FYI
There are three ESCI/ENST 395 approved events, including the rescheduled Dearborn waste water treatment public hearing, this coming week.
Tuesday (thank Angela for letting us know about this one):
Postdoctoral research on pollutant emissions impact of changes in electricity supply (due to renewable electricity) and demand (due to plugin hybrid electric vehicles)
Ann Arbor School of Natural Resources and Environment on Tuesday (2/20) from 4-5pm. The link is here: http://www.snre.umich.edu/events/2010-02-23/public_lecture_and_digital_exhibit_by_jarod_kelly
Wednesday:
The Rouge River Outfall/Green Infrastructure Waste Water Treatment public hearing has been rescheduled for Wednesday Feb. 24th at 7:00 pm in the EIC due to the campus snow day. They plan to build the waste water treatment plant further upstream--which is arguably a good thing as a lot of drinking water in the area is processed further downstream of the river.
MDNRE Public Notice of Meeting
Thursday:
ESDI/WWJ Michigan's Future in Renewable Energy
Lawrence Tech University
7:30am-9:30am Southfield
UTLC Gallery
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Flannel Day--Maple Syruping
How exciting! It was great to see so many other SEA members at the event (and wearing flannel too!), there were a few unexpected turns too.
Our slated "Flannel Day" (for having a lumberjack-like breakfast) was the first day for UM-Dearborn to start tapping the maple trees (not to boil sap, make syrup, or pancakes--ah well).
However, we had the opportunity to lead or shadow a maple syruping seasonal walk. What's that? Imagine an episode of David Attenborough, the Jeff Corwin Experience, David Suzuki's Nature of Things,or Steve Irwin's Crocodile Hunter devoted to sugar maples in Michigan--LIVE! Mixed in with some DIY maple tree tapping.
Our group little D shaped marks on the trunk of our tree which is indicative of a certain woodpecker known as the Yellow Bellied Sapsucker too...
Anyhow, keep an eye out for the UM-Dearborn syrup bottles.
Our slated "Flannel Day" (for having a lumberjack-like breakfast) was the first day for UM-Dearborn to start tapping the maple trees (not to boil sap, make syrup, or pancakes--ah well).
However, we had the opportunity to lead or shadow a maple syruping seasonal walk. What's that? Imagine an episode of David Attenborough, the Jeff Corwin Experience, David Suzuki's Nature of Things,or Steve Irwin's Crocodile Hunter devoted to sugar maples in Michigan--LIVE! Mixed in with some DIY maple tree tapping.
Our group little D shaped marks on the trunk of our tree which is indicative of a certain woodpecker known as the Yellow Bellied Sapsucker too...
Anyhow, keep an eye out for the UM-Dearborn syrup bottles.
Monday, February 15, 2010
EPA et al. Public Meeting on Asian Carp this Wednesday
You can earn credit for ESCI 395 by attending:
Public meeting on Asian carp control efforts Feb. 17 in Ypsilanti, Mich.
Release date: 02/08/2010
Contact Information: (EPA) Phillippa Cannon, 312-353-6218, cannon.phillippa@epa.gov (EPA) Mick Hans, 312-353-5050, hans.mick@epa.gov (IJC) Frank Bevacqua, 202-412-1017, bevacquaf@washington.ijc.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 10-OPA011
CHICAGO (Feb. 8, 2010) - The International Joint Commission, in cooperation with the participating agencies listed below, is hosting a public meeting in Ypsilanti, Mich., on Feb. 17 to discuss plans and get recommendations on Asian carp control efforts. This will be the second public meeting in the Great Lakes region.
Who: Senior representatives from
* International Joint Commission;
* U.S. Environmental Protection Agency;
* U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service;
* U.S. Army Corps of Engineers;
* U.S. Coast Guard;
* Great Lakes states, provinces, municipalities and tribes (invited);
* White House Council on Environmental Quality; and
* Scientific experts
When: 3:00 - 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 17
Where: Marriott Ann Arbor Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest
1275 S. Huron
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
The meeting also will be available via live web stream at: http://epa.gov/greatlakes/live
Those who cannot attend the meeting in person can submit questions on the Web site.
When available, the framework and a transcript of the meeting will be posted on http://www.asiancarp.org/regionalcoordination
Comments on the framework may also be submitted online at the above Web site.
# # #
Public meeting on Asian carp control efforts Feb. 17 in Ypsilanti, Mich.
Release date: 02/08/2010
Contact Information: (EPA) Phillippa Cannon, 312-353-6218, cannon.phillippa@epa.gov (EPA) Mick Hans, 312-353-5050, hans.mick@epa.gov (IJC) Frank Bevacqua, 202-412-1017, bevacquaf@washington.ijc.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 10-OPA011
CHICAGO (Feb. 8, 2010) - The International Joint Commission, in cooperation with the participating agencies listed below, is hosting a public meeting in Ypsilanti, Mich., on Feb. 17 to discuss plans and get recommendations on Asian carp control efforts. This will be the second public meeting in the Great Lakes region.
Who: Senior representatives from
* International Joint Commission;
* U.S. Environmental Protection Agency;
* U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service;
* U.S. Army Corps of Engineers;
* U.S. Coast Guard;
* Great Lakes states, provinces, municipalities and tribes (invited);
* White House Council on Environmental Quality; and
* Scientific experts
When: 3:00 - 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 17
Where: Marriott Ann Arbor Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest
1275 S. Huron
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
The meeting also will be available via live web stream at: http://epa.gov/greatlakes/live
Those who cannot attend the meeting in person can submit questions on the Web site.
