The Environment Report

A new Michigan law will make it easier for sewage treatment plants to sell or give away what’s left over when they’ve finished treating the waste.  It’s a material called biosolids.  We’ll take a closer look at how the law will open up more uses of that treated waste.

It looks like 2012 will go on the books as the warmest year in the U.S. in recorded history. We'll talk with the state climatologist about our changing climate in the Great Lakes region.

We’ll hear about people who want to raise fish for food in the city of Detroit.  Urban agriculture has been happening under the radar in Detroit... but that could be changing soon. 

A research team has spent three years mapping out the many threats to the Great Lakes. 34 different threats, to be exact.  You can look at their map of the lakes and see which lakes are more stressed than others. We’ll hear what’s being done to relieve some of that stress.

The Palisades nuclear power plant has had some significant challenges recently.  Federal regulators say the company has fixed some big issues... and they’ve upgraded the plant’s safety rating.  Michigan Radio’s Lindsey Smith updates us on the regulators’ plan to keep a close eye on the plant.

Earlier this year, a road crew discovered human bones while they were working on a stretch of highway.  A forensic team recently identified the bones as Native American remains.  We’ll hear how the state of Michigan works with tribes to return the remains for reburial... and how state archaeologists try to avoid disturbing burial sites in the first place.

State officials are reviewing the final permit for a proposed new copper mine in the Upper Peninsula.  A lot of people want the mining jobs... but some environmental groups and tribes have concerns about the Copperwood Mine.

The Michigan legislature is moving closer to making the gray wolf a game species.  A hunting season could follow.  But there’s debate about what effect a hunt would have on the wolf population. We'll hear what has to happen before a wolf hunting season can be established.

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder gave a special address on energy and the environment yesterday. The governor covered a lot of ground.  We’ll hear about his push for more renewable energy and more drilling for natural gas.

Enbridge Energy is replacing one of its pipelines. The new pipeline will allow the company to double the amount of oil it can transport.  Enbridge has been running a public relations campaign to try to improve its image, but a number of people who live along the pipeline route say they have concerns. We’ll get an update.

A company that owns nuclear power plants in Canada wants to build a deep underground facility to store lower level nuclear waste. It would be about a half mile from the shore of Lake Huron.  The company says it has done extensive studies to show it would be safe. But it’s controversial.

Flame retardant chemicals are added to all kinds of consumer products – our couches, the padding underneath the carpet, and electronics. Hundreds of studies have linked the chemicals to health problems... and now studies in humans are coming out.We’ll hear about ways to reduce exposure.

Michigan lawmakers are deciding whether to make the gray wolf a game animal. A hunting and trapping season could follow after that. Some tribes in the state are opposed to a hunt. We’ll hear how the tribes are trying to reach a compromise with the lawmakers.

Lake Michigan and Lake Huron could hit record low water levels in the next six months.  It’s a projection from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  We’ll hear what that means for commercial shippers and other people who use the Lakes.

Gray wolves are no longer considered endangered in the Great Lakes region.   Now, state lawmakers are considering bills to make wolves a game species in Michigan. That would open the door to a possible hunting and trapping season for wolves.  We’ll hear about how Michigan could take one step closer to a hunting season for wolves.