news duluth environment

$75 Million to Clean Up St. Louis River

EPA and U.S. Steel Decide to Devote Funds and Time to Clearing Sediment

DULUTH,Minn.- Next year a $75 million cleanup project will begin at U.S. Steel’s former Duluth site on the St. Louis river. The EPA and U.S. steel made that announcement today as they reached an agreement on cleaning up and restoring the Spirit Lake site near the Morgan Park neighborhood. U.S. Steel is planning to pay 55 percent of the cost, while…

Minnesota House Passes Environmental Finance Bill

Bill Worth $1.2 Billion

ST. PAUL, Minn. –The Minnesota House passed its environmental finance bill that Republicans say will help “slow down the government spending spree.” The $1.2 billion legislation passed 80–53 late Thursday night. Republican Rep. Dan Fabian, of Roseau, says the bill will speed up the environmental review process and restructure how some state agencies operate. Democrats had fought hard, saying the…

Dakota Access Pipeline Ready for Oil

Oil Could go Through Pipeline by Next Week

NORTH DAKOTA-The Dakota Access Pipeline may have oil flowing through it by next week. Energy Transfer Partners, the company building the pipeline, has asked a federal judge to reject some Native American Tribes from trying to stop the project. The pipeline has gathered protesters from all over the country as they believe it’s going through sacred tribal land and has an impact…

Sea Grant Battling Government to Stay Alive

Federal Government Looking to Cut NOAA by 17 Percent

DULUTH, Minn.-Discussions are looming on Capitol Hill to cut 17 percent of the budget for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. These cuts could affect many different organizations including the National Weather Service and the local chapter of the Minnesota Sea Grant. The Sea Grant helps with fighting invasive species, along with other environmental issues related to the Great Lakes,…

Reusable Bags Now Available for Food Shelf Clients

Part of Bag It Duluth Campaign

DULUTH, Minn.-Clients of Churches United in Ministry will now be able to use reusable bags when picking up their groceries. The bags were collected recently by the League of Women Voters at a recent Bag It Duluth film screening. The Bag It Duluth campaign, which involves 70 different organizations, has developed a proposal to phase out plastic bags. “We know…