A Bi-Weekly Publication Friday March 12, 2003

				Dear Wetlands Advocate, We hope this e-newsletter continues to be a valuable resource for Michigan's wetland advocates. Please forward this on to those you think would be interested. If you would like to be added to or unsubscribed from this list, please email Chris Grubb. ACTION ALERT - DEADLINE FOR CORPS COMMENTS MARCH 20 It is imperative that Michigan's wetland advocates flood the Detroit district office with letters opposed to the US Army Corps of Engineers proposal to modify the Michigan Regional Permit to allow hotel and motel owners to clear vegetation from their shoreline. The Regional Permit is designed for activities determined to cause only minimal adverse environmental impact. Up to 6 acres of wetlands would be at risk in the East Bay of Grand Traverse Bay alone. This agency needs to be reminded that a policy change like this flies in the face of its stated goal of "no net loss" of wetlands. We urge you to submit comments to the Corps in opposition to this policy change. Please write to: John Konik, Chief, Permit Evaluation Branch A, Regulatory Office, Detroit District, Corps of Engineers, PO Box 1027, Detroit, Michigan 48231 and specifically reference file number 80-200-001-8. · Download a sample letter · Read the MWAC policy analysis · View the Army Corps Proposal (pdf file) GAO EVALUATES CORPS DISTRICT OFFICE PRACTICES IN DETERMINING JURISDICTION USFWS The GAO recently released a report recommending that the Corps survey its district office practices in making jurisdictional determinations to determine if significant differences exist, evaluate whether and how these differences need to be resolved, and require districts to document their practices and make this information publicly available. The Corps has recently stated in a letter to Tip of the Mitt that starting in April the Corps will provide quarterly reports on non-jurisdictional determinations to the EPA when those determinations are related to SWANCC. In the meantime, the National Wildlife Federation has been tracking the post SWANCC jurisdictional determination practices of several Corps district offices and finding some disturbing results. · Read the NWF Press Release COMPREHENSIVE WETLANDS CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT ACT – A COMPREHENSIVE ATTEMPT AT GREENWASHING If by "conservation and management" Rep. Richard Baker (R-LA) means "destroying wetlands," then the title of his bill is accurate. If not, then it is a massive attempt to greenwash the fact that his bill would redefine "waters of the United States" ala the Advanced Notice of Proposed Rule Making (or worse), place the Section 404 program entirely under the Corps' jurisdiction, and require federal compensation to landowners prevented from developing property containing protected wetlands. Baker is expected to introduce the bill this month – stay tuned.			Water Legacy Act Unveiled The Michigan Water Legacy Act was formally introduced this week as SB 1087 and HB 5634. The bills were introduced by Sen. Liz Brater and Rep. Chris Kolb, and have been respectively referred to the Senate Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Commitee, and the House Great Lakes and Tourism Committee. The text of both bills is available by clicking on the links above. Flying Blind in the Great Lakes The Environmental Integrity Project has released a report, "Flying Blind: Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment in the Great Lakes States," that finds many discrepancies in how the various Great Lakes monitor and distribute information to the public about water quality and fish consumption advisories.
	Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council 426 Bay Street , Petoskey, Michigan 49770 Phone: (231) 347-1181 x 118 Fax: (231) 347-5928 Email: chrisgrubb@watershedcouncil.org Web: http://www.michiganwetlands.org