Michigan
the last Great Lakes state with free permits for water polluters
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For
Immediate Release:
June 30, 2003
|
Contacts:
James
Clift 517-487-9539
Anne Woiwode 517-484-2372
Cyndi Roper 517-490-1394 or 231-861-1934
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Lansing – Illinois recently enacted legislation to require
water pollution dischargers to pay approximately $20 million
annually in pollution discharge fees. That leaves Michigan
as the only state on the Great Lakes issuing free permits
to discharge toxic chemicals into the largest freshwater body
in North America.
Legislation
is pending in the House Government Operations Committee (SB
252) where interests representing water polluters are opposing
the bill. No hearings are scheduled on the bill. Governor
Granholm’s budget proposal included a $7.2 million water
protection program paid entirely by polluters. The Senate
version of SB 252 included only $3.5 million in fees (continuing
taxpayer subsidies for polluters by including $2.0 million
in general fund support in the budget).
A number
of Michigan environmental and conservation groups are running
advertisements in Macomb and Oakland counties urging residents
to contact their lawmakers in support of funding the state’s
water permitting program entirely through fees paid by water
dischargers.
“This
is yet another example of the Michigan legislature lagging
behind our neighbors when it comes to protecting the Great
Lakes,” said James Clift, Policy Director of the Michigan
Environmental Council. “Michigan needs laws that reflect
our commitment to protecting the lakes for the long term.
Unfortunately, special interests seem to be dictating public
policy to this legislature when it comes to protecting the
Great Lakes.”
Even a
Wall Street Journal editorial supported this type of fee legislation
recently when they stated, “Those of us who believe in
free markets understand that pollution is an ’externality’
that isn’t factored intro normal transaction costs; even
Milton Friedman endorses effluent taxes.” (June 27, 2003)
“Most
people are shocked when they learn that the state of Michigan
not only allows the discharge of toxic chemicals into the
Great Lakes, but provides to permits for free,” said
Cyndi Roper, Michigan Director of Clean Water Action. “Fees
would provide greater incentives to reduce pollution and eliminate
the toxic discharges into our lakes and streams.”
For more
information:
www.michiganswater.org
