For Immediate Release

Contacts:
Cyndi Roper, Clean Water Action (517) 490-1394
Anne Woiwode, Sierra Club, Mackinac Chapter (517) 484-2372
Kate Madigan, PIRGIM (517) 485-5029

Protection of the Great Lakes Should be a Bipartisan Effort
Groups urge Legislative Republican Leaders to Stop Undermining Program to Protect the Lakes

Lansing, Feb. 18,‚04 ˆ Michigan's public health and the Great Lakes are threatened by a bill passed by the Legislature last week. SB 252 opens the door for increased pollution and weakened enforcement of the Clean Water Act and state environmental laws. That is the message of a letter from community and environmental groups from across the state to State Senator Ken Sikkema and Speaker Rick Johnson. Groups ranging from religious organizations such as Plymouth United Church of Christ of Grand Rapids to union chapters like UAW Region 1A Toxic Waste Squad, Local 898 signed the open letter that was delivered to the leaders today.

"We knew we could gather broad support from all over Michigan once folks knew the health of the Great Lakes is at stake," said Tom Leonard of the West Michigan Environmental Action Council. "Political agendas pale in comparison to our need for clean water for drinking, swimming and fishing."

Had SB 252 been passed as lawmakers promised, it would have lifted a burden from state taxpayers and helped plug the hole in our state budget. The bill would have charged polluters user fees and used that money to help regulate waste flow into the Great Lakes. But, Senator Sikkema and other legislative leaders added a rider that poisoned the bill. The rider would limit the ability of the MDEQ to do its job overseeing polluters.

"To protect our waterways, the Governor has no choice but to veto this bill," said Cyndi Roper of Clean Water Action.
Unfortunately, this will leave Michigan as the only state in the Great Lakes where permits to discharge pollutants into our waters is free. Without the funding, facilities will operate without oversight, placing our lakes, beaches and drinking water at risk. This could mean a costly federal takeover of the program that would be bad for businesses and the environment.

"Clean water is the bottom line here," said Lana Pollack of Michigan Environmental Council. "We‚d like Senator Sikkema to fulfill his promise to pass this law with no strings. The state budget needs the money it would bring and businesses need the more streamlined government operations."

Legislative leaders want to place limitations on Governor Granholm and her administration that would make it more difficult to protect our water. The limitations would aid special interests who don‚t want the department to update water standards or regulate new sources of pollution that are fouling the waters of our state.

"This is a train wreck waiting to happen," said James Clift of the Michigan Environmental Council (MEC). "Lawmakers tell us they want clean water and to lessen government red tape. Then they add unnecessary requirements designed to aid polluting facilities. Something‚s desperately wrong."

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February 13, 2004

Senate Majority Leader
Senator Ken Sikkema
S-106 Capitol
Lansing, Michigan
Re: SB 252 ˆ Water Discharge Permits Fees

Dear Senator Sikkema:

Michigan's lakes, rivers and streams and the Great Lakes that surround us are our greatest natural treasure. This resource provides millions in state revenue through tourism and fishing and is the drinking water source for millions in the Great Lakes region. Unfortunately, SB 252 as passed threatens to undermine Michigan's ability to protect waterways from pollution.

The undersigned groups urge you reconsider your decision that has blocked passage of the bill designed to eliminate free permits to pollute. Your caucus‚ insistence to include a provision regarding rulemaking authority is an unnecessary and irresponsible move that will weaken the state's ability to protect the public from health threats and the Great Lakes from pollution.

The legislature has more than ample avenues to exercise its oversight responsibility and discharge its duties under the Michigan Constitution (Art IV, Sec 52) to protect Michigan‚s natural resources. These include the ability to override a rule by enacting new legislation or acting through the budget process to adequately fund protection programs.

Michigan families expect you to fulfill your promise, which is included in Public Act 171 of 2003, to enact water discharge fees of at least $3 million without strings attached. Given the state‚s precarious budget situation and the importance of protecting water resources to Michigan‚s future, resolving this issue should be a high priority for all who care about the Great Lakes.

