Governor Gretchen Whitmer declares January Radon Action Month

This winter, make your home a healthy nest

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has declared January 2023 as Radon Action Month in Michigan, and she encourages all Michigan residents to learn more about this environmental hazard and test their homes during the heating season.

You cannot see, smell, or taste radon, and there are no short-term side effects that could cause alarm or warn of its presence. However, long-term exposure to radon increases the risk of developing lung cancer, which accounts for more deaths in both men and women than any other form of cancer in the United States, according to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), which aims to increase awareness of health risks associated with elevated indoor radon levels, promote home testing, and encourage citizens to take action to reduce exposure once elevated radon levels are found.

Behind smoking, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer and is considered a leading environmental cause of cancer deaths in the United States.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) estimates that radon is responsible for about 20,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States each year. The risk of lung cancer from radon exposure is higher for people who smoke than for people who do not smoke.  However, the USEPA estimates that more than 10% of radon-related cancer deaths occur among people who have never smoked cigarettes.

According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in Michigan. Male residents and Native American residents have the highest rates of lung cancer in the state. Reducing exposure to cigarette smoke and radon is proven to reduce the risk for lung cancer.

Radon testing has increased in importance as many Michiganders work from home. Testing is easy, inexpensive, and the only way to determine if a radon problem exists. Residents are encouraged to test for radon every two to five years. If a radon mitigation system was previously installed in the home, residents are encouraged to test every two years to make sure radon levels remain in the acceptable range.

One in every four Michigan homes is expected to have radon levels exceeding the federal action level of 4.0 picocuries per liter. Elevated radon levels have been found in all 83 Michigan counties. Radon poses a serious threat to our community’s health, but high radon concentrations are also easily fixed.

For more information about radon testing and other information including resources for homeowners, builders, real estate agents, teachers, and health care providers, go to Michigan.gov/Radon or call EGLE’s Indoor Radon hotline at 800-723-6642 (800-RADONGAS). For more information on lung cancer prevention strategies, please visit Michigan.gov/Cancer.

To stay up to date on other EGLE news, follow us at Michigan.gov/MIEnvironment.

$2.9 million in EGLE brownfield funding to help redevelop contaminated sites in metro Detroit

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has awarded $2.2 million in brownfield grants and loans and approved $730,000 in brownfield tax increment financing for redevelopment of three contaminated properties in metro Detroit. Overall, in 2022 EGLE provided $20.7 million in brownfield funding to 67 projects statewide.

Plans for the projects include preservation of two historic buildings and the addition of new commercial establishments at the former Eloise Psychiatric Hospital in Westland; a new multi-tenant affordable housing apartment complex in Ferndale; and a redevelopment that will house commercial, office and residential space in Northville.

More than half of EGLE’s budget each year flows into Michigan communities through grants, loans and other spending that supports local projects, protects public health and the environment, ultimately creating economic growth and jobs for Michigan workers. Redevelopment of brownfields – vacant or abandoned properties with known or suspected contamination – increases property values both on the revitalized site and on other nearby properties.

EGLE’s Remediation and Redevelopment Division provides financial and technical assistance including grants, loans, tax increment financing and free site assessments to facilitate the redevelopment of brownfield properties.

Former Eloise Psychiatric Hospital in Westland

The city of Westland was awarded a $695,000 EGLE brownfield grant to address existing contamination at the former Eloise Psychiatric Hospital and ensure the site’s safe reuse. Of this funding, $225,000 comes from the 2023 brownfield grant budget. Westland has partnered with 30712 Michigan Avenue LLC to redevelop the hospital as part of a multi-phase project.

The completed project will include removal of several blighted structures, preservation of two historic structures and the addition of new commercial establishments, including a haunted attraction, hotel and restaurant/bar.

“We are very grateful to EGLE, the city of Westland and the State of Michigan for this grant. It will assist us in the redevelopment of this challenging project.” John G. Hambrick, managing member of 30712 Michigan Avenue LLC.

Petroleum-related compounds in soil and groundwater, likely attributable to former leaking underground storage tanks has complicated the redevelopment to date. The EGLE grant will help mitigate potential risks related to the observed contamination by facilitating the excavation, transport and disposal of contaminated soil. The soil removal will serve to prevent subsurface contamination from impacting the site’s historic structures.

The $4 million redevelopment project is expected to create 50-100 full-time jobs, 75-100 seasonal jobs and a $2.5 million increase in the property’s taxable value.

(EGLE site contact: Abbie Hanson, Brownfield Coordinator, [email protected], 906-202-1285)

LGBTQ+ elder housing development in Ferndale

Full Circle Communities will demolish existing vacant structures and construct The Shephard House, a new four-story multi-tenant, affordable housing apartment complex. This project is made possible in part through a $700,000 brownfield grant EGLE awarded to the city of Ferndale to address existing environmental concerns.

The project strives to create an affirmative and inclusive environment for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning (LGBTQ+) elders that would allow adults to age in place within Ferndale.

The development will contain 53 residential apartments (mostly one bedroom and several two bedroom), with a barrier-free design, energy efficient appliances, a community room, and pocket park on East 9 Mile Road in Ferndale, Michigan. The project is expected to be completed in the spring of 2024.

Ferndale will use the grant to remove contaminated soil to alleviate environmental risks attributed to past uses of the property. Soil and groundwater were believed to be contaminated with volatiles and metals as a result of the historic uses of the property including auto repair, machine sales and metal fabrication.

The building is anticipated to be National Green Building Standard (NGBS) certified.

The city is providing tax incentives in the form of payment in lieu of taxes to the developer to incentivize the redevelopment, which provides the project an estimated $3.5 million in savings over 40 years and the Ferndale Housing Commission has committed to provide eight Section 8 project-based vouchers for the project.

(EGLE site contact: Michelle Bakun, Brownfield Coordinator, [email protected], 586-233-3408)

456 Cady Street in Northville

The development team at 456 Cady LLC will build a new mixed-use residential and commercial development on a former industrial property at the eastern gateway to the city of Northville.  This work is made possible through an $800,000 brownfield redevelopment grant presented by EGLE to the city of Northville to assist with addressing onsite environmental contamination.

The redevelopment will include demolishing existing structures and building a new three-story structure that will house commercial, office and residential apartment spaces. The 456 Cady Street development includes an investment of $25 million and is estimated to create 30 new full-time jobs upon completion of the development.

Northville will use the EGLE grant to address the site’s environmental contamination, including excavation and disposal of impacted soils onsite, and installation of barrier systems to prevent exposure to any residual contamination.

In addition to the grant, EGLE has also approved just over $730,000 in brownfield tax increment financing for environmental costs not covered under the grant According to the assessment data collected by the developer and their consultants, soil and groundwater were likely contaminated by the sites historic industrial operations which included a foundry, machine shops and a mill pond associated with an adjacent industrial site. Impacted fill soils were also found throughout the property.

(EGLE site contact: Holden Branch, EGLE Brownfield Coordinator, [email protected], 517-331-0993)