Overview:
-A recent study reveals that Detroit is among the top 10 U.S. cities facing significant land subsidence.
-A fire at a Detroit scrapyard sent smoke across Wayne County.
- BASF disputes Michigan environmental regulator's allegations of noncompliance with a 1986 consent decree.
📏 Detroit among America’s sinking cities According to a recent Nature study, 25 of America’s 28 largest cities are sinking, affecting over 33 million people. Detroit ranks among the top 10 cities experiencing this problem, with 98% of its land area subsiding at measurable rates. Cities are sinking 2-10mm annually, with Detroit’s mean rate at 1.7mm per year. Researchers urge cities to incorporate subsidence into infrastructure planning and establish long-term ground monitoring programs. 📌 Source: Axios Detroit
🚒 Fire at Detroit scrapyard sends smoke across Wayne County A fire erupted early Wednesday at Ferrous Processing & Trading in Southwest Detroit, requiring firefighters to stretch hoses across railroad tracks to access water. The blaze was under control by 6 a.m., with crews and employees using heavy machinery to extinguish hot spots. Easterly winds carried a burning odor to several Wayne County communities, including Dearborn and Canton. HAZMAT monitoring found no hazardous air quality conditions. No injuries were reported, and the fire’s cause remains unknown. 📌 Source: Detroit Free Press
🐟 BASF rejects Michigan’s claims of Detroit River pollution violations BASF has denied Michigan regulators’ assertions that it’s violating a 1986 consent decree requiring prevention of contaminated groundwater flowing into the Detroit River. In a Thursday letter to EGLE, the Wyandotte chemical plant disputed the state’s interpretation of compliance requirements, maintaining it has properly maintained the required “inward hydraulic gradient.” BASF rejected EGLE’s statement that extraction wells are underperforming and said the decree covers only three specific zones, not the entire site, as regulators said. 📌 Source: The Detroit News
🌊 Trump orders fast-tracking of $1 billion barrier to protect Great Lakes from invasive carp President Donald Trump signed a memo directing federal agencies to fast-track a $1 billion project aimed at stopping invasive carp from entering the Great Lakes. The barrier system, planned for a lock-and-dam complex connecting the Mississippi River and Great Lakes, had stalled due to a delayed land transfer by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. The project has bipartisan support in Michigan, where leaders and environmental groups warn the carp threaten native fish species and the region’s economy. 📌 Source: Michigan Public
💡 MPSC seeks public input on improving utility regulatory process The Michigan Public Service Commission invites public feedback at a meeting May 29 in Detroit. Commissioners want input on making meetings more accessible, simplifying public comment processes, and improving transparency. The MPSC, which determines utility rates, faced criticism in 2023 when Free Press investigations questioned its relationship with utilities and revealed its complaint process was difficult for consumers to navigate. Most formal complaints were dismissed or settled secretly. The meeting runs 6-8 p.m. on May 29 at 3022 W. Grand Blvd., Room L-150. 📌 Source: Detroit Free Press
🍃 GOP tax bill threatens $522 billion in pending clean energy investments, many in Republican districts Over $843 billion in clean energy investments have been announced in the U.S. since the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, but only $321 billion has been spent, according to The New York Times. A new Republican tax bill threatens to end major clean energy incentives, jeopardizing $522 billion in pending projects, three-quarters of which are in GOP districts. Companies are delaying projects amid growing uncertainty, warning that repealing the credits could stall domestic manufacturing and raise emissions. 📌 Source: The New York Times