Feds Criticized for Lead Strategy

The U-S-E-P-A is working on a new set of standards for lead content indust and soil in and around homes. Those standards will be mandatory forall federally-owned or assisted housing and voluntary for other homes.Lead is of concern for the E-P-A because studies have found that one outof every 20 children in the U-S suffer from elevated blood-lead levels.But in a September issue of the journal "Science", one physician iscriticizing the way federal authorities are developing those newstandards. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Steve Hirschberg hasmore:

The Cost of Cheap Electricity

Concern about the environmental impacts of deregulating the electricitymarket have taken a back seat to promises of cheaper power and customerchoice on both sides of the border. But, as Great Lakes RadioConsortium Commentator Suzanne Elston has discovered, proponents ofgreen power just got a very strong ally:

Mississippi River Initiative

The federal government says a year long effort to crack down onpolluters of the Mississippi River has been a success. Butenvironmentalists say more needs to be done…. The Great Lakes RadioConsortium’s Bill Raack reports:

Schools Test I-P-M

We usually hear about Integrated Pest Management – or I-P-M – as itrelates to agriculture. In that setting, it’s a way to help reduce oreliminate the amount of pesticides farmers use on their crops. But theconcept of I-P-M is catching on in other places too.As the Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Wendy Nelson reports, somestates are taking Integrated Pest Management from the cornfields, righton into the classroom.

Consumer Group Calls for Pesticide Ban

A consumer’s group wants the E-P-A to ban 40 pesticides that are usedon food children often eat. The Consumers’ Union says there are saferalternatives, but farmers say those alternatives are not available yet.The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Lester Graham reports:

Water Diversion Battle Continues

After being denied once, a Canadian company hoping to divert water fromthe Great Lakes and sell it to Asia is again seeking the permission ofthe Canadian Government. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s MikeSimonson reports the U.S. Congress may intervene:

Shipwreck Tours Take Off

In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula there’s a way to see shipwrecks withoutgetting wet. Grand Island Shipwreck Tours has the only glassbottomedboat operation on the U.S. side of the Great Lakes. The Great LakesRadio Consortium’s Michelle Corum reports:

Bald Eagle Reproduction

Bald eagles living near Lake Superior aren’t reproducing as frequentlyas those who nest on inland lakes. A new study blames the lack of foodrather than contaminated fish…and one of the study’s authors says policymakers should take note. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s ChuckQuirmbach has more:

Forest Service &Quot;Witch Hunt"

Some environmental groups say congress is on a "witch-hunt" after U.S.Forest Service Employees. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium LesterGraham reports: