lakes/rivers/wetlands
Milwaukee bans coal-tar sealants after study shows they pollute streams
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The study found that as many as 78 percent of Milwaukee streams have toxic levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, also known as PAHs.
Forests
Grinch busted for stealing Christmas — really
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The U.S. Forest Service busts a 70-year-old Minnesota man for stealing thousands of black spruce tree tops from the Chippewa National Forest in northern Minnesota and selling them for Christmas decorations. Edminster — whose birthday coincidentally falls on Christmas Day — pleaded guilty to stealing federal government property and faces sentencing by U.S. District Judge Wilhelmina Wright later this year.
Energy
New wind generators a no-go in the U.P.
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Heritage Sustainable Energy’s missing paperwork gave Schoolcraft County a reason to reject a new wind farm.
Nearshore
New York man sinks boat in Black Rock Canal, gets probation, fine
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A yacht club maintenance man who sank a boat in the Black Rock Canal will pay restitution to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Echo
Michigan residents think state government could do better on environment
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This quarter’s State of the State Survey asked over 1,000 Michigan residents how they think the state government is handling the environment.
Green Gavel
Michigan court upholds penalty for filling wetland
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Couple fined $10,000 and told to remove fill.
Echo
Indiana motel manager faces prison for DOOM
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A motel manager used an unregistered pesticide to treat bed bugs and is expected to plead guilty to violating the Federal Insecticide Act
Green Gavel
Minnesota court rules police needed search warrant to track poaching suspect
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Conservation officers had seized deer and elk antlers from the suspects home.
Air
Erie Coke Corp. faces $500,000 fine for benzene violations
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Earlier enforcement action was taken in a 2010 consent decree that included a $6 million penalty.
Recreation
Indiana to vote on making hunting and fishing a constitutional right
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Pro-hunting groups say a constitutional amendment is needed to protect cherished traditions, while opponents say it’s unnecessary and could have harmful consequences.