Yes -- as far away as Montana (according to a friend
who lives out there).
Does Nestle sell Michigan water in any other
state?
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Contact: David Holtz
July 25,
2007
313.300.4454
CORPORATE INTERESTS ERODING PUBLIC’S CONSTITUTIONAL
RIGHTS TO PROTECT GREAT
LAKES
MI
Supreme Court ruling threatens public control over water
resources
The Michigan Supreme Court’s 4-3 decision
today in Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation vs. Nestle Waters North
America, Inc puts Michigan at grave risk of losing its ability
to enforce environmental laws and protect our natural resources.
“Four justices have cast their
vote in favor of big business and against citizens, local governments and
communities,” David Holtz, Clean Water Action Michigan Director. “Coming on the
day new bills were introduced in the Michigan Legislature to protect Michigan’s waters, the Court’s ruling puts a giant
exclamation point and a new urgency on the need for the public to keep control
over Michigan’s waters. Michigan’s future is much more at risk today because of
the court’s attack on Michigan’s constitutionally protected natural
resources.”
Justices Taylor, Young, Corrigan and
Markman—the Court’s right-wing ideological activists —were in the majority in
striking down the Michigan Environmental Protection Act’s (MEPA) provisions
allowing citizens to sue to enforce environmental laws, or so-called
“standing”. Three dissenting opinions by Justices Weaver,
Kelley and Cavanaugh all concurred that the majority’s decision was at odds with
the Michigan Constitution, which places a duty on the Michigan Legislature to
protect natural resources.
Citizens have used MEPA
to produce such public interest victories as halting Shell Oil’s plan to
indiscriminately drill for oil and natural gas in the Pigeon River Country
State Forest in the late 1970s. Other MEPA-based
victories include blocking Mason
County from dredging damaging new
channels in a river in 1975, and forcing developers to comply with environmental
standards in building condominiums along Lake
Michigan in Manistee in the late 1990s.
Today’s ruling flowed from a 2001 lawsuit brought by Mecosta County
residents who challenged water mining operations by Nestle that were impacting
nearby streams, wetlands and a lake.
“When the Legislature in 1970 enacted MEPA
and authorized citizens to sue to protect Michigan environment under our laws, lawmakers
were fulfilling a constitutional duty,” said Holtz.
“The Michigan Supreme Court—in a brazen
power grab and feat of judicial activism—today said the interests of companies
like Nestle trump the people’s representatives and the state’s
Constitution.”
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