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.
SARA Title III establishes requirements regarding emergency planning and "Community Right-to-Know" reporting on hazardous and toxic chemicals for federal, state, local, and tribal governments, as well as regulated facilities.
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.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s (EGLE) Water Well Viewer (WWV), is an interactive mapping system that displays water wells along with other information, such as wellhead protection areas, underground storage tanks, and sites of environmental contamination. Water well locations have been identified by address matching, the use of global positioning systems (GPS), and by legal descriptions.
This system allows water well drilling and pump installation contractors to submit water well records.
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.
Anyone wishing to formally serve legal documents upon the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), or its officers or employees, may do so by the following methods.
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May 01, 2026
Drone shot of nurdles on the bank of the Kalamazoo River Ahead of International Drone Day, MI Environment is highlighting the role drones played in identifying the extent of large spill of polystyrene plastic pellets recently in Allegan County.
On January 27, small white pellets – known as “nurdles” and used in manufacturing – spilled after a semitrailer left the roadway near the south end of the I-196 bridge over the Kalamazoo River during heavy snowfall and icy conditions. It wasn’t until the snow thawed that the extent of the spill – estimated at several thousand pounds -- became evident.
The pellets stretch along the freeway shoulder and roadside for 11 miles, due to spillage from the trailer during removal and subsequent snow plowing. Some of the pellets released into the river sank while others floated.
Helping to determine the extent of the spill was a drone operator at the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).
“The drones we use at EGLE give us the ability to assess a site in real time without putting staff in a potentially dangerous situation,” says Matthew Wesener, a drone pilot in EGLE’s Water Resources Division (WRD). “In the event of a chemical spill, for example, drones have the ability collect images and water samples or measure air quality in areas that would otherwise be unsafe for staff to access.
“Drones have enhanced our ability to protect public health and the environment by improving how we monitor conditions and assess risks, while also improving employee safety, response time, and overall efficiency.”
Wesener notes that drones are essentially platforms that carry equipment. This equipment can include visible light cameras, thermal cameras, sampling devices, and a variety of environmental sensors. While many people think of drones as quad-rotor aircraft, they can also include land- and water-based systems.
Drone show showing nurdles in the water. “Aerial drones provide higher resolution images than we have traditionally had available, and those images can be updated frequently if needed,” Wesener added. “They allow us to inspect large areas much more quickly than on foot, by boat, or by vehicle, and they give us access to places we otherwise could not reach. This allows us to document, measure, and understand how conditions change over time, whether from restoration work, natural or human-caused impacts, or longer-term climate trends.
“The data and imagery collected from drones also help us communicate more effectively with the public and decision-makers. Being able to quickly share clear visual information makes it easier to explain what is happening and support informed decisions.”
EGLE has 26 FAA certified pilots across seven divisions to assist with site assessment and documentation, volume calculation (for example, tire piles, soil/aggregate, etc.), water sample collection, shoreline and wetland assessment, radiological missions, and air quality monitoring. For 2026, EGLE is adding two new staff as pilots in the Materials Management Division and the WRD respectfully, and training on the latest magnetometer and methane site survey techniques using drones.
For more details about the nurdle spill, check out EGLE’s press release.
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The Recycling Raccoon Squad joined elementary school students in Detroit last week to celebrate a record-high rate of recycling by Michiganders for the fifth consecutive year.
State leaders are looking toward new solutions to address necessary dam infrastructure upgrades across the state.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), will host a virtual public information meeting regarding a hazardous waste management facility operating license application for the Petro-Chem Processing Group of Nortru, LLC (Petro-Chem).
Three NextCycle Michigan teams across Michigan are chasing the same goal: keeping food scraps out of the landfill by building reliable collection paths.
Proposed legislation would strengthen oversight, increase accountability and provide new tools to reduce dam safety risks statewide
Ten-year plan prioritizes economic growth, regional leadership, environmental stewardship
Homeowners and landowners are advised not to trim or prune any oak trees from April 15-July 15.
EGLE’s Office of Climate and Energy welcomed hundreds to Detroit with an action-focused agenda.
The fellowship will support a cohort of 30 Michigan K-12 educators focused on helping schools implement Great Lakes literacy principles.
