State Legislature, Governor recognize Michigan Tech COVID-19 Lab

Michigan Tech’s COVID-19 testing facility is the only university campus-based COVID-19 testing lab in the state. (Photo courtesy Michigan Tech University)

By Kelley Christensen*

Michigan Technological University’s COVID-19 testing laboratory was recognized in a special tribute today, April 30, by both houses of the Michigan legislature and by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II for its contributions to community health and safety.

The special tribute commends the lab for "its rapid implementation at the start of the pandemic with the ability to perform high-volume COVID-19 testing with rapid turnaround results. The lab has had a dramatic and significant impact on the health and health care of residents in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan."

The diagnostic lab was rapidly mobilized in April 2020 -- just weeks after the pandemic began to sweep the U.S. It celebrated its anniversary April 22, 2021. Michigan Tech’s facility is the only university campus-based COVID-19 testing lab in the state.

"It is a privilege to honor Michigan Tech's COVID-19 lab," said Rep. Greg Markkanen (R-Hancock), who was in attendance at Michigan Tech's Board of Trustees meeting and presented the tribute to the board. "The laboratory was key to mitigating the spread of COVID-19 across the Western U.P. I want to thank all who played a part in getting this lab off the ground. It was incredible to see all of the local resources come together to serve our community and ensure the laboratory's success."

Brenda Ryan, chair of the Board of Trustees, thanked Markkanen for his role in initiating the COVID-19 testing lab.

"Michigan Tech is pleased to have been able to provide this resource to the Upper Peninsula during such a challenging time," Ryan said. "The faculty, staff and students who have worked so hard to establish and operate the COVID-19 testing lab are the true heroes in this story and we thank them for all of their hard work over the past year." 

Momoko Tajiri performs RNA extraction for a batch of patient samples in the MTU COVID-19 Testing Lab. (Photo courtesy Michigan Tech University)

The tribute recognized the substantial involvement of a number of faculty and staff, including Caryn Heldt, David Dixon, Cary Gottlieb, Carsten Külheim, Stephen Techtmann, Jennifer Sanders, Cathy Jenich, Karl Meingast, Brooke Goulette, Mike Abbott, Natasha Chopp, Emmett Golde and Karyn Fay.

The tribute also states the following: "The MTU COVID-19 testing lab became the largest-volume SARS-CoV-2 lab in the Upper Peninsula. The lab was able to begin testing students and MTU employees. The U.P. community benefited from this lab as well. Nursing homes from over 100 miles away were bringing samples to MTU -- using them as a backup when the local health department and local doctor offices were overwhelmed with COVID-19 testing. For a time, the MTU COVID-19 Testing Lab was able to offer the most tests per day in the entire state of Michigan."**

* Kelley Christensen, author of this article, is Science and Technology Publications writer for Michigan Tech University Marketing and Communications.

** Click here to read the full text of the tribute in Michigan Tech News.

Houghton County Boil Water Advisory lifted

HOUGHTON COUNTY --  The boil water advisory has been lifted for all previously affected areas: Atlantic Mine, City of Hancock, portions of Portage Township, and Quincy Hill area of Franklin Township that are supplied with municipal drinking water from Adams Township. According to the Western UP Health Department (WUPHD), satisfactory bacteriologically safe water sample results have been received following the water main repairs, indicating that the water is safe for drinking.

Water customers should flush pipes, faucets, and drinking foundations for at least five minutes unless otherwise directed by your local utility. If you experience any discolored water, continue flushing until clear.

Before serving or using water, Food Service Establishment and Retail Food Establishment operators must follow the  instructions in the recovery section of their "Emergency Action Plans for Retail Food Establishments" guide.

If you have questions, contact the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department at (906) 482-7382.

UPDATE 3: Drinking Water Advisory continues for Atlantic Mine, Hancock, parts of Franklin and Portage townships

[Editor's Update 3: Western UP Health Department reports on Wednesday, Apr. 28, that the affected water main has been repaired, but the boil water advisory continues for the areas listed below until results from water sampling indicate the water is safe to drink. WUPHD adds that Food Service Establishment operators must follow the instructions in the "Emergency Action Plans for Retail Establishments" in order to remain open during a water boil advisory. Restaurants, bars, retail food and food processors shall not use the water for drinking, making beverages or ice, or for food preparation. See wupdhd.org for the document.]

