toxic chemicals

The Michigan Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday on whether the state is following the law to include the costs of compliance in groundwater cleanup orders. Rick Pluta reports.

The Ypsilanti City Council heard an update Tuesday night regarding the cleanup of the lead and PCB contaminants at the Water Street parcel and when redevelopment might be able to take place. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

The Michigan Supreme Court will hear arguments today on a challenge to the state’s drinking water rules for PFAS. We have more from Rick Pluta.

The Ypsilanti City Council tonight will hear an update regarding the cleanup of the Water Street PCB contamination and hopefully move toward a redevelopment plan for the site. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

The Army Corps of Engineers wants to ship toxic waste from New York to a facility in western Wayne County. It comes from the World War II-era Manhattan Project and has low levels of radioactivity. While the shipment issue winds through the court system, measures are being taken in Lansing. State Representative Reggie Miller is a Democrat from Van Buren Township. where Wayne Disposal is located and where the shipments are scheduled to arrive. She has introduced a bill that would ban all out-of-state waste shipments and discusses it with WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director, Lisa Wozniak.

Local community leaders are celebrating the restraining order signed on Wednesday to halt the transfer of radioactive soil from New York to Wayne Disposal in Van Buren Township. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

Van Buren Township State Representative Reggie Miller wants to bring an end to radioactive waste being transferred into Michigan. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

The Biden Administration has taken steps to address the environmental problems posed by PFAS contamination. The U.S. Supreme Court recently made a ruling overturning the "Chevron Doctrine," and it has environmentalists alarmed. The implications on PFAS regulation and clean-up are already being felt and could have implications right here in Michigan. That's the topic WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director Lisa Wozniak chose for the September edition of "1st Friday Focus on the Environment." Their guest is among those concerned about the ramifications. John Reeder is Vice President of Federal Affairs with the Environmental Working Group.

A big crowd is expected tonight as 6th district Congresswoman Debbie Dingell holds a town hall meeting on the plans to transport and store hazardous waste to the Wayne Disposal facility in Van Buren Township. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert has a preview.

PFAS contamination has already been a significant concern. Now, there may be reason to add to the worry. A study funded by the Ann Arbor-based Ecology Center finds there is an array of PFAS chemical profiles in rainwater falling over Ann Arbor and Southeast Michigan. WEMU's David Fair spoke with the center’s Erica Bloom about the findings and what it means to the environment and public health.