EGLE grants to turn contaminated sites into housing

EGLE grants to turn contaminated sites into housing

by | Nov 14, 2024 | Environmental

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 14, 2024
Michelle Bakun, EGLE Brownfield Coordinator, [email protected], 586-233-3408
Josef Greenberg, EGLE Spokesperson, [email protected], 517-897-4965

EGLE grants to help turn contaminated sites
into new housing

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is awarding two $1 million Brownfield Redevelopment Grants to help build new housing in Oakland County.

Riverfront Place, 211 First Street, Rochester This property has a long industrial history going back to the 1890s. It’s been used for bulk fuel storage, coal storage, machine shop, and railroad operations, and has been vacant since 1990. Soil and groundwater are contaminated with petroleum compounds, chlorinated solvents, and metals. The EGLE grant will be used to pay for further site assessments, demolition work, asbestos abatement, transportation and disposal of contaminated soil, management of contaminated groundwater, special gaskets for utility piping, a physical barrier to keep contamination from moving off-site through utility trenches, and a vapor mitigation system to keep vapors out of the new buildings. Plans for the $28 million Riverfront Place call for a five-story building with 129 apartments along with five separate buildings with three townhomes each. The developer is including things like a rain garden, amphitheater, and picnic area because the redevelopment is in the Clinton River Watertowns Project, an initiative to help communities improve their riverfront and water quality while alleviating the impact of climate change. Construction is expected to be finished in the summer of 2028.

Hillside Townes, 33000 & 33107 Thomas Street, 33104 Grand River Avenue, Farmington Three vacant sites will be turned into new downtown housing. 33000 Thomas was a former school and is contaminated with petroleum compounds. The other properties had homes on them and are contaminated with chlorinated solvents. The EGLE grant will be used to transport and dispose of approximately 5,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil, site investigations, and demolition of the former school and the houses. Plans for the $19.5 million redevelopment call for 53 owner-occupied townhomes that are a crucial part of the city’s effort to revitalize its downtown corridor. The developer will build a promenade on two city-owned lots starting at Grand River Avenue. $2.1 million in federal funding will be used for a public pathway through the development that connects Grand River Avenue to Shiawassee Park. A $1 million grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation and $500,000 from the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments will help make the area even more pedestrian friendly. The developer expects to finish construction in 2027.

More than half of EGLE’s annual budget supports local projects, protects public health and the environment, and helps create economic growth and jobs for Michigan workers. Redevelopment increases the value of brownfield sites and other nearby properties. In 2023 EGLE awarded $31.3 million in brownfield incentives to 88 projects around Michigan.
Over $7 million awarded to residential lead hazard services

Over $7 million awarded to residential lead hazard services

by | Nov 14, 2024 | Health and Wellness

 

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Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 14, 2024

CONTACT: Laina Stebbins, 517-241-2112, [email protected]

Over $7 million awarded to expand residential lead hazard services, make Michigan homes safer

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services awarded more than $7 million in community grants to expand residential lead hazard control services to eligible households with a Medicaid-enrolled resident, making homes and communities safer.

“Michigan is committed to protecting families from lead exposure by working with communities across the state to reduce or eliminate all sources of lead in the home,” said MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel. “Providing Medicaid funding to these communities to address lead hazards helps protect some of our most vulnerable residents.”

Grants were available this year for qualifying cities, counties or consortiums to provide lead hazard control services. Awarded grantees include:

Grantee Name Target Area  Amount Awarded
City of Battle Creek Calhoun County $1,500,000
Community Action Agency Lenawee and Hillsdale counties $1,500,000
City of Detroit City of Detroit $1,300,000
City of Grand Rapids City of Grand Rapids $700,000
Human Development Commission Huron, Tuscola, Sanilac, Lapeer and Bay Counties $750,000
Public Health, Delta and Menominee Counties All Upper Peninsula counties $700,000
City of Muskegon Muskegon County $1,200,000

