Land

Landowner off the hook for Superfund clean up in New York

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The 2nd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals  ruled that the landowner had fulfilled all its responsibilities under the Superfund law — officially called the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, or CERCLA. The decision apparently leaves the subcontractor that hauled away the contaminated soil out of luck. Here’s what happened, according to legal documents:

Norampac Industries Inc. discovered that property it owned in Cheektowaga, near Buffalo, was polluted with lead and other contaminants. It negotiated a brownfield cleanup agreement with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation in 2006. Company lawyer John Horn of Buffalo said the property known as the N.L. Industries site had been used for brass foundry and smelting operations and for processing an alloy of tin, copper and antimony from 1892 until 1972.

Water

Giant aquarium coming to metro Detroit mall

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By Greg Monahan
Great Lakes Echo

Starfish, seahorses and sharks are coming to a southeast Michigan shopping center. Crain’s Detroit reports Great Lakes Crossing Outlets in Auburn Hills announced plans for the construction of a 35,000-square-foot aquarium that could be completed by this time next year. Sea Life Michigan will feature an array of tropical marine life, including sharks, rays and shrimp. It will also have a section to showcase aquatic animals from around the Great Lakes basin. The plans are a result of an agreement between Taubman Centers Inc., which owns Great Lakes Crossing, and UK-based Merlin Entertainment, which has helped construct six other Sea Life Centers in the United States, including the aquariums at the Mall of America in Minnesota and Legoland in California.

Water

Photo Friday: Ice and snow cover Green Bay

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By Evan KreagerGreat Lakes Echo 
This photograph taken recently from the International Space Station shows the city of Green Bay, Wis. Just north of the city is the ice-covered Green Bay off the west coast of Lake Michigan. The landscape is covered in snow. Because the sun poorly illuminates the area, the entire scene is set in gray. Fields can be seen purely covered in white snow, and forests look dark.

Nearshore

Photo Friday: Crystal clear Lake Superior

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Tired of all those ice-choke pictures of Lake Superior. Here’s a view from warmer times. This picture of Lake Superior was taken by Tim Trombley in the summer of 2013. The remarkably clear water might be nearly invisible if it weren’t for the ripples of the waves. We’re always open to viewer submissions for our Photo Friday series, so feel free to message us on Facebook or Twitter, or send an email to greatlakesecho@gmail.com.

Recreation

New book highlights eco-friendly Michigan travel destinations

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By Greg Monahan
Great Lakes Echo
A new book from longtime journalist Sally Barber takes an environmentally conscious look at exploring outdoor attractions around the Great Lakes state. A new book from longtime journalist Sally Barber takes an environmentally conscious look at exploring outdoor attractions around the Great Lakes state. The Michigan Eco-Traveler is for a “new and growing breed of travelers” who travel with the intention of minimizing the ecological footprint they leave behind. The book has nine chapters, with sections that include features on sustainable kayaking, ski slopes and the most eco-friendly lodging options in the state. “I wanted to show travelers that they can make a positive impact while they’re enjoying the outdoors,” said Barber, a lifelong Michigan resident.

Land

Connecting environmental justice and biodiversity

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When the U.S. Supreme Court held last year that farmers can be liable for damages if they use patented seeds for more than one planting, the decision highlighted a debate over growers’ rights, intellectual property and agricultural sustainability.