John Myers of the Duluth News Tribune is to be commended for an article this week on a scientific study finding fault with U.S. EPA’s stormwater pollution control program. Why? Because this kind of pollution dramatically influences the quality of our waters, including the Great Lakes.

As the article notes, “In the Twin Ports, that polluted runoff flows through ditches, culverts, creeks, storm sewers and streams eventually into Lake Superior. On the way they help damage streams like Miller Creek and the St. Louis River.”

Now, no elected official or candidate will sway many votes by calling for ‘reform of the EPA stormwater pollution program.’ But it’s this kind of unglamorous work that will move us toward meeting the goals of the Clean Water Act. Let’s hope the report provides an impetus for that work.

Interesting comments from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency on the practice of washing coal and other residue off freighters into the Great Lakes.

“Minnesota solid waste rules prohibit the disposal of solid waste into waters of the state of Minnesota, including Lake Superior,” said Paul Eger, assistant commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, in a letter to the Coast Guard.

Eger disputed the Coast Guard’s claim that cargo residues washed off ships sink quickly and do not harm water quality.

Interesting comments from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency on the practice of washing coal and other residue off freighters into the Great Lakes.

“Minnesota solid waste rules prohibit the disposal of solid waste into waters of the state of Minnesota, including Lake Superior,” said Paul Eger, assistant commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, in a letter to the Coast Guard.

Eger disputed the Coast Guard’s claim that cargo residues washed off ships sink quickly and do not harm water quality.

Great news for Minnesota and the Great Lakes! The Great Lakes Compact has nearly passed its last hurdle. The eighth and final state legislature approved the Compact last Thursday. Signatures by Pennsylvania’s and Michigan’s Governors will complete the ratification process by all participating states and Canadian provinces. Now the next move is for Congress to enact the Compact into law. (more…)

With the news last week of the two final Great Lakes states passing the Compact (the governors of MI and PA are expected to sign it after lawmakers recently passed it in both states), it seems that the final showdown over the agreement has now moved to Congress.

But before we all turn our full attention to congressional ratification of the Great Lakes Compact, we should check in on the oil drilling debate. (more…)

You know what they say about imitation and flattery.

In 2007, Minnesota led the effort to provide uniform protection for new or expanding water usage within the Great Lakes basin, by being the first state in the region to endorse the Great Lakes Compact.

(more…)

A new report from the Healing Our Waters coalition summarizes potential impacts of climate change on the Great Lakes region. It also details how proposed Great Lakes restoration legislation in Congress could help the Lakes buffer themselves from some of these effects.

This is a good news, bad news story. It’s good that demand for wind energy is booming in the region. It’s good that there is a benefit to the port. It’s also not as good that Minnesota is not manufacturing all or many of these components. And the more oceangoing vessels dock in Duluth-Superior, the greater the risk of invasive species introductions. But Congressman Jim Oberstar has, at least, guided ballast water control legislation through the U.S. House of Representatives.

This summer, Minnesota families who want to know if their favorite Minnesota lake is clean enough for swimming and eating fish caught in that lake have an easy way to find out – www.CheckMyLake.org.

Powered by Conservation Minnesota, the new website is a user-friendly way that Minnesotans can find out whether their favorite lakes are clean or polluted – or haven’t been tested yet. The site relies on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)’s database but makes the information easy to access and comprehend.

By going to http://www.checkmylake.org, the website’s users can either type in the name of a favorite lake or type in a county name and choose from among a list to find out whether lakes have been tested and what the results show.

According to the MPCA, nearly half of lakes tested are polluted. More troubling, for every lake MPCA has tested, there are 4 more that the agency hasn’t tested.

Hats off to the mayor of Grand Rapids, Michigan for submitting this question to the Republican You Tube debate: 

[youtube G9tn7-hqjkg video home]