From following the aftereffects of the Flint Water Crisis to the new discoveries of PFAS in the state, here is some of most important stories Michigan Radio covered on the environment.
Ripple Effects of the Flint Water Crisis
In this series, Michigan Radio's Lindsey Smith looks at how the Flint water crisis has affected, or could affect, other water systems in Michigan - especially those with lead water service lines. It also considers how potential changes to lead in water rules at the federal, and especially the state level, will impact water systems.
- Romulus blames high lead levels on one vacant home that's not vacant
- Detroit suburb says it’s “paying for the sins” of MDEQ in Flint water crisis, sues state
PFAS chemical pollution seems to have come out of nowhere. That’s not exactly true. PFAS contamination has been known to be a problem. What's different is we’re discovering the problem is bigger than imagined.
- PFAS: What are the possible health risks?
- PFAS: Why are we suddenly hearing about this?
- PFAS: Where has it been found in public water supplies?
Newspapers struggling with a Trump tariff on newsprint
New tariffs are putting some Michigan newspapers and printers at risk of going out of business.
There’s more than a little irony in the fact that a state which built paper mills all over, no longer makes the kind of paper that newspapers use.
China doesn’t want most of our plastics or junk mail anymore… so now what?
China used to take all sorts of foreign recycling because it was using the materials to build its economy. But at the beginning of this year, China stopped importing most plastic waste and mixed paper, like junk mail.
The Line 5 proposal has been extremely controversial in politics this year. Catch up with the biggest points and discussion.
- Environmentalists say Enbridge tunnel risky
- Investigation raises ethical questions about Enbridge’s ties to Snyder administration
- Michigan tribes to paddle the Mackinac Straits in protest of Line 5
- New report highlights what would happen in a worst-case Line 5 oil spill
State approves Nestle's water withdrawal permit
The Michigan DEQ has approved a permit from Nestle Waters North America to increase the amount of groundwater it pumps from its well near Evart, Michigan.