Overview:
-Lafayette Park residents are fighting Detroit Thermal's plans to install high-pressure steam infrastructure near a playground to heat the 1300 Lafayette high rise.
-Tribar Technologies sentenced for violating Clean Water Act after toxic discharge into Wixom sewers in 2022.
-EPA plans to cancel 781 environmental justice grants from Biden administration.
☀️ Record heat shatters century-old records across Michigan Multiple Michigan cities broke or tied temperature records on April 29, according to the National Weather Service. Detroit reached 86 degrees, breaking an 1899 record of 83 degrees. Flint hit 84 degrees, surpassing its 1942 record by 2 degrees. Alpena tied its record high of 80 degrees, previously reached in 1941, 1957, and 2004. Michigan is expected to experience continued above-normal temperatures from May 10-23. 📌 Source: The Detroit Free Press/Lansing State Journal
♨️ Lafayette Park residents battle utility over steam project Lafayette Park residents are fighting Detroit Thermal’s plans to install high-pressure steam infrastructure near a playground to heat the 1300 Lafayette high-rise. Residents argue the project endangers children, damages historic landscape features, and lacks proper authorization. The city issued a stop work order, requiring Historic District Commission approval. A 1300 Lafayette said the criticisms are “reactionary,” while other neighborhood residents cite burn injuries and potential catastrophic failures that have occurred in similar steam heat systems. 📌 Source: Metro Times
🛑 EPA to cancel 781 environmental justice grants from Biden administration EPA lawyers revealed in a court filing the agency plans to terminate 781 environmental justice grants issued under President Joe Biden, nearly double the previously reported number. The cancellations affect projects helping communities cope with climate change impacts, from wildfire smoke protection to coastal flooding prevention. Legal experts question whether the EPA conducted required individualized reviews before terminations. Officials warn these cancellations will undermine local health initiatives, particularly in vulnerable communities. 📌 Source: The Washington Post
⚖️ Tribar sentenced for Clean Water Act violations after toxic discharge Tribar Technologies has been sentenced for violating the federal Clean Water Act after an employee released 10,000 gallons of wastewater containing hexavalent chromium into the Wixom sewer system in July 2022. The company failed to report the discharge for three days, prompting health warnings for the Huron River. Tribar has been placed on probation, fined $200,000, ordered to pay $20,000 in restitution, and must roll out new environmental compliance systems. 📌 Source: Michigan Public
🧊 Northern Michigan’s devastating ice storm leaves lasting damage A devastating ice storm in northern Michigan damaged an estimated 3 million acres of trees and affected 3,000 state roads, with 12 counties declared disaster areas. Climate experts warn that warming temperatures may shift freezing rain patterns northward. The cleanup on Mackinac Island began three weeks after the storm, with officials calling it “one of the worst natural disasters in recent memory.” Millions of tons of damaged lumber could fuel future wildfires. 📌 Source: The Guardian
🌊 Michigan lawmaker pushes to streamline algae cleanup for waterfront residents Harrison Township waterfront residents are battling M. wollei, a non-native algae clogging lakes and canals, destroying beaches, and limiting water access. State Rep. Alicia St. Germaine has introduced legislation to eliminate permit requirements for cleaning up free-floating muck, allowing residents to hire contractors without lengthy EGLE approval processes. Currently, only hand-operated tools can be used without permits. Resident Margaret Schandvel estimates they’ve lost 10-12 feet of shoreline to the growing algae problem. 📌 Source: WXYZ