Michigan Wetlands Program Still Stuck in the Mud
Monday, September 28, 2009
DETROIT - Bad for the environment and bad for business: That's what some people are saying about bills currently aimed at management of Michigan's wetlands program. Despite agreeing to maintain state control and fund the program for another two years, the State Legislature is still arguing over how Michigan should manage its wetlands program. Until last week, the state had planned to turn the program over to the federal government to save more than a million dollars, but legislators on both sides of the aisle agreed that wasn't the best course.
Michigan Environmental Council spokesman Hugh McDiarmid says the challenge now is to put teeth into a weak Senate bill being considered.
"It weakens the wetlands protections in Michigan to such a point that they would be pretty much rendered ineffective."
The Michigan Chamber of Commerce has lobbied to have the federal government take over the program to save money, but McDiarmid says the business community benefits from state management, in part because the state is able to issue permits for developments near wetlands in a matter of months, while federal approval can take years.
McDiarmid says only two states, Michigan and New Jersey, have federal authority to manage wetlands through state-imposed regulations, and giving up that power would be a mistake on a number of different fronts.
"In addition to being bad news for Michigan's environment and water quality, it may also be bad news for Michigan's economic development opportunities."
The state Department of Environmental Quality is working with the Legislature to find a compromise between the Republican-sponsored less-restrictive guidelines and the Democrat-sponsored bill which would largely keep the existing guidelines in place.
get more stories like this via email
Health and Wellness
Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…
Social Issues
Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …
Social Issues
Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …
Environment
New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …
Social Issues
Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …
Social Issues
Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…