Gobble-up energy savings with these tips for Thanksgiving and the holiday season
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that cooking alone generally accounts for about 5% of total home energy use, and this figure doesn’t include the energy costs associated with refrigeration, hot water heating and dishwashing.
Kalamazoo factory will have to pay fine to resolve repeated air quality violations
On Thursday, Oct. 6, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, Air Quality Division initiated an escalated enforcement action for air quality violations at Graphic Packaging in Kalamazoo. During a recent unannounced inspection and stack testing event in July, several air quality violations were observed, Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy said. Graphic Packaging International in Kalamazoo on Oct. 6, the day the state announced an escalated enforcement action against the facility. This is the second escalated enforcement action against the company’s Kalamazoo facility. Graphic Packaging makes paper-based packaging for a variety of products including cups, cartons, boxes, and other food containers.
mlive.comThousand gallons of oil-based material spilled into Flint River
FLINT, MI -- City, Genesee County and state of Michigan agencies are responding to a significant oil spill in the Flint River. “It sounds like a significant spill.”EGLE officials described the spilled material as oil-based and dark black with a petroleum smell that looks similar to motor oil. The EGLE officials had they did not know if the potential source of the spill is located in the city of Flint. Sean McBrearty, coordinator of the Oil & Water Don’t Mix campaign to shut down Line 5, told MLive-The Flint Journal that Wednesday’s spill should serve as a warning. “No oil spill has ever been fully cleaned up.”An estimated 5,300 gallons of gear oil spilled at the Algoma Steel mill in Sault Ste.
mlive.comMichigan regulators extend comment period for draft climate plan by a month
State environmental regulators recently extended the public comment period for the draft climate plan to give people more time to take in the extensive document. Officials at the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy released the proposed climate action plan last month, which is meant to outline how to decarbonize the state’s economy. Gretchen Whitmer set a goal to make Michigan carbon neutral by 2050, and since then, state workers and the Council on Climate Solutions developed the draft MI Healthy Climate Plan. State officials said the new deadline for public comments on the draft plan will be March 14. Registration for the online videoconference events can be found at www.michigan.gov/climate, where the full draft plan can be downloaded.
mlive.comState officials will give update on air sampling around Kalamazoo factory with odor complaints
The air sampling program is currently underway and gathering both short-term and long-term air quality data, EGLE said. Meanwhile, the city of Kalamazoo is being forced to revisit a previously approved tax abatement for a massive expansion that is underway at Graphic Packaging’s Kalamazoo facility. The city commission previously approved a tax abatement for 12 years, and added contingencies for the tax abatement to be extended for that full term based on progress toward odor reduction. Now, after discussion of the issue at the the Sept. 7 Kalamazoo City Commission meeting, the city commission will consider a shorter, 5-year tax abatement for GPI at its 7 p.m. meting Monday, Sept. 20. The city commission set a public hearing on the updated proposed tax abatement at the regular, virtual meeting.
mlive.comElevated levels of carcinogenic gas found near Howell facility, state says
HOWELL, MI -- A medical sterilizing facility in Howell had unsafe levels of a carcinogenic gas emissions, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy said Thursday. Officials found elevated concentrations of ethylene oxide gas at Centurion Medical Products, a facility located at 301 Catrell Drive and owned by Medline Industries, Inc., the state said in an April 22 news release. The gas is used to sterilize equipment used in the healthcare industry, but is also considered a human carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency. At very high levels in the air, the gas can cause immediate health effects like headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue and respiratory irritation. A public meeting may also be scheduled in May through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Livingston County Health Department to inform residents in the area.
mlive.comTesting Affirms Below-Background Radiation Levels At Site Of Detroit River Materials Collapse
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detroit.cbslocal.comAir Quality Alert in effect for southeast Michigan today
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy has declared Monday July 15th to be an action day for elevated levels of ozone. An air quality alert is in effect for Monroe County and surrounding areas. Here is the forecast:Air Quality AlertSt. Clair-Oakland-Macomb-Washtenaw-Wayne-Lenawee-Monroe- Including the cities of Port Huron, Pontiac, Warren, Ann Arbor, Detroit, Adrian, and Monroe 347 AM EDT Mon Jul 15 2019 ...Air Quality Alert in effect for Monday July 15th... The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy has declared Monday July 15th to be an action day for elevated levels of ozone. For further information, please see the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy page at http://www.deqmiair.org
monroenews.comOzone Action Day issued for Monroe County
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (MGLE) has issued the first Air Quality Alert - or Ozone Action Day - for Monroe County this season. That is due, in part, to the actions that residents take on Ozone Action days, giving credence to one of SEMCOG's key messages - that individual actions taken by many can make a difference. The following tips are suggested to help keep the air clean through the Air Quality Alert:Delay mowing your lawn until evening or the next day. The action day is in effect for the following Michigan counties: St. Clair, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Wayne, Lenawee and Monroe. These activities include refueling vehicles or topping off when refueling, using gasoline-powered lawn equipment and using charcoal lighter fluid.
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