Mining

The "new asbestos" or Sleeping Bear Dunes? A lack of research on community exposure to silica and fugitive dust leaves many communities in the dark about their health risk.

The Michigan state house was packed May 9 as lawmakers heard from aggregate industry representatives and “local control” supporters. The discussion concerned recently introduced legislation that would hand permitting of aggregate mines, from local governments, over to the state.

Road construction and infrastructure projects are demanding more sand and gravel resources, and mine applications are sweeping the state. Local communities have the power to approve or reject the mines, but they don’t always know how.