When available, the framework and a transcript of the meeting will be posted on http://www.asiancarp.org/regionalcoordination
Comments on the framework may also be submitted online at the above Web site.
# # #
Sunday, February 14, 2010
SEC Issues Corporate Climate Change Disclosure Standards
Sunday 31Jan2010
SEC Issues Corporate Climate Change Disclosure Standards
From the Environmental Law Blog igreenlaw:
SEC Issues Corporate Climate Change Disclosure Standards
From the Environmental Law Blog igreenlaw:
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Public Hearing at EIC Feb. 10th: Our Say for the Rouge River
This Wednesday the 10th of Feb. at 7:00 pm, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment is holding a public meeting at the UM-Dearborn's Environmental Interpretive Center concerning modifications to our water treatment system. Public comments will be accepted through February 12, 2010.
This is a fine opportunity for all students to engage our greater community and consider our impacts on the social, economic, and ecological environment of Southeastern Michigan. Even if you're not yet ready to join the discussion concerning the science and policy, it is a great opportunity to observe and learn how what we do is affected by past actions and influences our future conduct as a region through a local civic event. Also, students in the Environmental Science and Studies program can receive ESCI 395 credit for attending this meeting (be sure to take notes and ask good questions!).
As I understand it from the attached document, a proposed Rouge River water treatment facility will treat stormwater runoff and primary effluent (physically strained waste water/sewage with basic treatment) with provisions to disinfect and dechlorinate any storm water runoff (water collected from storm drains off streets, etc.) that combines with the treated sewage and overflows and goes into the river. Discussion for alternatives to how we currently approach the waste water infrastructure is another focus of the meeting.
Among the alternative recommendations, investment in "green infrastructure", which I'd explain as preventative storm water treatment that creates natural spaces and other natural rain retention features, and let them do their job in trapping storm water. The Great Lakes Report blog has detailed financial coverage and some more history behind the Rouge River Outflow project, and there's also this link that explains the project.
As you may be aware, our Campus and much of Southeast Michigan is part of and is influenced by the status of the Rouge River--tap water for many people in the area is collected downstream of the Rouge River in Detroit and will be downstream of the proposed treatment site.
Author and historian Ginger Strand notes the following about infrastructure:
"Most of us take infrastructure for granted but we shouldn't; it tells us a lot about ourselves. The massive investment in designing, building and maintaining infrastructure is one of a society's most utopian actions: through it we seek to remake the world. Hydroinfrastructure, for example, shows our conviction that the perfect world has easy access to cold drinks and hot showers. It also links country and city through the flow of one of earth's most elemental substances, demonstrating that the worlds of 'nature' and 'culture' are not as separate as we often believe."
Similarly, the responsibility inherent to our belief in access to a healthy place for all to live is vested in events like these.
Here's to the River!
10 Feb. 2010 Update:
There's a snow day at the campus. The following information may be useful to all interested persons:
This is a fine opportunity for all students to engage our greater community and consider our impacts on the social, economic, and ecological environment of Southeastern Michigan. Even if you're not yet ready to join the discussion concerning the science and policy, it is a great opportunity to observe and learn how what we do is affected by past actions and influences our future conduct as a region through a local civic event. Also, students in the Environmental Science and Studies program can receive ESCI 395 credit for attending this meeting (be sure to take notes and ask good questions!).
As I understand it from the attached document, a proposed Rouge River water treatment facility will treat stormwater runoff and primary effluent (physically strained waste water/sewage with basic treatment) with provisions to disinfect and dechlorinate any storm water runoff (water collected from storm drains off streets, etc.) that combines with the treated sewage and overflows and goes into the river. Discussion for alternatives to how we currently approach the waste water infrastructure is another focus of the meeting.
Among the alternative recommendations, investment in "green infrastructure", which I'd explain as preventative storm water treatment that creates natural spaces and other natural rain retention features, and let them do their job in trapping storm water. The Great Lakes Report blog has detailed financial coverage and some more history behind the Rouge River Outflow project, and there's also this link that explains the project.
As you may be aware, our Campus and much of Southeast Michigan is part of and is influenced by the status of the Rouge River--tap water for many people in the area is collected downstream of the Rouge River in Detroit and will be downstream of the proposed treatment site.
Author and historian Ginger Strand notes the following about infrastructure:
"Most of us take infrastructure for granted but we shouldn't; it tells us a lot about ourselves. The massive investment in designing, building and maintaining infrastructure is one of a society's most utopian actions: through it we seek to remake the world. Hydroinfrastructure, for example, shows our conviction that the perfect world has easy access to cold drinks and hot showers. It also links country and city through the flow of one of earth's most elemental substances, demonstrating that the worlds of 'nature' and 'culture' are not as separate as we often believe."
Similarly, the responsibility inherent to our belief in access to a healthy place for all to live is vested in events like these.
Here's to the River!
10 Feb. 2010 Update:
There's a snow day at the campus. The following information may be useful to all interested persons:
All interested parties are invited to present comments on the proposed NPDES permit. Persons unable to attend the public meeting and hearing may submit comments through February 12, 2010. This information will be considered prior to taking action on the permit. For additional information contact Thomas Knueve, Permits Section, Water Bureau, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, P.O. Box 30273, Lansing, Michigan 48909, telephone: 517-241-9535; e-mail: knuevet@michigan.gov.
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