Russ Harding, former director of the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), implies that a healthy environment and a healthy economy are incompatible goals. He would sacrifice human health and environmental protections for economic growth. This is a false choice. As the current DEQ Director, let me assure the public that the DEQ is deeply committed to protecting public health and the environment, as well as the health of our economy.

Mr. Harding recommends Michigan adopt a law restricting the DEQ's ability to promulgate standards that are more stringent than federal environmental standards. This is bad policy. Virtually every federal environmental law preserves the authority of the states to enact standards specific to the needs of the states. Mr. Harding assumes that one size fits all. As the Great Lakes State, we know this is not true. To protect our vast water resources, Michigan understandably might choose to adopt standards that go beyond federal law and exceed what is required in Arizona or Nevada."

Mr. Harding claims that Michigan lags behind other states in our air permitting program. True, when Mr. Harding was director, manufacturers did complain that it took nine to 12 months to obtain an air permit from DEQ, but times have changed. Under a new process in place since September 2004, the DEQ has been issuing permits in less than six weeks, making it one of the fastest programs in the nation. We recently issued an air permit to General Motors for its Flint Engine plan within 21 days. We have also found ways to encourage manufacturers to install the very best pollution control equipment.

Mr. Harding suggests that we repeal Michigan's air toxics program and rely solely on federal standards. Unlike Michigan's program, however, the federal standards do not regulate numerous toxic pollutants that are of human health and ecological concern. Replacing Michigan's air toxic program with the federal program will thus reduce human health and environmental protection.

Mr. Harding advocates returning Michigan's wetland protection program to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Unlike the DEQ, the Army Corps has no statutory deadlines for permit issuance. This will result in delays and increased costs for permit applicants. In contrast, receiving a wetlands permit from the DEQ authorizes the activity automatically under state and federal law, eliminating the need to receive a separate permit from the Army Corps. If Mr. Harding sees regulation as a barrier to business growth, then his proposal would make things worse, not better.

Mr. Harding asks the Legislature to reject the Water Legacy Act, yet he fails to mention the resource protections the law provides and that it has overwhelming public support. Michigan is the only Great Lakes state that does not have a law to protect the quantity of its surface and groundwaters. Overuse of our waters can severely impact residential uses and cause damage to lakes and streams used for recreational purposes. The proposed law doesn't prohibit use of water but reasonably requires those seeking new or increased uses in excess of two million gallons a day or 100 million gallons a year to apply for and obtain a permit from DEQ.

The DEQ under Governor Granholm's leadership is restoring Michigan's environmental legacy, while growing our economy. To assert that protecting the public's health and preserving the environment are antithetical to business growth and jobs development is an old and trite canard that must be soundly rejected.

Steve Chester has been Michigan Department of Environmental Quality director since January 2003.