Activities must be completed by Sept. 30, 2025. Services available for funding under this initiative include, but are not limited to, the following efforts:

  • Lead inspection, risk assessment and/or elevated blood lead investigation activities to determine the presence of lead hazards.
  • Permanent removal, enclosure or encapsulation of lead-based paint and lead dust hazards for eligible residences.
  • Removal or covering of soil lead hazards up to eligible residence property lines.
  • Minimal rehabilitation to help sustain the lead abatement work.
  • Removal of pre-2014 faucets and fixtures used for human consumption, plumbing and/or service lines deemed to be a lead hazard.
  • Temporary relocation of residents during lead abatement activities.
  • Building local capacity to safely and effectively abate lead hazards.

For more information about lead services, visit Michigan.gov/mileadsafe.
DNR News Digest – Week of Nov. 11, 2024

DNR News Digest – Week of Nov. 11, 2024

by | Nov 13, 2024 | Recreation
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News Digest – Week of Nov. 11, 2024

a small, thin twig with half a dozen bright red leaves against the backdrop of two tall, thick, black-barked trees amid green forest
Here are a few of this week’s stories from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources:

See other news releases, Showcasing the DNR stories, photos and other resources at Michigan.gov/DNRPressRoom.

PHOTOS: Larger, higher-res versions of some of the images used in this email (white-tailed deer, red fall leaves and snowmobiling) are available in the DNR’s public image gallery. The burrowing owl image is courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Digital Library.

‘Wildtalk’: Habitat work, pintails, deer, deer and more deer

a white-tailed doe and buck with 8-10 antler points stand chest-deep in the sparse, golden grass of a sunlit fieldJust in time for firearm deer season, the DNR Wildlife Division’s November “Wildtalk” podcast is available with great information to help hunters have a safe, successful hunt. Scott Eggeman, the northern Lower Peninsula field operations manager, provides an update on habitat improvement efforts in the region, and wildlife biologists Chad Fedewa and Samantha Courtney answer questions about deer diseases, deer management and what to expect in the woods.

Later in the show, listeners will learn more about what’s happening with waterfowl season and, specifically, one of the most graceful waterfowl species you’ll see on the wetlands: northern pintail ducks. These elegant birds with long, slender necks and distinct, pointed tails seek out shallow areas with grassy cover such as marshes, potholes, prairies, lakes and ponds.

Want to hear more? Visit the “Wildtalk” webpage for the latest episode, as well as show notes and links to past episodes. Questions about the podcast? Email [email protected].

As fall/winter birding beckons, keep best practices in mind

two fluffy, tan and white burrowing owls with bright yellow eyes crane their necks to look behind them while standing in low, dry grassMichigan welcomed some rare owls to the Upper Peninsula this fall, a trend that is likely to continue as northern owls migrate south into Michigan for the winter. At the end of September, a burrowing owl (like those pictured here) was seen at Whitefish Point, on the northern tip of Chippewa County, for the first time since 1986! This sighting is one of only four known records in Michigan.

Vagrants that are seen in unusual places often return to their home range, and many folks suspect this particular bird was from Florida and visited Michigan as a result of Hurricane Helene. Just a few weeks later, a northern hawk owl also was spotted at Whitefish Point. Northern owls such as the northern hawk owl can show up in the Great Lakes region each winter, leaving their colder habitats like the boreal forests of Canada and the Arctic tundra behind – but this visitor arrived a season early!

Both owls drew crowds of interested birders and photographers, and each season hundreds of species draw us outdoors as they flit in the treetops, hop through shrubs or run along shorelines. Whether in the backyard or deep forest, birding best practices can help protect our Great Lakes birds and visitors. Here are a few to start:

  • Keep a respectful distance. Getting too close to birds, and their nests, can cause them to flush (or fly away), interfering with their natural behavior and potentially preventing them from eating or caring for their young. If your approach causes a bird to flush, you’ve gotten too close.
  • Think carefully before sharing the location of a rare bird. While rare bird sightings are thrilling, they can draw a crowd, which can cause a disturbance.
  • Leave the drones to the pros. Although drones can be useful to researchers and biologists documenting bird populations (such as at island nesting colonies), drones in general can be very disruptive to birds, especially osprey. They are also illegal in national parks and some state parks.

