Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s Post

Environmental Justice Impact Grant applications are due July 15! Apply today to make a difference in your community. These grants are here to help fund projects focused on public health, pollution monitoring, air quality in schools, and blight removal and redevelopment. Submit your application by July 15 to be considered: tinyurl.com/5e82nbhh Questions? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): https://lnkd.in/g8i3Yr8U

Call them expensive, troublesome and a pain in the backside; but you can no longer call these wipes ‘flushable’ in Michigan thanks to a newly-passed state law. So-called “flushable” wipes really aren’t flushable. In fact, they are a constant headache for wastewater treatment plant operators and significant expense for ratepayers. They clog screens and pumps used in treatment plant facilities, requiring constant maintenance and costly cleaning expenses. Thanks to the new law, manufacturers are no longer allowed to market the wipes in Michigan as “flushable.” In fact, they are required to include the words “Do Not Flush” and a symbol dissuading people from sending the sturdy fabrics to sewage treatment plants. In Oakland County alone workers responded to 474 instances of clogged machinery in the past six years due to wipes fouling the pumps, costing taxpayers in maintenance and repairs. The problem isn’t just at municipal treatment plants. Michigan’s nearly 1.5 million septic systems are also at risk from the wipes, which can clog pipes, and do not break down in the septic tank – requiring more frequent cleanouts. #MIEnvironment

Need help meeting your climate goals? The MI Healthy Climate Corps is seeking Host Partners and the application deadline has been extended to July 19! MHC Corps Host Partners host corps member(s) to build capacity at their organization to meet their climate goals. The MHC Corps is an equity-centered program focused on advancing and reaching Michigan’s Healthy Climate Plan goals, building capacity across the state, and helping guide federal and state resources and support. The member will be equipped with the tools and information to keep your office up-to-date on federal resources and how to access them. The service term for this second cohort is November 13, 2024 - October 17. Check out this interactive map showing where all current members are serving and what they are working on: https://lnkd.in/gxDxMu4R Host Partner application deadline is July 19! Check out the Application Packet and apply: https://lnkd.in/gnAgGCrV Learn more about the program: https://lnkd.in/g3VkA7Ay #MIHealthyClimate

Michigan's more than 80 public harbors and marinas are vital to the economy, but face challenges like fluctuating water levels and aging infrastructure. The updated Sustainable Small Harbors Guidebook from Michigan Sea Grant and EGLE offers solutions for resilient, sustainable waterfronts. #GreatLakes #MIHealthyClimate #MIEnvironment

Michigan sets record-high recycling rate for the third consecutive year! #MiEnvironment #MiRecycles

New story map looks at how EGLE biologists protect Michigan waterways by monitoring aquatic invasive species throughout the state. Check out the story map: https://lnkd.in/guVDMJ8F #NotMISpecies #AISWeek

In October 2023, hydrilla – one of the world’s most invasive aquatic plants – was found in two West Michigan ponds, its first detection in Michigan. While the discovery is disappointing, EGLE has mounted a response plan to eradicate the fast-spreading invader. #NotMiSpecies #AISWeek #MIEnvironment

Michigan has joined forces with the U.S. Army Corps and Illinois to stop invasive carp from entering the Great Lakes. While no live bighead, silver, or black carp have been found in the Great Lakes, there is no question that these invasive fish would thrive in the Great Lakes region. From stealing nutrients to driving out native fishing populations, invasive carp are a serious threat to our wildlife and economy. On July 1, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced $274 million in federal and $114 million in state funding for the Brandon Road Project. This critical initiative will protect our lakes, the local economy, and safeguard thousands of jobs in the fishing and boating industries. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/gzaJwx5v #NotMISpecies #AISWeek #GreatLakes

New Report: Michigan continues to lead the nation in clean energy projects! 💪⚡ Bolstered by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Michigan is No. 1 in the nation for IRA projects, which have resulted in more than $25 billion in new investments across the state. This funding, in tandem with Governor Whitmer’s clean energy legislative package and bipartisan economic development tools, is growing the middle class, creating good-paying, indemand manufacturing jobs, bringing supply chains home, and lowering energy costs for families. Read more: https://lnkd.in/g6-EiMaU See the full report from Climate Power: https://lnkd.in/gjGUaEDf #MIHealthyClimate #MICleanWater

Have you been rock hunting in the U.P.? EGLE rock hound Mary Ann St. Antoine offers tips on how to identify and find Lake Superior agates, the highly sought-after ornamental stone. #MIEnvironment #GreatLakes #TeamEGLE