Currents FALL 2014 | MICHIGAN the Clean Water Action Newsletter on the Environment: Snyder Fails Clean Water Action’S Scorecard for Gov

michigan currents FALL 2014 | MICHIGAN the clean water action newsletter on the environment: snyder fails Clean Water Action’s scorecard for Gov. Rick Snyder’s gas companies and removing protections from critical first term highlights his failure to safeguard Michigan’s sand dunes. The scorecard also points out the Governor’s environment. “As someone who failure to advance any of the safe- just wants to have their water and guards outlined in Clean Water drink it too,” says Clean Water Ac- Action’s 2013 Water Protection tion’s Denny Green, “the Governor Agenda, including measures that couldn’t have done much worse on would hold oil and gas companies the environment if he’d tried.” accountable for their irresponsible Gov. Snyder received a failing actions. Gov. Snyder’s Economic grade based on actions he took (or Development Corporation lobbied failed to take) on fourteen differ- state environmental officials be- ent bills, coming up on the wrong hind the scenes to grant the giant side twelve times. “This subpar steel plant, Severstal Dearborn, performance, nearly a 90% rate of permission to increase its pollu- failure, is shameful for the gover- tion and avoid complying with nor of a state literally defined by FAIL clean air rules. its Great Lakes,” Green says. “Not only did Snyder oppose Snyder’s decisions allowing needed improvements for protect- toxic coal ash to be mixed with farm fertilizers and on ing our water and communities,” Green says, “he actively roads were particularly problematic. Also concerning sought to dismantle those protections and safeguards were his support of government subsidies for oil and already in place.” mid-term scorecard: failing grades for 26 HEROES 62 ZEROES Scored “100” by voting to Scored “0” by voting michigan lawmakers protect the environment. to protect polluters. In 2014, the Michigan legislature’s anti-environment actions were promoted as “job creation” or “natural resources protection” measures, but the voting record tells the real story. Choosing polluters’ interests over those of the people who elected them, the legislature voted repeatedly to roll back years of progress protecting Michigan’s water and natural resources while encouraging big money’s outsized influence in Michigan politics. Not every state lawmaker supported this radical anti-environment agenda. Twenty-six legislators earned a perfect “100” for their environmental commitments, but sixty-two scored a dismal “zero.” See how your State House and Senate representatives voted here: www.cleanwater.org/publications/2013-2014-scorecard-michigans-legislature

2722 Michigan Avenue, Suite 201, Lansing, Michigan 48912 | 517.203.0754 | www.CleanWaterAction.org/mi dog day afternoon Students, clean energy advocates and their four-legged friends gathered on August 26 at Michigan State University, demanding that the administration, state legislators and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency remove all coal ash from the university campus. The students also called for lawmakers to pass stronger safeguards against water contamination, increase clean energy investments, and push EPA to finalize strong federal coal ash pollution protections this year. “Ultimately, we need to transition Michigan State University to 100 percent renewable energy,” said Mary Brady-Enerson, MSU Alumna and Lansing campaigns organizer with Clean Water Action. “Toxic coal ash produced on campus should not be buried and hidden here in the places frequented by students, faculty, and dogs. The coal industry’s hold on energy policy is like the tail Green.’”Stablein wagging the dog.” added that the university needs to A 2007 construction project uncovered enough toxic properly dispose of this material, transition to renewable coal ash, buried underground, to fill Spartan Stadium to energy and shut down the university’s coal plant. “We the brim. The administration moved some of the ash to a need to keep our campus clean for future and current proper disposal site at Granger landfills, but much of it of students as well as our four-legged friends.” it was “relocated” to MSU’s Police Firearms and Canine MSU’s power plant is the nation’s largest on- Training Facility on Jolly road, where it still sits today. campus coal burner, and the state gets more than Coal ash contains mercury, lead, arsenic and other toxic half its electricity from burning coal, generating more chemicals known to cause cancer and especially harmful than 1.7 million tons of toxic coal ash annually. “We to young women and children. need common sense solutions that will clean up these Taylor Stablein, an MSU student says, “Simply toxic sites and transition to clean energy like wind and moving dangerous coal ash from one site to another solar,” says Sarah Mullkoff, MSU Alumna and Michigan contaminated site on campus is not being ‘Spartan Environmental Council Energy Program director.