Get more top tips and explore helpful resources to guide your next birding trip.

Questions? Contact Erin Rowan Ford at 313-820-0809.

Get moving in the new year with three fun 5Ks

Dark green Happy Little 5K race medal, T-shirt and bib, with Bob Ross image and text Run for the Trees, Happy Little 5KReady to kickstart your 2025? Turn to the outdoors and help honor Michigan’s history by signing up for three 5K run/walk events. Registration is now open for the:

  • Detroit Auto Show 5K, 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, at Huntington Place in Detroit. Organized by the DNR, Detroit Auto Show and Friends of the Outdoor Adventure Center, the race route travels along the Detroit Riverfront, with the start/finish outside the doors of the Detroit Auto Show. All proceeds of the event will help update the exhibits at the DNR’s Outdoor Adventure Center.
  • Lumberjack Pancake Run, Sunday, March 23, at the Outdoor Adventure Center in Detroit. Channel the flannel and run or walk the Flapjack 5K (starting at 10 a.m.) or the Silver Dollar Mile (beginning at 9:30 a.m.) and refuel afterward at the Lumberjack Pancake Run and Pancake Breakfast. Plus, the run is part of a four-day festival of fun and flannel that starts March 20.
  • Run for the Trees: Happy Little (Virtual) 5K, which encourages participants to walk, run or roll anywhere outdoors April 19-27. Every participant gets a Bob Ross-inspired T-shirt, medal and bib as a thank-you for supporting tree plantings that now happen in nine states, including Michigan. You pick the pace and the place!

Questions? Read the DNR’s recent news release with more details or contact Michelle O’Kelly (Auto Show 5K and Run for the Trees), 517-899-5211 or Emily Grant (Lumberjack Pancake Run), 313-396-6891.

How to bird safely during hunting season

a woman with short, dark hair and wearing a tan, floppy hat and orange jacket looks through black binocularsNovember is a great time for birding as species like the sandhill crane are migrating through Michigan, but birders are urged to be aware of another season that is underway: hunting.

You can still explore the outdoors safely this hunting season by following a few simple guidelines:

  • Wear bright, visible clothing, including “hunter orange” items such as hats and vests.
  • Check open hunting season dates.
  • Stay on marked trails.
  • Keep pets on leashes.

The bottom line is that hunting is a very safe sport. By following these steps, you can confidently enjoy birding during any hunting season! Read the full Audubon Great Lakes story for for more tips.

Questions? Contact DNR bird biologist Karen Cleveland at 517-388-9795.

Passionate about snowmobiling? Help protect statewide routes

two people in helmets and snow gear ride on a snowmobile on a snow-covered trail surrounded by treesDoes your perfect snowy day include hitting the trails with your sled? Are you interested in helping protect the state’s thousands of miles of snowmobile routes? Here’s an opportunity to work alongside DNR staff to help maintain and protect more than 6,000 miles of DNR-designated snowmobile trails, public roads and public lands open to snowmobiling (where authorized).

We are accepting applications for an opening on the Snowmobile Advisory Workgroup, which consists of seven volunteers each serving four-year terms and contributing as volunteers (travel expenses to and from meetings are eligible for reimbursement). The group, which works closely with the Trails Advisory Council, meets quarterly at varying locations around the state.

“Michigan’s Snowmobile Advisory Workgroup collaborates with the DNR’s trails program staff to discuss and implement the sound management of recreational snowmobiling throughout the state,” said Jessica Roehrs, state motorized trails program specialist. “Topics may include snowmobile safety and education, balanced relationships with the environment and wildlife, the collection, development and sharing of snow trail information, and collaboration with other trail user groups.”