UPDATED: ATLANTIC MINE, HANCOCK, FRANKLIN AND PORTAGE TOWNSHIPS --  Due to a water main break and pressure loss of the water system in Adams Township, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has issued a precautionary boil water advisory for Atlantic Mine, City of Hancock, Quincy Hill area of Franklin Township and portions of Portage Township -- which are supplied with municipal drinking water from Adams Township (Houghton County). Affected customers in Portage Township have been notified by the municipality.

Bacteria are common throughout the environment and generally are not harmful. However, whenever a water system is damaged or loses pressure for any significant length of time, precautionary measures are recommended until the system is tested and confirmed safe for drinking. DO NOT DRINK WATER BEFORE BOILING IT FIRST! Until further notice, water boiled for two minutes and let cool before using or bottled water should be used for drinking; brushing teeth; making ice, coffee, pop or other beverages; washing dishes; and preparing food.

The City of Hancock is working to get pressure restored, and water staff will be taking other remedial actions such as flushing and collecting bacteriological samples from around the system. The samples will be collected to determine that the water quality meets the state drinking water standards.

This precautionary boil water advisory remains in effect until the main is repaired and results from water sampling verify the water is safe to drink. Another notice will be issued when the boil water advisory has been lifted. The City of Hancock anticipates solving this problem within 48 hours, approximately by Thursday afternoon, April 29.

For more information please contact Bill Marlor, Hancock Department of Public Works (DPW) director, at 906-482-1480 or dpwdirector@cityofhancock.net. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791. 

Please share this notice with other people who drink this water by distributing this notice or posting in a public place.

If you have questions during the boil water advisory period, contact Tanya Rule, WUPHD Environmental Health Director, at (906) 482-7382.

Guest Article: Enbridge's Safety Claims: What You Should Know

This photo shows June 2020 damage to an anchor support on the east leg of the Line 5 pipelines -- significant damage that led to a temporary shutdown of Line 5 last summer. (File photo courtesy Enbridge Energy)

By Rosemary Grier*

[Editor's Note: This article appeared recently as a letter to the editor in The Daily Mining Gazette, responding to the April 14, 2021, Mining Gazette article, "Enbridge Line 5 pipeline: What you should know."**]

For ten years citizens and experts investigated risks to our Great Lakes from the aging Canadian Line 5 pipeline. Suddenly, with the pipeline’s easement revoked and eviction date looming, we are seeing a stream of safety claims -- claims that have already been investigated and found to be false.

If you care about clean water, you know that, on land, Line 5 crosses 400 waterways flowing into our Great Lakes and rivers. Regardless of land ownership, when a pipe leaks, spilled oil travels with the water. Enbridge lost its easement because it failed to maintain adequate safety precautions. Since 1968, Line 5 failed at least 33 times on land, spilling 1.1 million gallons of oil across Wisconsin and Michigan. In 1999, 5,300 gallons spilled near Crystal Falls.

The Mackinac Straits-crossing section is now an engineering nightmare, completely out of design specifications and subject to totally unplanned, unexamined failure modes. The 68-year-old structure was designed with a useful life of 50 years if the pipes rested on solid lake bottom, so pipes and welds would suffer no unexpected stress. However, Straits currents have undercut the pipeline, requiring installation of 200 supports as of 2020. Now, being off the lakebed, the pipeline is subject to lateral flexing by Straits currents with sagging between supports. It’s also a target for more anchor drags or strikes. In June 2020, significant damage to supports led to a temporary shut down of Line 5 (above photo). Enbridge failed to inform state officials about the damage and condition of the line. Finally, the pipeline coating, now covered with mussels that prevent visual inspection, has failed in many locations.

Engineering literature is replete with after-action reports analyzing famous disasters like Deepwater Horizon’s 4.9-million-barrel oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico (faulty cement at the well); I-35 bridge in Minneapolis (subjected to weight beyond design carrying capacity); Boeing 737Max (airframe extended 3 times, bigger engines repositioned, faulty stability computer system); and of course, Enbridge’s million-gallon spill disaster in the Kalamazoo River. What will the after-action report of a pipeline disaster in the Straits say about fundamental design breaches?

Continued operation of Line 5 is dangerously inconsistent with the State’s obligation to preserve and protect Michigan’s lands and waters in perpetuity. This is precisely why Governor Whitmer ordered the Line 5 easement crossing the Straits of Mackinac vacated. 

* Guest author Rosemary Grier, a Pelkie resident, represents the UP Propane Research Team: Mary Pelton Cooper, Marjorie Forslin, John Forslin, Jeff Towner, Rosemary Grier, Gene Champagne, and Horst Schmidt.

** Click here to read the April 14 Mining Gazette article.