A new panel announced by Gov. Rick Snyder will explore More Radioactive state policies on managing radioactive wastes from Waste for Michigan? other states which is among the dangerous byproducts of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) used to drill for oil and gas. Clean Water Action and others question the wisdom of importing more fracking wastes with potential to contaminate Michgan’s clean water. The state is home to twenty percent of the world’s fresh surface water. Several state lawmakers have introduced legislation to protect Michigan’s water from radioactive wastewater imports. The bills would bring Michigan code more in line with protections already in place in Ohio and other Midwest states. State Reps. Slavens and Geiss are leading the fight on this issue in the legislature. flood exposes weak infrastructure Last month, Detroit experienced its second highest single day of rainfall since 1925. The rain overloaded local storm drains and left streets and highways in Detroit and sur- rounding suburbs under water. Millions of gallons of sewage overflowed into rivers and lakes. Vehicles and drivers were stranded, homes flooded, and residents had to resort to floating in kayaks and boats to get through the streets. Was the massive flooding a totally un- avoidable accident? Clean Water Action’s Michigan Director, Nic Clark, says “No. The right actions could have prevented this devastation, and it’s not too late to change things to reduce future damage.” Clark points out that what happened in Southfield Michigan is a direct result of extreme weather events caused by climate change combined with elected leaders’ neglect of the infrastructure. “We can do something about both,” Clark says. “We’re feeling the impact of climate change right now. We need to make sure we’re prepared for the effects.” The U.S. EPA’s Clean Power Plan directly attacks the carbon pollution from coal-burning power plants which is causing climate change. Since Michigan is home to Heavy rains overload outmoded some of the nation’s dirtiest, most polluting coal plants, EPA’s proposal deserves Michi- storm drain systems, often releasing ganders’ support, Clark says. sewage and polluted stormwater Meanwhile, as climate change worsens, rainfall will become more intense. Down- into nearby waterways. pours like what happened in Detroit will strain Michigan cities’ aging drainage and than allow contaminants to flow over paved surfaces wastewater systems unless they are rebuilt. Heavy rains directly into lakes and rivers. overload outmoded storm drain systems, often releasing Unfortunately, many communities across the state sewage and polluted stormwater into nearby waterways. lack the adequate funds to update and repair their The overflows’ bacteria, viruses and untreated wastes systems. In his 2011 Special Message, Gov. Snyder said threaten people’s health and can harm fish and wildlife. he would direct the appropriate state agencies to plan “Just like we need to fix our pothole-riddled roads,” for sustainable infrastructure solutions. Clark says, “we must invest in our rapidly aging storm “We have yet to see sustainable solutions put in drain infrastructure.” Clean Water Action supports in- place,” observes Clark. “It’s time for our governor and vestments in permeable pavement, rain gardens, green leaders in the Legislature to face reality and invest in roofs and other green infrastructure solutions to catch what matters — our safety, homes, and protecting our the water where it falls and naturally filter it, rather Great Lakes.” NON PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID BOSTON MA PERMIT No 51544 1444 Eye Street, NW, Suite 400

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20005 DC Washington, 400, Suite NW, Street Eye 1444

michigan

Fund. Water Clean and Action Water Clean by published is CURRENTS

60 – Jon Hoadley Jon – 60

Deborah Thomas Deborah

52 – Gretchen Driskell* Gretchen – 52 104 – Betsy Coffia Betsy – 104

Bill Murphy Bill

50 – Charles Smiley* Charles – 50 101 – Thomas Stobie Thomas – 101

Richard Bernstein Bernstein Richard

39 – Sandy Colvin Sandy – 39 99 – Bryan Mielke Bryan – 99

Michigan Supreme Court Supreme Michigan

29 – Tim Greimel* Tim – 29 91 – Collene Lamonte* Collene – 91

Godfrey Dillard Godfrey 26 – Jim Townsend* Jim – 26 76 – Winnie Brinks* Winnie – 76

Secretary of State of Secretary

23 – David Haener David – 23 71 – Theresa Abed* Theresa – 71

14 – Brenda Lawrence Lawrence Brenda – 14

Mark Totten Mark 21 – Kristy Pagen Kristy – 21 69 – Sam Singh* Sam – 69

11 – Bobbie McKenzie Bobbie – 11

Attorney General Attorney 18 – Sarah Roberts* Sarah – 18 67 – Tom Cochran* Tom – 67

9 – Sander Levin* Sander – 9

State House of Representatives of House State

Lisa Brown Lisa

8 – Eric Schertzing Eric – 8

Lieutenant Governor Lieutenant 34 – Cathy Forbes Cathy – 34

20 – Sean McCann Sean – 20 7 – Pam Byrnes Pam – 7

Mark Schauer Mark 32 – Stacy Erwin Oakes Erwin Stacy – 32 7 – Dian Slavens Dian – 7 6 – Paul Clements Paul – 6

Governor 24 – Dawn Levey Dawn – 24 4 – Virgil Smith* Virgil – 4 5 – Dan Kildee* Dan – 5

23 – Curtis Hertel Jr. Hertel Curtis – 23 2 – Bert Johnson* Johnson* Bert – 2 1 – Jerry Cannon Jerry – 1 Peters Gary

State Senate State Congress U.S. Senate U.S.

Michigan Clean Water Action 2014 Endorsements 2014 Action Water Clean Michigan

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

vote for those additional pro-environment candidates on the rest of your ballot. ballot. your of rest the on candidates pro-environment additional those for vote

GARY PETERS GARY SCHAUER MARK Make sure you check the box for for box the check you sure Make this fall, then then fall, this and

will protect our environment and Great Lakes and deserve your support. your deserve and Lakes Great and environment our protect will

members can make to uphold our Pure Michigan legacy. These endorsed candidates candidates endorsed These legacy. Michigan Pure our uphold to make can members

based on candidate’s voting records and positions, highlight the choices our our choices the highlight positions, and records voting candidate’s on based

elections. Clean Water Action’s 2014 environmental endorsements, endorsements, environmental 2014 Action’s Water Clean elections.

November 4th November The people of Michigan have a number of clear choices in this fall’s fall’s this in choices clear of number a have Michigan of people The

Tuesday on Vote Remember to Vote for the Environment the for Vote to Remember

to plan a Make