The ideal candidate will fill a member-at-large position.

“Members tell us that being part of this workgroup is a rewarding experience,” Roehrs said. “The opportunity provides snowmobile riders or someone with a vested interest in the sport to share their insight and connect with others who want to contribute to our state’s snowmobiling opportunities.”

Interested? Apply for this position by Jan. 15. For more information, contact Jessica Roehrs at 517-331-3790.

ICYMI: November hunting and trapping opportunities

Circular yellow and orange 2024 turkey cooperator patch, with turkey track illustration, DNR logoWhether you’re a longtime hunter or someone just getting started in this outdoor tradition, November is an excellent time to check out Michigan’s options. We’ve got everything from snowshoe hare, ruffed grouse and gray squirrel to turkey, raccoon and coyote – plus a variety of trapping opportunities, such as badger, beaver and muskrat.

In case you missed it, our November 2024 hunting and trapping roundup covers this month’s lineup, including some seasons that extend into December and even into the new year. Plus, you’ll learn where pheasant releases have occurred on state game/wildlife areas, and where more are scheduled throughout December. There’s also info about how to get the popular 2024 wild turkey, bear and deer management cooperator patches.

Questions? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453.

Photo ambassador snapshot: Sunlit serenity at Negwegon

bright sunlight through tall, green, gold and red-leafed trees casts long shadows over a narrow dirt trail cutting through a forested areaSee more pictures by Michigan state parks photo ambassadors at Instagram.com/MiStateParks. For more on the program, call Stephanie Yancer at 989-274-6182. (This photo is by Samantha Hageman Gaina, for the Michigan DNR, at Negwegon State Park in Alcona County.)

THINGS TO DO

When you need a break from it all, the outdoors offers plenty to do: hiking, biking, camping, fishing, wildlife watching and other ways to connect with nature.

BUY & APPLY

Plan some 2025 fun for yourself or someone you love; sign up for Outdoor Skills Academy classes on ice fishing, turkey hunting and steelhead fishing.

GET INVOLVED

Every action makes a difference! If you want to support and protect your favorite places and resources, visit our Get Involved page for ideas and inspiration.
Protect your oak trees; prune before spring

Protect your oak trees; prune before spring

by | Nov 13, 2024 | Agriculture

 
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News Release
November 13, 2024
Contact: Cheryl Nelson, 231-287-1714 or Joanne Foreman, 517-284-5814

Protect your oak trees; prune before spring

Trees across Michigan are just wrapping up an incredible show of fall color, with the reds, oranges and yellows of oak trees often taking center stage. That annual autumn colorfest may be at risk, though, because oak trees across areas of the Lower Peninsula, as well as in Dickinson, Iron, Marquette and Menominee counties in the Upper Peninsula, are dying from oak wilt.

One of the best ways to help prevent oak wilt from infecting trees on your property is to avoid wounding them during the high-risk infection period, April 15 to July 15. The safest time to prune oak trees is the winter season.

What is oak wilt?

A gray and black oak wilt fungal pad found underneath the bark of an infected oak tree.Caused by the fungus Bretziella fagacearum, oak wilt is fatal to oak trees, especially those in the red oak family, which includes black oak, northern red oak and northern pin oak – all identifiable by their pointed leaf tips.

Once a tree is infected, the fungus may fruit, creating distinct gray to black fungal pads under the tree’s bark. Fungal spores can be picked up by sap-feeding nitidulid beetles attracted by the pads’ yeasty odor. Sap beetles spread oak wilt when they visit other pruned or damaged oaks to feed on their exposed sap.

Oak wilt often is first identified when green leaves turn yellow or brown on the edges and begin to drop during the summer.

Infected oaks can spread the disease to other oaks through underground root connections or grafts, creating an expanding circle of dead trees.

