Make your opinions known to decision-makers on issues of importance to you and Michigan League of Conservation Voters and Michigan Action Project. http://michiganlcv.e-actionmax.com/alertlist.asp Tue, 21 May 2013 07:05:46 GMT Tue, 21 May 2013 07:05:46 GMT en-us action alerts thedatabank, inc. Technology for Change. http://www.thedatabank.com/
Like many states across the country, Michigan could be on the verge of a boom in natural gas drilling and exploration. Because of technological developments, oil companies are now able to use a horizontal drilling technique called high-volume hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking." Though the fracking process has been around for many decades, high-volume horizontal wells have only seen widespread use in recent years and have allowed oil extraction from many areas that were previously off limits due to their depth and inaccessibility. This fracking process extracts natural gas from deep shale rock by flushing a high pressure mixture of water, sand, and chemicals down a pipeline, then pumps the natural gas trapped deep in the rock back up to the surface. Fracking poses a threat to Michigan's freshwater for two reasons: First, it requires high-volume water withdrawals, between 5 to 8 million gallons per well, that cannot be returned to lakes or streams, and second, the water is tainted with an undisclosed mixture of chemical additives that are hazardous to our health. The oil and gas industry enjoys loopholes in federal laws like the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act that allow them to bypass regulations and disclosures that would protect Michigan's Great Lakes and public health. Clearly, Michigan stands to benefit economically from fracking, but no amount of money is worth our Great Lakes freshwater being jeopardized or our health being compromised. Oil and gas companies should be required to use Michigan's Water Withdrawal Assessment Tool to monitor how much freshwater is being used, and the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) should require full public disclosure of all chemical additives, and in what quantity. All high-volume water users must recognize that Michigan's Great Lakes need to be preserved and protected. Fracking can be made safer, and putting these important protections in place is imperative to ensuring future generations have access to Michigan's greatest natural resource.

Deadline for action: 5/31/2013.]]> http://michiganlcv.e-actionmax.com/takeaction.asp?aaid=7060 http://michiganlcv.e-actionmax.com/takeaction.asp?aaid=7060 Wed, 15 May 2013 16:40:31 GMT
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is presenting a draft of their land management plan to the public for feedback this month. The plan's positives are in its calls for more recreation opportunities, especially in urban areas, and improving access to Michigan's lakes, rivers and streams. But, we are concerned about its promotion of Michigan's extraction industries, such as natural gas, oil and logging, which have deep environmental impacts and are not adequately regulated. Additionally, the DNR's plan is on a fast-track for approval. Public meetings across the state were packed into two weeks without much notice. Comments via email will be accepted through April 30. It is critical you share your concerns about a land management plan that focuses too heavily on resource extraction before the deadline passes.

Deadline for action: 5/31/2013.]]> http://michiganlcv.e-actionmax.com/takeaction.asp?aaid=7208 http://michiganlcv.e-actionmax.com/takeaction.asp?aaid=7208 Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:19:30 GMT
The Safe Chemicals Act is a bill that would protect American families from toxic chemicals by updating our nation's main chemical law --- the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). TSCA has not been updated in almost 40 years, and since then more than 80,000 chemicals have been produced and used in the United States. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has required testing on only 200 chemicals, and only 5 of those have been restricted. Currently, industries do not have to prove the chemicals they use are safe before they are put on the market. Consequently, chemicals linked to cancers, development disorders and asthma are showing up in the products we use, the food we eat, our bodies and even the Great Lakes. We are overdue to better protect our health and our families. Tell Senator Stabenow and Senator Levin that you want them to support Michigan's public health and environment. Urge them to co-sponsor the Safe Chemicals Act today.

Deadline for action: 5/30/2013.]]> http://michiganlcv.e-actionmax.com/takeaction.asp?aaid=7163 http://michiganlcv.e-actionmax.com/takeaction.asp?aaid=7163 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 21:50:55 GMT
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is presenting a draft of their land management plan to the public for feedback this month. The plan's positives are in its calls for more recreation opportunities, especially in urban areas, and improving access to Michigan's lakes, rivers and streams. But, we are concerned about its promotion of Michigan's extraction industries, such as natural gas, oil and logging, which have deep environmental impacts and are not adequately regulated. Additionally, the DNR's plan is on a fast-track for approval. Public meetings across the state were packed into two weeks without much notice. Comments via email will be accepted through April 30. It is critical you share your concerns about a land management plan that focuses too heavily on resource extraction before the deadline passes.

Deadline for action: 5/22/2013.]]> http://michiganlcv.e-actionmax.com/takeaction.asp?aaid=7203 http://michiganlcv.e-actionmax.com/takeaction.asp?aaid=7203 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:03:44 GMT