A complete list of all programs within the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)
Community involvement and public participation are an essential part of EGLE’s mission, vision, and values.
Resources and information on utilizing RRD's data exchange and the Inventory of Facilities.
An interactive map displaying contaminated sites throughout Michigan regulated under Parts 213, 201, and 211.
EGLE's interactive calendar is designed to provide timely information on decisions before the Director, proposed settlements of contested cases, administrative rules promulgation, public hearings, meetings and comment deadlines, and environmental conferences, workshops and training programs.
The Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) provides all persons (except persons incarcerated in correctional facilities) with access to public records of public bodies. Requests to inspect or receive public records from EGLE must be in writing and describe the requested records with enough detail to enable the department to identify and locate the requested records. Some records are exempt from disclosure under the FOIA or another statute and thus will not be provided. A fee may be charged to process your request. Please note that many records are available that do not require a formal FOIA request.
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EGLE often receives complaints claiming that “someone dumped paint or a rust-colored substance” or that there is an unnatural colored oil-like sheen in moist areas or in a water body. Some oil-like films, coatings, and slimes, although they may look bad, are natural phenomena. These phenomena are caused by single- celled organisms called bacteria.
Slimes, oil-like films, and rock coatings are often made by bacteria that are reacting to the natural presence of minerals, such as iron, manganese, copper, and sulfur, in the water. Bacteria live in wet areas, including on the water surface, in the water column, and in the lake sediment.
Some bacteria obtain energy and perform other life functions by transforming those naturally occurring minerals to different chemical forms. These bacteria are of no threat to human health and have been involved in the iron and manganese cycles for billions of years. Some bacteria are very useful because they remove harmful materials from water.
Bacteria produce different color films, coatings, and slimes. Bacteria that precipitate (settle out of water as a solid) copper minerals may make turquoise blue films. Green and purple bacterial slimes may appear when sulfur is present, while white slimes occur in the presence of aluminum, sulfur, or calcium minerals. Iron bacteria produce brown or reddish-brown deposits.
Sometimes, naturally occurring bacteria can be confused for an oil or petroleum spill when the bacteria attach itself to the water’s surface. Sunlight bounces off the films, giving them an oily appearance. The photo to the left shows bacteria film in a wetland area with the appearance of an oil spill.
To test the difference between a bacterial film and oil floating on the water, break the film. If the film stays broken, it is a natural bacterial film. If it flows back into place, it is petroleum, which indicates pollution.
If you feel the substance may be a spill or pollution, do not touch the material and contact the State of Michigan Pollution Emergency Alerting System (PEAS) hotline at 800-292-4706.
View/download a pdf of this brochure.
For more information, including tips to help reduce the amount of nutrients that can enter a lake from your home activities, contact any EGLE district office or call the State of Michigan’s Environmental Assistance Center at EGLE-Assist@Michigan.gov or 800-662-9278.
If you find pollution and believe it is human-induced, please report it to the State of Michigan’s Pollution Emergency Alerting System (PEAS) hotline at (800) 292-4706.
