Friday, October 30, 2009
Lake Carriers Will Continue To Clunk Along
The Soo Evening News reported the Sault Ste. Marie's City Commissioner's apoplectic response to the EPA's proposed cleaners fuel rules. See: City rallies around historic ships
The anger is a bit disingenuous as there are many complaints and a desire for something to be done when raw sewage overflows into the St. Marys River - in many ways particulate air pollution is worse as it directly contributes to premature deaths. How is working for clean air in the Great Lakes different than working for clean water? Are these complainers going to threaten to move to Mexico because the government wants to improve the well being of the public? And have they been to Mexico? Do they have any idea how bad the air quality in Mexico City is?
Also, the reporter in the story wrote "The EPA regulation is set to go in effect in December which would seemingly prevent the good ships and crews from even completing the 2009-10 shipping season." but this is inaccurate. The Lake Carriers would have had until 2015 to fully meet the emissions requirements.
A compromise has been reached however. See: Deal struck on Great Lakes ship pollution
A different view from Great Lakes United: Clearing the Smoke on Ship Emission Standards
The anger is a bit disingenuous as there are many complaints and a desire for something to be done when raw sewage overflows into the St. Marys River - in many ways particulate air pollution is worse as it directly contributes to premature deaths. How is working for clean air in the Great Lakes different than working for clean water? Are these complainers going to threaten to move to Mexico because the government wants to improve the well being of the public? And have they been to Mexico? Do they have any idea how bad the air quality in Mexico City is?
Also, the reporter in the story wrote "The EPA regulation is set to go in effect in December which would seemingly prevent the good ships and crews from even completing the 2009-10 shipping season." but this is inaccurate. The Lake Carriers would have had until 2015 to fully meet the emissions requirements.
A compromise has been reached however. See: Deal struck on Great Lakes ship pollution
Congressional negotiators reached a deal Tuesday that would effectively exempt 13 ships that haul iron ore, coal and other freight on the Great Lakes from a proposed federal rule meant to reduce air pollution.
A different view from Great Lakes United: Clearing the Smoke on Ship Emission Standards
Labels: freighter, law, pollution, shipping
Monday, February 02, 2009
Battle For The Griffon
No one yet knows if the shipwreck really is The Griffon, but that has not stopped Michigan and France from going to court.
See: France claims rights to Lake Michigan shipwreck
The project website: Search for the elusive Griffon
See: France claims rights to Lake Michigan shipwreck
The project website: Search for the elusive Griffon
Labels: history, law, shipwrecks
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Some Good News
Coast Guard OKs barrier to keep Asian carp from Great Lakes
This comes after a study advocating for the separation of the Mississippi and Great Lakes basins.
See DetNews: Great Lakes, Mississippi River watersheds should be separated
This comes after a study advocating for the separation of the Mississippi and Great Lakes basins.
See DetNews: Great Lakes, Mississippi River watersheds should be separated
There are no natural connections between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River watersheds. More a century ago, engineers linked them with a complex network of manmade canals and existing rivers to reverse the flow of the Chicago River and keep waste from flowing down it to Lake Michigan, which Chicago uses for drinking water.
Labels: invasive species, law
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Border Lawless
(this is being posted since Neebish Island is right on the Canadian border.)
ACLU Assails 100-Mile Border Zone as 'Constitution-Free'
The government has long been able to search people entering and exiting the country without need to say why, which is known as the border search exception of the Fourth Amendment.
After 9/11, Congress gave the Department of Homeland Security the right to use some of its powers deeper within the country, and now DHS has set up at least 33 internal checkpoints where they stop people, question them and ask them to prove citizenship...
Labels: law
