Feds eyeing crude oil piped under St. Clair River in 98-year-old line

Keith Matheny, Detroit Free Press 11:26 p.m. EST February 27, 2016

(Photo: Jeffrey M. Smith, Times Herald)

A petroleum transport company may soon receive approval to ship heavy crude oil from Marysville into Canada via a 98-year-old pipeline under the St. Clair River — without public hearings or an environmental assessment.

The U.S. State Department, which has jurisdiction on pipelines that cross the American border, moved the permit consideration through the Federal Register — a massive clearinghouse for federal regulations, proposed rules, public notices and executive orders — starting in mid-January. A 30-day public comment period on the proposal by Houston-based Plains LPG Services expired on Feb. 24 with virtually no comments.

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Let’s reverse state’s slide on environmental protection

Gail Philbin11:36 p.m. ET Feb. 22, 2016

The spectacle of a Michigan city poisoned by a drinking-water crisis caused by cost-cutting surprised few, if any, folks working on environmental issues in this state. We couldn’t predict the horrific fact at the core of the Flint tragedy — that many, many children will live with lifelong consequences of lead exposure. However, we’re all too familiar with the Snyder administration’s disregard for public health and the will of the people.

A dangerous culture has taken hold at the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). That culture de-emphasizes government transparency, regulatory enforcement and responsiveness to citizen complaints, and instead emphasizes budget reductions and voluntary measures to address significant problems.

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Michigan Chapter Update - February 21, 2016

Michigan Chapter Update - February 7, 2016