Apologies not enough – criminal charges should be brought.
Owners of the Cherry Tree Inn and Suites offered state and federal regulators "sincere apologies” for bulldozing Grand Traverse Bay wetlands. But apologies aside, hotel owner Omni Hospitality of Medina, Ohio, wants regulators to let stand 95 percent of their bulldozer's work.
A beach restoration plan submitted by Omni's Columbus, Ohio-based engineering firm proposes to reseed just a fraction — .08 acres — of the 1.6 acres the company admits it improperly bulldozed in late November, according to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers documents obtained by the Traverse City Record-Eagle.
The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers and Michigan Department of Environmental Quality rejected the plan. MDEQ also referred the case to its criminal division and the Michigan Attorney General for possible criminal prosecution.
Senate
On the floor:
SB 336 – A bill to repeal the sunset on operating requirements for airboats
In Committee:
Appropriations:
Agriculture will meet on Thursday (3/15) at 2pm – they are getting close to decision making time. At the hearing last week, MEC testified in support of funding for soil conservation districts and technical assistance for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).
General Government will meet on Thursday (3/15) at 3 pm to make final decisions. They will be looking at the Department of treasury budget that includes diverting $24 million for underground storage tank cleanup to repay bonds (total diverted from the fund in the last four years - $100 million).
Transportation will meet on Wednesday (3/14) at 8:30 am to continue the discussion on the FY 07-08.
Standing Committees:
Commerce and Tourism will meet on Tuesday (3/13) at 2:30 p.m. to take up SB 69 which provide for tax increment financing for neighborhood improvement authorities.
Transportation will meet on Tuesday (3/13) at 1:00 p.m. for:
Presentation by Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association
Presentation by Michigan Department of Transportation
House
Adopted:
HB 4143 – A bill to designate certain marine safety misdemeanor violations as a civil infraction.
HR 33 – A resolution to urge the President and Congress to appropriate additional funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
HCR 5 – A concurrent resolution to urge the President and Congress to appropriate additional funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
Calendar:
HB 4327 – A bill to repeal a prohibition against selling tomatoes that are not vine-ripened without labeling them as such.
In Committee:
Appropriations:
Natural Resources will meet on Thursday (3/15) at 10:30 am for:
Executive Budget Recommendation for HB 4354: FY 2007-08
- Grants
- Decision Document Review Executive Recommendation
Standing Committees:
Agriculture will meet on Wednesday (3/14) at 2:30 p.m. for the following presentations:
Dr. Phyllis Mellon, Deputy Director, Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA)
Presentation on MDA Budget
Mr. Gordon Wenk, MDA Director of the Environmental Stewardship Program Division
Ms. Katherine Fedder, MDA Director of the Food and Dairy Division
Energy and Technology will meet on Wednesday (3/14) at 9:00 am for:
Presentation of the Midwest System Operator by Bill Garrity, Senior Vice President of Electric and Gas Supply, Consumer's Energy
Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources will meet on Tuesday (3/13) at 10:30 a.m. to take up the following bills:
HB 4323 - Allow local jurisdictions to allow for the operation of off-road vehicles on road shoulders, including provisions regarding liability and funding for enforcement and environmental remediation.
HB 4407 – Allow the use of raised platforms when hunting fox or coyote.
