Michigan Environmental Council

Michigan
Environmental Report

Volume 22 . Number 1
February 2004

PURPOSE
Founded in 1980, MEC is a coalition of over 60 environmental, public health, and faith-based organizations with nearly 200,000 individual members. For over 20 years, MEC has provided a voice at the State Capitol. In addition to serving as a clearinghouse of environmental information, MEC develops public policy, educates elected officials and the public, and provides training and support to member organizations.

SUBSCRIBE

OFFICERS

Chairperson
Chris Graham,
Michigan Natural Areas Council

Vice Chair
Vicki Levengood,
National Environmental Trust

Vice Chair
Kathryn Savoie, Ph.D.,
ACCESS

Treasurer
Tanya Cabala,
Lake Michigan Federation

Secretary
Brian Imus,
PIRGIM

MEC STAFF

President
Lana Pollack

Policy Director
James Clift

Associate Director
Patrick Diehl

Land Programs Director
Conan Smith

Special Projects Coodinator
Brad Garmon

Office Manager
Judy Bearup

Member Services Director
Michele Scarborough

Policy Specialist
David Gard

Policy Advisor
Dave Dempsey

Communication & Development Associate
Amber Shinn

Environmental Campaign Coordinator
Wendi Tilden

Project Assistant
Jacquie Styrna

Land Programs Assistant
Ben Stupka

MER Design & Layout
Rose Homa

Governor Calls for Aggressive Water Agenda

On January 20, Governor Granholm became the first governor in more than 21 years to send a special message to the Legislature on an environmental issue. Granholm's message is straightforward-Michigan needs to do more to protect the Great Lakes. The plan includes a number of administrative and legislative actions that need to be taken.
The recommendations include:

Enacting a water use permitting statute for users of over 2 million gallons a day or 100 million gallons a year.

Fighting Bush Administration proposals to dump contaminated dredge sediments in Lake Michigan and Lake Erie.

Asking the Attorney General to join a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency to fight the decision not to regulate ballast water and the release of exotic species into the Great Lakes.

Writing an administrative rule to protect critical isolated wetlands.

Fully funding the water discharge permit fee program currently pending before the Legislature.

Beginning work on a statewide sanitary code.

Having Congress adequately fund Great Lakes restoration efforts.

"They are our most vital resources which makes their preservation and protection all too important to approach haphazardly," said Granholm in the message. "Our waters may be more threatened today than they have ever been."

The Michigan Environmental Council applauds her efforts to involve all of our state's leaders in the fight to protect the lakes. MEC will be following up on each of the proposals as the year goes on and highlighting the progress made by our elected officials.

Both Clean Water Action and Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation (MCWC), member groups of MEC, commended the Governor for her water initiative, while suggesting improvements. MCWC provided a five-point plan to strengthen Granholm's proposed Water Legacy Act to assure state control of public water resources and protection from exports.