E-M:/ News Release: 'Ring Out' Pollution Subsidies

[David Holtz <holtzmec@voyager.net>]

Title:

For Immediate
Release                                    Contact: Anne Woiwode
517-484-2372
October 1, 2003                                              
                            Cyndi Roper 517-203-0754
                                                                         
                            James Clift 517-487-9539

Message To Lawmakers:
'Ring Out' Taxpayer Subsidies For Polluters

(Lansing)  Sierra Club, Clean Water Action and Michigan Environmental Council
today greeted Michigan’s 2004 Fiscal Year by calling on the Legislature to
enact pollution permit fees to fully and fairly fund the Department of Environmental
Quality 2004 budget.   “On this first day of the new Fiscal Year, we are
calling on Michigan House and Senate members to ring out taxpayer subsidies
for polluters, and ring in pollution permit fees to fully fund protection
of the health and well-being of Michigan’s families and communities,” said
Anne Woiwode, Sierra Club’s Michigan Director at a press conference the organizations
held in Lansing today.  

Swift passage of permit fee bills by the Legislature is critical to pay for
FY2004 DEQ programs to regulate surface water discharges (National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System or NPDES program), groundwater discharges and
stormwater discharges.   However, the three groups are calling for critical
amendments to the NPDES permit fee bill, SB 252, to fix potentially fatal
flaws.  The environmental groups are calling for amendments to SB 252 which
remove an arbitrary timeline for permit issuance which undermines DEQ’s current
efficient handling procedures, a phase in of increased fees to fully fund
the NPDES program in 3 years, requirements for annual inspections of major
permitted facilities, and funding for pollution prevention programs to move
industry toward elimination of toxic discharges into Michigan’s waterways.


Cyndi Roper, Clean Water Action’s State Director, emphasized the overwhelming
public support throughout Michigan for making water polluters pay for state
water pollution programs.  Standing next to stacks of signatures from tens
of thousands of Michigan citizens supporting permit fees, Roper introduced
a Clean Water Action Scorecard Vote Alert that includes a ballot asking legislators
to commit today to how they will vote on the proposed amendments.  “The people
of Michigan have spoken loud and clear on their desire to see pollution permit
fee legislation enacted,” Roper said.  “Michigan Legislators must listen
to their neighbors and friends who are demanding that water polluters pay
the full cost of enforcement, monitoring, compliance and pollution prevention.”

James Clift, Policy Director for Michigan Environmental Council explained
that the current version of SB 252 eliminates requirements for reporting
stored and discharged toxic materials to the DEQ, posing a serious threat
to communities.  “Fire fighters and other first responders will face serious
risks from unknown toxic materials stored at locations where they are fighting
fires, floods or other emergencies,” Clift said. “The proposed elimination
of the mandatory reporting of materials from Michigan’s Critical Materials
Register is a poison pill that threatens to block this essential legislation.” 

A large blank vote chart on SB 252 prepared by Clean Water Action was displayed
to show how votes by the Members of House will be tracked when the legislation
comes to the House floor.

#  #  #  #  #  # 


-- 
David Holtz
Communications & Development Director
Michigan Environmental Council
119 Pere Marquette Drive, Suite 2A
Lansing, MI  48912
holtzmec@voyager.net
517-487-9539 ext.12 
517-487-9541 fax

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-- Horace Mann