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Since SOS owns
our shoreline, I'm not sure whether to say more power to the ALJs or that this
is an excellent opportunity
for SOS to educate themselves and work with Michigan environmentalists on a MEPA
suit. This is just one of many egregious decisions by
these ALJs we have studied. The EPA was even critical of them in its review of
Michigan's wetland program. Engler used his imagination to get what he wanted,
and I can only hope this administration would do the same. One way or another,
Granholm should get the DEQ out from under these ALJs to the extent possible
(understanding that most agency decisions are subject to administrative review),
whether by recombining the DEQ with the DNR (and saving $$
while we're at it), creating the promised NRC-type citizen commission for the
DEQ, or reorganizing the Civil Service Commission. In other words, "Her Majesty" should get a "bustle"
in the "hedgerow" and do a little "spring clean
for the May Queen".
FALL 2002:
Key elements of
the Granholm/Cherry environmental plan include:
* A ban on new sand dune mining in coastal
dunes.
* Expansion of Michigan's bottle deposit law to generate
additional revenue
for the Natural Resources Trust Fund for purchasing critical dunes and
habitats.
* Creation of a
citizen oversight commission for the DEQ to assure public
participation in decisions on sand dune protection and other
critical
environmental issues.
* Protection of
more than 12,000 acres of critical dunes
identified by
scientific experts but never brought under
protection by the
Engler-Posthumus Administration.
* Vigorous
enforcement of environmental laws and a crack down on
polluters.
Bill Collins
Huron Ecologic,
LLC
3335 Crooks Road
Rochester Hills, Michigan 48309 USA
phone &
fax: 248-852-4682
e-mail: huronecologic@netzero.net
Huron Ecologic provides wetland delineations, wetland permitting, wetland
mitigation design & monitoring, tree inventories, botanical & ecological
surveys, natural area protection, nature education, and technical
training.
Judge
OKs dune waste pipe
A state judge recommended Wednesday Nugent
Sand Co. be allowed to build a pipeline through a protected 4,000-year-old
Lake Michigan dune.
Saying the environmental impact of millions of
gallons of treated wastewater flowing over the Lake Michigan beach will be
minimal, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality administrative law
judge Richard A. Patterson sided with Nugent. He overturned a denial of the
permit by the DEQ's Grand Rapids district office.
Darlene DeHudy,
vice-president of Save Our Shoreline, a local citizen's group opposed to the
project, blasted Patterson's decision.
"The public is nearly
unanimously against the Nugent pipeline and discharge into Lake
Michigan," said DeHudy. "Twenty-five organizations and three
municipalities have declared opposition to the project. Over 1,250 letters
and signatures have been delivered to Gov. Granholm opposing the
project."
The case then goes before DEQ Director Steven
Chester, who will make the agency's final decision on Nugent's
request.
"The director can accept it, reject, modify it or send
it back for a rehearing," said Dennis Mack, an administrative law judge
with the DEQ.
http://www.mlive.com/news/muchronicle/index.ssf?/base/news-4/107781391557870.xml
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