Avoid the high-risk period

April 15 through July 15 is considered the high-risk period for oak wilt spread because that is when nitidulid beetles are most active and more fresh spore mats are available. During this time, pruning or damaging oak trees should be avoided.

In a recent NotMISpecies webinar, “Getting Down to the Nitty Gritty: Oak Wilt Spread and Vector Behavior Research in Michigan,” Dr. Tara Bal and Katie Bershing of Michigan Technological University’s College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science shared ongoing research in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and Canada indicating that sap beetles become interested in oak sap just after buds begin to open, a period called “leaf out,” and continue visiting wounded oaks through mid-summer. Further analysis is necessary to determine if this is true farther south.

Oak wilt infection seen in a cluster of four oak leaves that are brown on the outer edges but still green in the center.“Winter is considered low risk, but we’re dealing with nature, and winter weather is sometimes warm,” said Bal. “Overland spread of oak wilt requires beetles to carry viable spores flying to fresh wounds at a time when trees are vulnerable. Research indicates this is unlikely to occur during winter months.”

“The designated dates for the oak wilt high-risk infection period consider variations in spring weather patterns, which can change the leaf-out date year to year and region by region within the state,” said Simeon Wright, forest health specialist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Landscaping and construction projects that can damage oaks also should avoid the high-risk period. When possible, choosing to postpone land clearing or use of heavy equipment around oak trees until the winter avoids a potential risk of infection that can persist into late summer.

Can other trees get oak wilt?

White oaks, those with rounded leaves, are susceptible to oak wilt but may survive for several years or succumb more slowly before dying.

Researchers from Michigan State University detected the oak wilt fungus in an orchard of dying Colossal chestnut trees in 2022, suggesting that chestnut trees, part of the same family as oaks (Fagaceae), also can be infected.

Where is oak wilt in Michigan?

The DNR maintains an interactive online map for viewing verified, reported and treated locations of oak wilt across the state. The tool also can be used to report suspected oak wilt infections.

What can be done?

  • If oak trees need pruning, trimming or removal, plan these activities for winter months when possible.
  • If construction or removal of other trees may damage nearby oaks, perform these activities outside of the high-risk period, April 15 to July 15.
  • If oaks are damaged during the high-risk period, immediately cover wounds with tree wound paint or a latex-based paint.
  • Don’t move firewood, especially if it comes from oak wilt-killed trees, as it can harbor and spread the fungus.

To learn more about oak wilt, visit Michigan.gov/ForestHealth or MichiganOakWilt.org.

Michigan’s Invasive Species Program is cooperatively implemented by the Michigan Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development; Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy; and Natural Resources.

Note to editors: Accompanying photos are available below for download. Caption information follows.

Oak wilt fungus: A gray and black oak wilt fungal pad found under the bark of an infected oak tree.

Oak wilt leaves: Oak leaves that turn yellow or brown on the edges during the summer may be a sign of oak wilt infection. Photo courtesy of D. W. French, University of Minnesota, Bugwood.org.

 
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Michigan’s overdose death rate declines

Michigan’s overdose death rate declines

by | Nov 12, 2024 | Health and Wellness

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Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 12, 2024

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, [email protected]     

Michigan’s overdose death rate declines nearly
five times faster than national average
While significant decline, racial disparities persist 

LANSING, Mich. – Overdose deaths in Michigan decreased by 5.7% in 2023, with 2,826 deaths provisionally recorded compared to 2,998 deaths in 2022, reported the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). Additionally, MDHHS notes the overall overdose death rate has dropped from its peak of 31.1 deaths per 100,000 in 2021 to 28.2 in 2023.  

The decline marks progress in the ongoing fight against the opioid crisis in the state. Based on currently available data, the decline in Michigan from 2021 to 2023 is almost five times greater than the national decline seen in that same time frame.  

“Michigan is a leader in addressing opioid addiction and has been recognized for our harm reduction efforts by the National Governor’s Association,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “We will continue investing in programs that further our efforts to save lives by decreasing substance use disorders, expanding treatment options and improving recovery success.” 

