IISG Shares in Environmental Management Award

Posted February 10th, 2009 in Great Lakes Cleanup, News, Program

URBANA – Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) sediment specialist Susan Boehme and her colleagues at the U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) have won the National Association of Environmental Professionals 2009 National Environmental Excellence Award for their remediation project on the Tannery Bay/Wetland in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

In response to the 2002 Great Lakes Legacy Act, which authorized $270 million to remove contaminated sediments from local waterways, EPA identified 31 Areas of Concern in the U.S. portion of the Great Lakes. Boehme and GLNPO worked closely with communities that went through the restoration process.

“It is wonderful when our Great Lakes Legacy Act projects receive recognition,” said Boehme, who assisted with technical support and community outreach. “Although this is a relatively new program, we have made great progress in cleaning up contamination in the rivers and waterways of the Great Lakes.”

The community saw the removal of 44,000 cubic yards of impacted sediment, containing approximately one million pounds of chromium and 70 pounds of mercury from St. Mary’s River, a local waterway.

“There is still much to be done,” said Boehme. “But when these sites are recognized, I think it helps spread the word to other communities that there is hope for their waterways.”

Along with IISG and GLNPO, the award will be presented to Phelps-Dodge Mining Company, environmental consultants Conestoga-Rovers and Associates, and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, which helped fund the project.

IISG Instagram

Join is in welcoming our new research and reporting coordinator, Laura Esman, to the team! In her new role, Laura will oversee research competitions and manage IISG’s research portfolio. She will also spearhead IISG data collection and lead the program’s annual reporting process.

Esman brings over 30 years of experience in research, project coordination and grant administration. Her most recent positions include managing director of the Indiana Water Resources Research Center, and lab manager and research associate in the Natural Resources Social Science Lab in Purdue’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources.

Full story at the link in bio.

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Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 17847944430638356
Join is in welcoming our new research and reporting coordinator, Laura Esman, to the team! In her new role, Laura will oversee research competitions and manage IISG’s research portfolio. She will also spearhead IISG data collection and lead the program’s annual reporting process.Esman brings over 30 years of experience in research, project coordination and grant administration. Her most recent positions include managing director of the Indiana Water Resources Research Center, and lab manager and research associate in the Natural Resources Social Science Lab in Purdue’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources.Full story at the link in bio.

There’s still time to register! Educators are invited to join the Great Lakes Region Place-Based Education Institute starting this February and dive into hands-on strategies that connect students with their communities and local environments. Don’t miss this powerful professional learning opportunity!

Learn more & register at the link in bio.

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Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 18063625076281979
There’s still time to register! Educators are invited to join the Great Lakes Region Place-Based Education Institute starting this February and dive into hands-on strategies that connect students with their communities and local environments. Don’t miss this powerful professional learning opportunity!Learn more & register at the link in bio.

🎉 Congratulations to our IISG Knauss Fellowship finalists!
We’re proud to announce Anupama Chandroth (@iubloomington) and Laura Gray (@illinois1867) as Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s finalists for the 2026 Sea Grant Knauss Fellowship.

They’ll join a national cohort of 48 finalists placed in executive and legislative branch offices in Washington, D.C., contributing scientific expertise to federal decision-making on marine, coastal, and Great Lakes issues.

Full story at the link in bio.

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Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 17925527007208099
🎉 Congratulations to our IISG Knauss Fellowship finalists! We’re proud to announce Anupama Chandroth (@iubloomington) and Laura Gray (@illinois1867) as Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s finalists for the 2026 Sea Grant Knauss Fellowship.They’ll join a national cohort of 48 finalists placed in executive and legislative branch offices in Washington, D.C., contributing scientific expertise to federal decision-making on marine, coastal, and Great Lakes issues.Full story at the link in bio.