DTE Energy has burned petroleum coke as a fuel source at its Monroe plant, a state-approved practice that alarms some environmental groups.

In a press released issued Wednesday by liberal advocacy group Progress Michigan, Monroe resident Christy Sargent Anderson said: “As a mother, watching DTE’s commitment to burning dirty fossil fuels is disheartening. Pet coke is byproduct of tar sands oil, the same substance that polluted Michigan rivers when 1 million gallons spilled in 2010.”

For the full article, see James Lynch, "Environmental groups object to DTE Energy burning pet coke", Detroit News, June 12, 2013.

Watch Michigan change over time using Google's 'Earth Engine'
Mark Brush
Michigan Radio
June 10, 2013

Google, with the help of the CREATE Lab at Carnegie Mellon University, has taken the millions of images collected by the Landsat program and made them accessible to you and me.

Time magazine describes their feat this way:

With the help of massive amounts of computer muscle, they have scrubbed away cloud cover, filled in missing pixels, digitally stitched puzzle-piece pictures together, until the growing, thriving, sometimes dying planet is revealed in all its dynamic churn. The images are striking not just because of their vast sweep of geography and time but also because of their staggering detail.

By zooming in, we can watch:

The expansion of Detroit Metro Airport along with the rapid development in that area
The growth around the Grand Rapids area
New development around Lansing
The expansion around Ann Arbor
And is that regrowth on Canada's Fighting Island in the Detroit River (owned by the BASF Corporation)?

And for a view of what's happened from 1984 to 2012 around the globe, check out Time magazine's Timelapse page.

Obama administration proposes lifting federal protection for most wolves
June 7, 2013

Scientists work to better predict dangerous Great Lakes currents
Bob Allen
June 6, 2013

It's lampricide season on the Great Lakes, Jay Leno attaches one to his neck
Mark Brush
June 5, 2013

There's a tick boom in Michigan - Here are 5 things you should know
Rebecca Williams
June 4, 2013

Tick populations continue to rise in Michigan
Rebecca Williams
June 4, 2013

Tracking cattle from pasture to plate, a new spin on marketing Michigan beef
June 4, 2013

Check out the small green circle on Michigan in this energy map
June 4, 2013

Governors meet to discuss threat of Asian carp
June 3, 2013

Source : Michigan Radio Environment Report and Michigan Radio News Environment and Science

Two northern Michigan legislators are pursuing significant restrictions on offshore wind power in Michigan and have drawn criticism from those who view wind energy generation as a source for new jobs on the state’s horizon.

Reps. Ray Franz, R-Onekama, and Greg MacMaster, R-Kewadin, co-sponsored House Bill No. 4778 this week. The bill would prevent Michigan from entering into a lease or deed for the siting, placement or construction of a wind turbine on Michigan’s unpatented or submerged lands. The legislation also would prevent leasing similar lands for an electric transmission line — a critical component for offshore wind projects in the Great Lakes.

For the full article, see Glenn Puit, "Legislators seek offshore wind power restrictions", Traverse City Record-Eagle, June 6, 2013.

Accessing Growing degree days with Enviro-weather. May, 2013.
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/accessing_growing_degree_days_with_enviro_weather
http://www.enviroweather.msu.edu/homeMap.php

Amending the Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act of 2005, and for other purposes: report (to accompany S. 1684).
http://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo33004
United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Indian Affairs. Washington, D.C.: U. S. Government Printing Office, 2012.

Asian Carp Survivability Experiments and Water Transport Surveys in the Illinois River, Volumes 1 and 2. http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a571454.pdf
http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a571455.pdf
Coast Guard Academy, New London, CT. Research and Development Center, 2013.

Assessment of Progress Made Towards Restoring and Maintaining Great Lakes Water Quality Since 1987: 16th Biennial Report on Great Lakes Water Quality. International Joint Commission, April 2013.
http://www.ijc.org/files/tinymce/uploaded/Publications/16thBE_internet%2020130509.pdf

Bowman v. Monsanto Co.
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/pdf/11-796.pdf
Unanimous Supreme Court decision that farmer Bowman violated Monsanto patents by trying to reuse Roundup Ready soybean seeds for late season planting. The farmer had argued that the seeds he bought from a grain elevator were not covered by the patent. The decision stopped short of covering other self-replicating technologies. From the Legal Information Institute of Cornell University

Changing Climate, Changing Wildlife: A Vulnerability Assessment of 400 Species of Greatest Conservation Need and Game Species in Michigan.
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/3564_Climate_Vulnerability_Division_Report_4.24.13_418644_7.pdf
Christopher L. Hoving, et al. Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Division. Lansing, 2013.

