Clean Production and Toxics
Great Lakes United wins mining lawsuit
The Canadian Federal Court decision requires Environment Canada to make the mining industry annually report the toxic waste accumulating in tailings ponds and waste rock piles.
Volunteers speed spill response
In the event of a spill on the St. Lawrence River, a swift response is critical in minimizing damage. Understanding this, Save the River launched a cutting edge spill response program last year, connecting volunteers with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to assist in case of a spill on the River.
Does delisting mean clean?
When an area of concern is delisted, it doesn’t mean pristine waters. A healed hotspot still faces challenges and citizens must be vigilant to prevent relapse.
Superior mining onslaught
Around the globe, metallic sulfide and uranium mines have laid waste to watersheds. Today, potential mining sites literally surround Lake Superior. These projects threaten some of the most pristine areas of the Great Lakes region, and risk irreversible harm to one of the most magnificent lakes in the world.
Great Lakes can’t wait
In a letter to President Obama and Prime Minister Harper, groups across the region urged the leaders to commit to revitalizing an historic water quality pact.
Return of the Detroit River’s Charismatic Megafauna
Over 35 years of pollution prevention and control undertaken in response to the Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, U.S. Clean Water Act, Canada Water Act, U.S. Endangered Species Act, and more have resulted in a return of charismatic megafauna.
Green stormwater management gaining ground
For fifty years, stormwater engineers have considered rain a nuisance. It is something best evacuated quickly from roads and sidewalks and diverted into concrete gutters and underground pipes.
Toxic ‘not’ spots
Across the region, heavily polluted and impaired waterways are going unnoticed, despite pleas from citizens to designate their site an Area of Concern. Unfortunately, these appeals are falling on deaf ears. But why would any community want to be deemed a toxic hotspot?
Lake Superior harbour to be mined for Michigan highways
A large block of former Algoma Central Railway lands on Lake Superior’s Michipicoten Harbour, near Wawa, Ontario, was sold to Superior Aggregates Company, a U.S. corporation. The company intends to strip the site of soil, vegetation, and timber, and then drill, blast and crush the coastal rock to within 65 metres of the shoreline. The privately-held block of land is nestled within 160 miles of Lake Superior shoreline protected by a national park, three provincial parks and two conservation reserves. The resulting aggregate is destined for shipment by freighter to Michigan for use in highway construction.
Canada’s toxic mining secret goes to court
On Monday, Canada’s federal court will be hearing a lawsuit against the Minister of the Environment for failing to ensure that the millions of kilograms of toxic pollution generated every year by Canada’s mining industry is publicly reported.
© 2009 Great Lakes News. 
