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ByGi Pocock
Capital News Service
LANSING - If the Pontiac
Silverdome were filled up 388
times with garbage it would
equal about the Same amount of
solid waste Michigan generates
each year.
Unfortunately, no huge Sil­
verdome trash cans exist to con­
tain 12 million tons of waste -
80 percent of . ch is disposed
. in landfills. As the cost of this
proces increases, space for
these sites diminishes, leaving
behind problems such as con­
taminated groundwater.
"If we don't act on (solid
waste concerns) this. year, we
could have a crisis," said David
Oem psey, Gov.J ames
Blanchard's environmental ad­
viser since 1983. "We're running
out of places for landfills."
Blanchard has recom­
mended an S800 million bond
I I
ByJ �
CIIpiIIIl News Sl1Vke
LANS G - Despite b dget
cuts, a revolutionary statewide
Medicaid eligibility extensio
. re� in p ce for pcwerty­
level expectant mothers and
children up to age 2
The eligibility program -
which provides Medicaid
STATE
EAT
Cuts in Shut-otf
Prot Ion Pro ram
By Karen A. Davis I .
Capital News Service
LANSING - Some of
Michigan's low-income resi­
dents could be left out in the
cold next winter as a result of
federal and state budget cuts
that too a chunk out of a
utilities Shut-Offl Protection
Program.
Although consuemrs have
not yet been informed of the
change, the Department of So­
cial Services (OSS) has et a
date for change to go in e
The program was ori ally
designed to guarantee that resi­
dents who participate in the
prevention plan would not have
their heat shut off during the
winter months.
As of April-I, low-income
families who receive state .help
in paying their utility bills under
I .
proposal in which about $300
million could be earmarked for
solid waste management.
However, senate Environmental
Affairs Committee Chair Ver­
. non Ehlers, R-Grand Rapids,
said the legislation must be
moved quickly if voters are to
decide on the bond proposal in
November.
Funds from the bond would
be designated for cleanup on
some of the 1,400 contaminated
. I
UR
(UW
the Heating Assistance
Program will have to handle past
due bills exceeding $1� on their
own, state officials said.
Before recent budget cuts,
th Department of Social Ser­
vices (D S) had been paying up
to $1,000 on past-due bills.
Consistent program par­
ticipants would not be affected
- by th budget revisions,' said
ynda Crandall, director of the
office of special services at DSS.
However, excessive past due
bills have been a problem for
participan who withdraw from I
the pro narn during warm
weath r months, then try to re­
apply with th reappearance of
sub-zero temperatures, utility
officials said. Under the new
pI applicants with past due
bill of more than $125 might
hav a problem dealing with
uti! companies.
. - ,
," t won't have a big effec� on
our rrent customers' heating."
. Co Uaued on Pap 16
sites. Developing alter­
to landfills, such as recy­
clin aste exchange and waste
red ction, will be targeted
for funding.
�ep .: James Kosteva, De­
Ca ton, who' serves on the
Ho se Conservation and En­
vir:Emental Committee, sug­
gest further research on non­
bi gradable materials, mainly
plas ics, to cut bac on waste
that does not break down into
a
the soil.
Kosteva added he is disap­
pointed Michigan State
University's renowned School of
Packaging is not researching
these possibilities, and instead
was "more of the problem. than
part of the solution."
School of Packaging Director .
Harold Hughes agreed the
school was no researching non-
biodegradables. added most -
Contin ed 0 P 3