Climate change, forests, fire, water, and fish: building resilient landscapes, streams, and managers.
http://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo36957
Luce, Charles. Fort Collins, CO: United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, 2012.

Climate Change: Future Federal Adaptation Efforts Could Better Support Local Infrastructure Decision Makers
http://www.gao.gov/assets/660/653741.pdf
Examines the impacts of climate change on roads and bridges, wastewater systems, and NASA centers; the extent to which climate change is incorporated into infrastructure planning; factors that enabled some adaptive measures to be enacted; and federal efforts to address local adaptation needs. From the Government Accountability Office

Comments Received by the U.S. State Department on the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Keystone XL Project
http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=DOS-2013-0011
Comments received by the State Department on the proposed pipeline project. Contains approximately 100,000 comments, the first set to be posted of a total of 1.2 million. Posted on Regulations.gov

Effects of a Carbon Tax on the Economy and the Environment
http://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/attachments/44223_Carbon_0.pdf
This study examines how a carbon tax, combined with alternative uses of the revenues–such as reducing budget deficits, decreasing existing marginal tax rates, or offsetting the costs that a carbon tax would impose on certain people—might affect the economy and the environment. From the Congressional Budget Office.

Electric Grid Vulnerability: Industry Responses Reveal Security Gaps
http://markey.house.gov/sites/markey.house.gov/files/documents/Markey%20Grid%20Report_05.21.13.pdf
Report authored by two Democratic Congressmen on the cyber threat to the U.S. electrical grid. Calls for the government to create an entity with authority to protect the grid against cyber attack or geomagnetic storms. From the U.S. House of Representatives

Energy development in Indian country. Hearing before the Committee on Indian Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, second session, February 16, 2012. United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Indian Affairs. Washington: U.S. G.P.O., 2012.
http://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo32339

EPA Proposes Rules to Protect Americans from Exposure to Formaldehyde
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0c0affede4f840bc8525781f00436213/5f10d8c4b959c84c85257b7a005db557!OpenDocument
Press release about two new proposed rules designed to protect Americans from exposure to the harmful chemicals in formaldehyde. Contains links to text of proposed rules. From the Environmental Protection Agency

Geospatial Analysis of Renewable Energy Technical Potential on Tribal Lands.
http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy13osti/56641.pdf
A. Lopez D. Beckley E. Doris. National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO, February 2013.

Groundwater Depletion in the United States: 1900-2008
http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2013/5079/SIR2013-5079.pdf
Evaluates long-term cumulative depletion volumes in 40 separate aquifers in the U.S. Finds the rate of groundwater depletion has increased markedly since about 1950 with maximum rates occurring during the most recent period. From the U.S. Geological Survey

Indian water rights: promoting the negotiation and implementation of water settlements in Indian country. Hearing before the Committee on Indian Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, second session, March 15, 2012. United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Indian Affairs. Washington: U.S. G.P.O., 2012.
http://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo32691

MATCH: Metadata Access Tool for Climate and Health
http://match.globalchange.gov/geoportal/catalog/main/home.page
Interactive tool for climate researchers that offers access to metadata about thousands of federal government datasets related to health, the environment, and climate science. From the U.S. Global Change Research Program

Michigan’s Aquatic Invasive Species State Management Plan 2013: Update. Lansing, 2013.
http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,4561,7-135-3313_3677_8314-276823--,00.html

Michigan Energy Appraisal: Summer Outlook 2013.
http://www.dleg.state.mi.us/mpsc/reports/energy/13summer/index.htm
Michigan Public Service Commission. Lansing, 2013.

