts and share information about remediation, emerging contaminants, […]

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 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, 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 […]

This week, Governor Rick Snyder announced “The Michigan Invasive Carp Challenge.”  Using a $1 million appropriation authorized by the Governor and the Michigan Legislature, the challenge seeks to find the best solutions to tackle the looming crisis posed by invasive species in the Great Lakes.  The goal is to find the most cost effective manner […]