Recording of June 24, 2026

As a township official or local economic development individual, you may have questions about environmental regulations and permits associated with land in your township/city/village. Whether the land is considered brownfield or greenfield, when developers come siting for manufacturing operations, understanding the environmental aspects of the land are key to keeping your community informed.

Recorded May 6, 2026

Asbestos has been used in many products, such as insulation, floor tile, roofing materials, and siding. Although most of these products are no longer made using asbestos, there is still a risk of exposure to asbestos during renovations and demolitions. In this webinar, you’ll hear from an Air Quality Division Asbestos Inspector and from Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration staff about how Asbestos is regulated in Michigan, and how the regulations protect the public and environment by minimizing the release of asbestos fibers during renovation and demolition activities.

Recording of April 16, 2026

There is nothing like spending the day at one of Michigan’s beautiful beaches, but how do we make sure they are safe? EGLE assists local public health officials to ensure Michigan beaches are monitored for the safety of all who may want to spend a day on the lake. New rapid methods to test beaches have been developed by a network of labs in Michigan called the Michigan Network for Environmental Health & Technology (MiNet). MiNet is a statewide network of laboratories that use various methods to assess recreational water quality, identify sources of fecal contamination in surface water, and monitor diseases in wastewater. MSU has served as the hub of the network providing training and technical support since in 2015. The network provides timely data to local health departments, utilities, state, and tribal partners to better protect human health. This presentation covered the advanced monitoring methods and services that are available from the MiNet.

Recording of March 10, 2026

There is an unseen yet invaluable resource beneath our feet that often goes unnoticed – it is groundwater. Planning for resilient places requires balancing community and economic development with conservation, understanding the interplay between land use and groundwater, and engaging municipal officials in decision-making when it comes to the management of the groundwater resource. Learn how efforts in understanding the local groundwater resource can help shape policies, influence master planning, and even empower communities.

Recorded January 21, 2026

This webinar provides an overview of the different technologies used to compost organic materials and how EGLE regulates composters to ensure people, and our environment are protected. This webinar also provides details on how find composters and details on whether they accept food waste. Join us to hear how your community can benefit from both large- and small-scale composting operations.

Recorded December 17, 2025

The marijuana industry has environmental impacts, including processes that cause odors, water discharges, land use challenges, and unique waste disposal limitations. This industry is subject to the same environmental rules and regulations as any other business conducting similar operations. Due to some of these challenges, this industry is a large source of complaints and concerns from community members. It is important to know what the industry's environmental obligations are and where the state regulations end and local ordinances and enforcement begin. During this webinar, hear from multiple EGLE staffers about what rules apply to the marijuana industry and how your governing agency can work with EGLE and use local authority to manage marijuana impacts in your community.

Recorded October 16, 2025

Hidden dump piles, trash strewn property, abandoned buildings filled with junk - Local leaders make discoveries like these in their communities all the time. Recycling efforts that start out with good intentions and get out of hand with flat markets and poor planning are usually to blame; however local officials are often left to clean up the mess. Local leaders will want to join this webinar to learn about how to recognize and address waste gone wild situations in your community and the tools that are available to help. Attendees will hear about recycling efforts gone wild for various materials like scrap tires, electronic and other recyclable commodities, as well as how to address nuisance dumping situations.

Watch the recording of Waste Gone Wild and Local Law Enforcement

Recorded September 9, 2025

Burning regulations can be confusing! Local officials around the state often deal with questions and complaints from residents related to fire pits, leaf and trash burning, and outdoor wood-fired boilers. EGLE has multiple regulations dealing with what can and cannot be burned, as well as who can and cannot burn. Additionally, there are several state agencies who work together to handle burning complaints, but these agencies do not handle enforcement of all burning rules. For instance, outdoor wood burners and residential trash burning issues are handled by the local municipality.

Recorded August 28, 2025

This webinar will provide an overview of how public water supplies are regulated and resources available. It’s important to learn how the residents in your community get their drinking water to understand what common questions they may have, who they should contact if there are concerns, how they can find out about their water quality, and what resources may be useful to them. This webinar will help provide you with information and resources to address common drinking water needs and questions in your community.

