Michigan is NOT currently administering our
wetland program appropriately. Even if we try to maintain that status-quo, the
situation will likely deteriorate further, due to economic distress.
Our wetlands are wonderful and valuable
resources. However Michigan
government has not committed, nor can it afford to commit in the foreseeable
future, the appropriate resources or oversight for MDEQ to appropriately and
fairly administrate those programs. This problem dates back to well before the
current fiscal crisis. Director Chester’s own remarks confirm that MDEQ
simply cannot afford to allocate the appropriate resources to properly
administer wetlands. Having the most-perfect wetland statute is absolutely meaningless
if not properly administered.
Michigan and New Jersey
are the only two states that administer their own wetlands programs, with Michigan being the only Great Lakes
state to do so. All seven of the other Great Lakes
states are under USEPA/USACE jurisdiction. Federal regulations work well for all
other Great Lakes states and they should work equally well for Michigan. Our tax
dollars have already paid the Feds to do what Michigan now pays again to have MDEQ do. This
is an expense that Michigan
can no longer afford.
Michigan’s wetland statute does go beyond federal
law; however the major difference is regarding inland (“noncontiguous”)
wetlands. Rather than sustaining MDEQ’s ineffective administration of
wetland programs, Michigan
should allow USEPA and USACE to administer the contiguous wetlands and also pass
enabling legislation for local programs to administer noncontiguous wetlands that
the federal law does not address. Such legislation, if well-written, would be cost-effective
and responsive to local jurisdictional needs and conditions.
From:
owner-enviro-mich@great-lakes.net [mailto:owner-enviro-mich@great-lakes.net] On Behalf Of Dave Dempsey
Sent: Monday, March 16, 2009 7:54
AM
To: enviro-mich@great-lakes.net
Subject: E-M:/ Free Press: keep
wetlands protection in Michigan
hands
Michigan cannot abandon
its wetlands after three decades of fighting to protect them. The stakes are
too high, not just because of the vital services that wetlands provide, but
also because Michigan will be ceding any claim
to leadership in the Great Lakes.
http://www.freep.com/article/20090316/OPINION01/903160314/1069/OPINION/Keep+wetlands+protection+in+Michigan+hands
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