Mount St. Helens, 1980 to Now: What’s Going On?
http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2013/3014/fs2013-3014_text.pdf
Describes what has been happening since the 1980 eruption and what changes have occurred to the volcano. From the U.S. Geological Survey

National Park System: Establishing New Units
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RS20158.pdf
Discusses how units are added through legislation by Congress or proclamation by the President. Also discusses how areas are considered for inclusion and the controversies that can arise. From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

NOAA Predicts Active 2013 Atlantic Hurricane Season
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2013/20130523_hurricaneoutlook_atlantic.html
Predicts a 70% chance there will be 13 to 20 named storms of which 3 to 6 could become major hurricanes with winds of 111 mph or higher. From the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Oil and Gas: Hydraulic Fracturing on Federal and Indian Lands
http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/wo/Communications_Directorate/public_affairs/hydraulicfracturing.Par.91723.File.tmp/HydFrac_SupProposal.pdf
New proposed regulations for public comment on hydraulic fracturing which would require wider disclosure of chemicals used in drilling and greater assurances against toxic fluids leaking into groundwater. From the Bureau of Land Management of the U.S. Interior Department

Outdoor recreation in the northern United States.
http://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo36646
Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station, 2012.

Recreation and protected land resources in the United States: a technical document supporting the Forest Service 2010 RPA Assessment.
http://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo36959
Cordell, H. Ken,author. Asheville, NC: United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station, 2013.

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative: Lessons Learned and Issues for Policymakers
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41836.pdf
Describes what the RGGI is, which states are involved, and the long-term importance of this first mandatory cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Regulation of Fertilizers: Ammonium Nitrate and Anhydrous Ammonia
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/R43070.pdf
The April 2013 explosion at the West Fertilizer Company in Texas has led to questions about the regulation of agricultural fertilizer. This report discusses policy issues relating to fertilizer regulation that Congress might deal with, including the inadequacies of industry self-reporting, long intervals between inspections, and public access to critical information. From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Report on the National Stakeholders Conference on Honey Bee Health.
http://www.usda.gov/documents/ReportHoneyBeeHealth.pdf
National Honey Bee Stakeholder Conference Committee, May 2, 2013.

Risk Assessment for Potentially Polluting Wrecks in U.S. Waters
http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/protect/ppw/pdfs/2013_potentiallypollutingwrecks.pdf
Warns of the danger to coastal and marine resources from 36 sunken ships across the U.S. seafloor that could leak fuel oil or oil cargo. The most comprehensive assessment to date of the potential for oil pollution from shipwrecks in U.S. waters. From the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Role of the U.S. Geological Survey in Lake Michigan Diversion Accounting in Illinois, 1984–2010. http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2012/1243.
Kevin K. Johnson, James J. Duncker, and P. Ryan Jackson. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2012–1243.

Severe Thunderstorms and Tornadoes in the United States
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40097.pdf
Discusses the rising amounts of damage done by tornadoes and severe thunderstorms, what might be causing the increasing damage, and what Congress can do to mitigate the problem. From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

State-Level Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions, 2000-2010
http://www.eia.gov/environment/emissions/state/analysis/pdf/stateanalysis.pdf
Presents a basic analysis of the factors that contribute to a state’s carbon dioxide profile. Over the decade, emissions rose in 18 states and fell in 32 states. From the Energy Information Administration

WMO Statement on the Status of the Global Climate in 2012
http://www.wmo.int/pages/mediacentre/press_releases/documents/WMO_1108_EN_web_000.pdf
Covers key findings, regional climate features and tropical cyclones. 2012 joined the ten previous years as one of the warmest on record. From the World Meterological Organization

Superfund: EPA Should Take Steps to Improve Its Management of Alternatives to Placing Sites on the National Priorities List
http://www.gao.gov/assets/660/653646.pdf
Examines alternative approaches to cleaning up hazardous waste sites by the Environmental Protection Agency, by using the Superfund approach or by placing them on the National Priorities List, and how they compare in completing the cleanup process. From the Government Accountability Office

USDA Environmental Justice Annual Implementation Progress Report.
http://www.dm.usda.gov/emd/responserestoration/docs/USDA%20EJ%202012%20Accomplishments_final.pdf
Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC, 2013.

Watershed Modeling to Assess the Sensitivity of Streamflow, Nutrient, and Sediment Loads to Potential Climate Change and Urban Development in 20 U.S. Watersheds (External Review Draft)
http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/global/recordisplay.cfm?deid=247495
Reports on the vulnerability of 20 urban U.S. watersheds to a range of plausible mid-21st Century climate change and urban development scenarios. From the Environmental Protection Agency