Sincerely,

Lana Pollack, President
Michigan Environmental Council
Elizabeth Harris, Executive Director
East Michigan Environmental Action Council
Wil Cwikiel, Program Director
Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council
Joyce Petrakovitz, Director
Cadillac Area Citizens for Clean Air (CACCA)
Thomas Leonard, Executive Director
West Michigan Environmental Action Council
Ken Dahlberg, Chair
Michigan Land Trustees of America
Terry Miller, Chairman
Lone Tree Council
Lorna D. McEwen, President
Oakland Land Conservancy
Joe Briggs, President
Indian Lake Association
Phyllis Higman and Christopher Graham
Michigan Natural Areas Council
Rich Robinson, Executive Director
Michigan Campaign Finance Network
Jeff Irwin, Executive Director
Michigan League of Conservation Voters
Cyndi Roper, State Director
Clean Water Action
Anne Woiwode, State Director
Mackinac Chapter Sierra Club
Brian Imus
Public Interest Research Group in Michigan (PIRGIM)
Lisa Wozniak
League of Conservation Voters Education Fund
Doug Van Doren, Pastor
Plymouth United Church of Christ of Grand Rapids
Tanya Cabala, Michigan Director
Lake Michigan Federation
Patrick Kochanny, President
Pine River Area Chapter of Trout Unlimited
Dayle Harrison, President
Kalamazoo River Protection Association
Wayne J. Groesbeck, President
Michigan Anglers Association
Rod Hill, Chair
Michigan Citizens Against Toxic Substances
Auddie (Glen) Shelby Jr, Chairman
UAW Region 1A Toxic Waste Squad, Local 898
Rev. Nurya Love Parish, Pastoral Care Minister
Fountain Street Church (Grand Rapids)
Dwayne Watkins, Lead Organizer
Michigan Organizing Project -- Grand Rapids Chapter
Jeff Smith, Director
Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy
E. John Trimberger, President
Michigan Div. and the Dwight Lydell Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America
Richa
Radiant Justice Implementation Group (Grand Rapids)
Rick Gamber, Executive Director
Michigan Consumer Federation
James N. Bull, Ph.D., President
Detroit Audubon Society
Amy Carpenter Leugs
Plymouth United Church of Christ Peace and Justice Task Force
Norman Bendroth
St. John's United Church of Christ
Rob Cedar, Director
Hamtramck Environmental Action Team
Guy Bazzani
Bazzani Associates
Barbara Gilmore Weber, President
Friends of the Crystal River
Virginia Pierce
Michigan Resource Stewards
Karen Bednarek
Muskegon Save Our Shoreline
Alison and David Swan
Concerned Citizens for Saugatuck Dunes State Park
Mike Walker, Co-Chair
UAW-GM Local 730 Conservation Committee
Tom Schwallie
People's Alliance for Justice and Change
Canice Johnson, RSM, Chair
Earth Resources Group
Sisters of Mercy, Regional Community of Detroit


17 February, 2004

Dear Senator Sikkema,

As we contacted organizations for the letter regarding the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, the undersigned individuals also expressed interest in signing on to this letter. Thank you for your response on this matter.
Karla Kauffman, West Michigan Environmental Action Council
Kym Spring, Clean Water Fund

Geraldine Baldassarre, Grand Rapids
Sandra Bier, Middleville
Edward R. Bolt, Grand Rapids
Clinton and Yolanda Boyd, Ada
David Bulkowski, Grand Rapids
Sarah Campbell, Grand Rapids
William Edwards, Grand Rapids
Mark Gustafson, Grand Rapids
Rev. Gary Haller, Grand Rapids
Sharon and Bill Handy, Kentwood
Sister M. Lucille Janowiak, Grand Rapids
Carol Johnson, Grand Rapids
Mark LaCroix, Kentwood
Allene J. Long, Big Rapids
Rev. Linda K. Looney, Grandville
Peter Moll, Grand Rapids
Marybeth Pritschet, Hopkins
Bryan & Jennifer Rewa, Wyoming
Elise Roe, Ada Township
Karel Rogers, Allendale
Dean Salisbury, Rockford
David Veenstra, Grand Rapids
Mike Walker, Jenison
John F. Will, Wyoming
Sondra L. Loucks Wilson, Grand Rapids