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SEMCOG announces plan for attaining air quality standards for ozone air pollution SEMCOG's Executive Committee has approved a plan outlining an emission reduction strategy designed to bring the seven-county Southeast Michigan region into attainment for the new eight-hour ozone standard. Instead of a mandatory vehicle inspection and repair program, the plan calls for a cleaner fuel. The cleaner, lower vapor pressure fuel would cost an additional $2-14 per year depending on the amount of driving, the vehicle's fuel economy, and the fuel supplier. On the other hand, vehicle emissions testing would cost each vehicle at least $20-30 per year; failed vehicles (15-20 percent of those tested) would face repairs costing on average $200-275. The strategy for achieving the new ozone standard, developed jointly by SEMCOG and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), consists of measures in three categories:
This emission control strategy must be submitted to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) by the State of Michigan no later than June 2005. SEMCOG and MDEQ will work with the Michigan Legislature to secure the legal authority to implement selected control measures. The plan must be submitted to USEPA by June 2006. Copies of the plan are available from SEMCOG Information Services. Contact: Chuck Hersey, Manager of SEMCOG Environmental Programs.
Nonresidential construction steady in 2004, according to new SEMCOG data Nonresidential floorspace either under construction or completed in Southeast Michigan in 2004 totaled nearly 35 million square feet, according to data released by SEMCOG on its Web site at www.semcog.org. Nonresidential Development in Southeast Michigan, Summary 2004 tracks projects which were completed or under construction in the seven-county Southeast Michigan region during 2004. Completed projects contributed just over 14.6 million square feet of new floorspace. More than 20 million square feet were under construction in 2004. Leading the region, Oakland County had 11.5 million square feet of floorspace either completed or under construction in 2004, accounting for one-third of Southeast Michigan's total nonresidential development. Wayne County followed next with 9.3 million square feet of floorspace completed or under construction (27 percent of region), and Washtenaw County, at 6.2 million square feet of new floorspace, was third (18 percent of region). The largest development projects in the region in 2004 were Visteon Village (Van Buren Township; 870,000 square feet); the South Hospital addition to William Beaumont Hospital (Royal Oak; 624,000 square feet); and Saline High School (Pittsfield Township; 511,000 square feet). Data are available in PDF format on SEMCOG's Web site ¾www.semcog.org. Under the "Data" tab at the top of the home page, look for "Nonresidential Development." Other data available include nonresidential development by community, nonresidential development projects by county and community, and a comparison of nonresidential development from 1995-2004. Contact SEMCOG Information Services.
Water Week is June 4-12 SEMCOG and the Southeast Michigan Partners for Clean Water announce the first annual Water Week, taking place from June 4-12, 2005. The purpose of Water Week is to celebrate, learn about, and enhance our abundant water resources in Southeast Michigan through recreation, education, and stewardship activities. Water Week activities will include Rouge Rescue on June 4 and River Day events in the Clinton River Watershed on June 11. In addition, Water Week activities are being planned in the Anchor Bay, Huron, St. Clair River, and Shiawassee Watersheds, as well as along Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River. Examples of activities include river and stream cleanups, fishing events, nature walks, and river crossing sign installation. Local communities are encouraged to sponsor an event during Water Week. Water Week events are listed on www.semcog.org. Click on the "Ours to Protect" logo on the home page, then the Water Week logo toward the bottom. Contact: Amy Mangus, Senior Planner, SEMCOG Environmental Programs.
Workshops on protecting Michigan's wetlands scheduled for June The United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality are sponsoring a workshop in June to help local officials, planning commissioners, citizens, and other decision makers understand the valuable role local governments can play in wetland protection. The four-hour workshop (held in Southeast Michigan on June 14 at the Glacier Club Golf Course in Washington Township and on June 16 at the NEW Center in Ann Arbor) will discuss wetland types, wetland functions and values, benefits of local wetland protection, how to develop a wetlands ordinance, discussion of a model ordinance, additional land use tools for wetlands protection, wetlands inventory maps, and how to get started. There is a $15 registration fee (for workshop materials and refreshments). Contact: (248) 258-5188 or (231) 347-1181, extension 110, for additional information.
Detroit Intermodal Freight Terminal Draft Environmental Impact Statement available for public comment The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is seeking public comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Detroit Intermodal Freight Terminal study. The DEIS examines the social, environmental, and economic factors related to four alternatives for improving intermodal freight operations in southwest Detroit, east Dearborn, and in Wayne and Oakland Counties. It also discusses the various impacts associated with each alternative. A review copy of the DEIS is available at a number of locations in the Detroit area including the Detroit Public Library, Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn, Ferndale Public Library, the MDOT Detroit Transportation Service Center, MDOT Oakland Transportation Service Center in Waterford, and the MDOT Metro Region Office in Southfield. The document can also be viewed online at www.michigan.gov/mdotstudies. Comments must be received by August 16, 2005. Contact: Robert Parsons, MDOT.
New SEMCOG member SEMCOG welcomes new member Berlin Township, located in northeastern Monroe County (population 6,399, SEMCOG May 2005 estimate). Contact: Durene Brown, SEMCOG Membership Manager.
SEMPeople West Bloomfield Township Trustee Debbie Macon has been named to the 2005-2006 Board of Directors for the United Way for Southeastern Michigan. Congratulations to Monroe County Commissioner Floreine Mentel, who received the Public Service Leadership Award from the Area Agency on Aging 1-B at their recent annual community meeting.
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