The decline in the overdose death rate can be credited in part to public health measures like the launch of Michigan’s Naloxone Direct Portal, which provides the opioid overdose reversal medication at no charge to community groups and helps boost distribution of naloxone in high-risk areas. The state has also increased access to fentanyl and xylazine testing strips, enabling individuals who use drugs to detect these dangerous substances and reduce their risk of accidental overdose. 

While this data is promising, the racial gaps continue. Based on 2023 provisional data, Black residents are 2.8 times and American Indian/Alaska Native residents are 2.2 times more likely to die of an overdose than white residents.

“Public health officials, state agencies and community partners have been working tirelessly to reverse overdose trends,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive. “The harm-reduction tools we have implemented are saving lives, but we must ensure that their benefits are felt equally across all communities, particularly among those residents who are disproportionately affected.” 

The disparities in death rates reflect a broader systemic issue that is being addressed through targeted interventions in communities of color. MDHHS is taking a data-driven approach to ensure substance use disorder funding reaches communities with the highest need.  

“Limited access to care has been a key driver of racial disparities in Michigan communities, from the COVID pandemic to the opioid crisis,” said Tommy Stallworth, MDHHS senior advisor. “The state’s commitment to expanding funding for community-based and mobile health services is crucial. By including substance use disorder interventions and improving access to care in marginalized communities, the state is taking important steps toward addressing these disparities in a meaningful way.”  

As the state continues to combat the opioid crisis and substance use disorder (SUD), MDHHS and the Opioids Task Force prioritize implementing targeted strategies to address the unique needs of communities of color. This includes expanding access to life-saving resources, improving outreach and addressing social determinants of health that contribute to overdose risk. The state remains committed to reversing the harm caused by the overdose epidemic and will ensure that all communities, regardless of race, benefit from prevention efforts. 

Other recent key accomplishments and initiatives include: 

Workforce 

  • Expanded the number of Medicaid SUD providers by removing barriers for providers and offering incentives such as loan repayment to launch or expand services.  
  • Worked with physicians to increase the number of buprenorphine prescribers in the state.  

Reimbursement 

  • Expanded Medicaid reimbursement for office-based treatment for alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder in the primary care setting. 
  • Removed the prior authorization requirement to prescribe medications to treat opioid use disorder (MOUD) for Medicaid beneficiaries, allowing for a 20% increase in the last four years for the number MOUDs prescribed by primary care physicians.    

Community Investments 

  • Distributed more than 1 million kits of naloxone in communities resulting in at least 21,642 overdose reversals since the launch of the order portal in 2020 to enable communities to obtain naloxone at no cost. 
  • Launched early intervention treatment and referrals in select Federally Qualified Health Centers, Rural Health Clinics and Child and Adolescent Health Centers. 
  • Improved the system of care for pregnant individuals in northern Michigan by providing support and education for physicians in the Opioid Home Health network. 
  • Supported substance-exposed babies and their families by expanding supports through rooming-in, which allows birthing individuals, caregivers and babies with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome to stay together during treatment. 
  • Collaborated with Michigan Department of Corrections to support peers in parole/probation offices to assist individuals returning from incarceration. 
  • Provided more than 20,000 rides for SUD-related services. Transportation has been identified as a barrier in almost every community engagement related to SUD.  
  • Partnered with Michigan State Housing Development Authority to expand recovery housing to help meet the statewide demand. This resulted in an additional 27 recovery homes with 79 additional recovery beds, prioritizing counties and populations with the highest need. 
  • Expanded opioid treatment capacity at 10 Michigan Department of Corrections prisons, which provide medications for opioid use disorder to 884 incarcerated individuals. 

More information about programming and resources can be found on the SUD Resources website. Information about how the state’s Opioid Healing and Recovering Fund is being spent can be found on the opioids settlement website.