Recorded July 29, 2025

Contaminated properties exist in almost every community. Maybe it’s an old gas station, a dry cleaner, or an abandoned factory. In this webinar, you’ll learn what EGLE does to keep the public safe and what can be done to get contaminated sites ready for redevelopment. Staff from EGLE’s Remediation and Redevelopment Division will explain liability, due care, and how to tap into brownfield redevelopment funding.

Recorded June 17, 2025
Dust complaints are one of the most frequently received complaints EGLE air pollution investigators receive. There are state regulations that deal with particulates or dust, but what should you do if you experience particulates and dust fallout in your community?  Are there local ordinances to address the problem?  Join us to answer these questions and learn when to ask your district air pollution investigators for help.

Recorded May 21, 2025
More than 1.3 million homes and businesses in Michigan depend on septic systems to treat wastewater. If not maintained, failing septic systems can contaminate groundwater and harm the environment by releasing bacteria, viruses, and household toxics to local waterways.
This informative session will cover septic system operation and maintenance practices and steps to take if you have a septic system problem. This session will also include an update on the Michigan Septic Loan Replacement Program.

Recorded April 29, 2025
Michigan is blessed with an abundance of inland lakes; however, lakes present unique challenges and issues to residents who reside near them. Accessing the water, shoreline protection, and creating an healthy lake environment often come up as issues to be addressed.  Several types of projects and activities in and around lakes and streams are regulated by EGLE. Learn what types of construction-based projects may require a permit.

Recorded April 15, 2025, 1.5 hours
Is there a waterbody that runs through, or near your community? In Michigan, more than 1,000 communities participate in the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and an even greater number have unmapped flood zones, yet every waterbody has the potential to flood. This webinar is an opportunity to learn about floodplain management, the flood provisions in Michigan Building Codes, and EGLE's Floodplain Authority found in state regulations. We will discuss what a floodplain is, what activities require a permit, floodplain development administrative responsibilities, and reviewing an Elevation Certificate. This course is designed for anyone involved in development within your community such as supervisors, clerks, building officials and inspectors, engineers, and surveyors.

Recorded March 18, 2025
Odor complaints are one of the most frequently received complaints EGLE air pollution investigators receive. There are state regulations that deal with nuisance odors, but what should you do if you experience odors in your community? Are there local ordinances to address the problem? How does local zoning come into play? Join us to answer these questions and learn when to ask your district air pollution investigators for help.

Recorded February 26, 2025
Local officials wear a lot of hats and may not be familiar with the many environmental regulations that affect businesses and residents in their community. EGLE regulates sources of air pollution, waste handling, wastewater and storm water discharges, water resources, and more.

To ensure human health and the environment is protected, EGLE inspection staff regularly visit businesses to ensure they are meeting the environmental regulations that apply to their operations.

In this webinar, we will provide a broad overview of what EGLE does and resources that are available to local leaders to help them work with EGLE to protect the people and environment in their community.

Recorded January 30, 2024
Did you know an estimated 6% of Michigan's land is flood-prone, including about 200,000 buildings?  The damage that results from a flood is dependent on what type of development has occurred in and near an area that is flood-prone.

In this webinar learn how federal, state and local agencies and floodplain regulatory codes work together and complement each other to minimize flood losses and prevent future ones. We will focus on Substantial Damage/Improvement/Repairs as defined in the Michigan Building Codes and ways in which this is determined and documented. We will also brainstorm ideas in moving forward to retrofit an existing structure and minimize future disaster losses. Additionally, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has conducted new coastal analyses and mapping studies and updated Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs) for many counties along the Great Lakes. Learn how to interpret the different flood zones and apply the applicable sections of the Michigan Building Codes.

Course designed for: Building Officials, Planning and Zoning Officials, County Health Departments, Water Resources Commissioner’s and staff, and anyone else involved in floodplain management and development.

Advised to have a basic understanding of floodplain management regulations, or to watch Floodplains 101: What you need to know about the floodplains in your community.