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Michigan
Environmental Report
Volume 22 . Number 3
June 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.
The Michigan
Environmental Report is an official publication of the Michigan Environmental
Council. Copyright 2003.
SUBSCRIBE
OFFICERS
Chairperson
Chris Graham,
Michigan Natural Areas Council
Vice
Chair
Vicki Levengood,
National Environmental Trust
Vice Chair
Terry Miller,
Lone Tree Council
Treasurer
Tom Leonard,
West Michigan Environmental Action Council
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
ECCO Field Director
Stephanie Anderson
Land
Programs Assistant
Ben Stupka
MER Design & Layout
Rose Homa
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Bush
creates Great Lakes task force
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President
George W. Bush on May 18 signed an Executive Order creating
a federal interagency task force on Great Lakes protection
and management and assigning the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) to head the group. The order
responds to a U.S. General Accounting Office report
that found a lack of coordination among more than 140
federal and state programs dealing with the Lakes.
"Collaboration and coordination building on the
broad collection of existing efforts while ensuring
leadership and accountability at the national and international
level is clearly a better way," EPA Administrator
Michael Leavitt said.
MEC Policy Advisor Dave Dempsey said the environmental
community welcomes attention from the White House to
Great Lakes restoration issues. "But there are
already plenty of task forces working on Great Lakes
issues. What we need is funding to restore the Lakes,
based on the ideas and opinions of the more than 30
million Great Lakes residents," Dempsey said.
MEC is working with other environmental groups, tribes,
local governments and others to seek federal legislation
approving a $4-6 billion, 10-year restoration effort.
State and local funds would be required to restore wetlands,
clean up toxic hotspots and conserve water.
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