10/31/2011
By Tim Lundgren, Water Law Attorney
Michigan’s Attorney General, Bill Schuette, is seeking to have the Supreme Court require the Army Corps of Engineers to install nets blocking carp migration through the Little Calumet and Grand Calumet Rivers, and require the Corps to expedite its study of permanent ecological separation between the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes, so that the part of the study focused on the Chicago Area Water would be finished in 18 months, rather than the projected 5 years.
On August 24, 2011, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit issued a ruling on the preliminary injunction request by Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, concluding that the lawsuit had “a good or even substantial likelihood of success on the merits of their public nuisance claim.” Despite the recognition of the threat posed by Asian carp, the Court denied the states’ request. The states then decided to appeal.
6/15/2011
By Tim Lundgren, Water Law Attorney
On July 12-13, the Science Advisory Board review panel for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (“GLRI”) is holding a public, face-to-face meeting in Chicago to review the GLRI Action Plan (FY 2010- FY 2014). The plan describes restoration priorities, goals, objectives, measurable ecological targets, and specific actions for the Great Lakes.
EPA is leading an interagency initiative, the GLRI, to protect and restore the chemical, biological, and physical integrity of the Great Lakes. The GLRI Action Plan is designed to target the most significant environmental problems in the region. The Action Plan identifies performance goals, objectives, measurable ecological targets, and specific actions for 5 focus areas: 1) toxic substances and areas of concern; 2) invasive species; 3) near-shore health and nonpoint source pollution; 4) habitat and wildlife protection and restoration; and 5) accountability, education, monitoring, evaluation, communication, and partnerships.
Information on how to provide comments and otherwise participate is available in the Federal Register notice here.
9/10/2009
by Bruce Goodman
The U.S. Department of Energy has allocated $45 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for the development, design and construction of a dynamometer and test facility to monitor the performance and reliability of utility-scale wind turbine drivetrain systems. The operations must be capable of performing highly accelerated life tests of 5 to15 MW-rated wind turbine drivetrains and generators. NextEnergy and a team of Michigan industries have submitted an application for this competitive bid. This is an opporunity for Michigan to put itself into the thick of things for the next generation of larger and more powerful wind turbines. This is especially significant as these larger wind turbines are likely to be deployed in the Great Lakes to serve the many population centers in the Midwest. Look for a huge boost to come if Chicago garners the 2016 Olympics and strives to make them the “Green Olympics”. Wind turbines off the shore of Chicago will be an almost certainty.
