A Bi-Weekly Publication Friday March 26, 2004

				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. STUPAK REQUESTS HEARING ON BEACH DOOMING BILL Michigan Congressman Bart Stupak, traditionally a friend to Michigan's environment, has unfortunately requested a hearing on a bill he has written that would force the US Army Corps of Engineers to relax wetland regulatory standards and lead to increased coastal wetland destruction. The bill (HR 2687) would require the Corps to conduct a rulemaking proceeding for the issuance of a general permit in Michigan to conform with the recent "beach maintenance" amendments to the State's Wetland Protection Act. The bill would force the Corps to go through the same process they are currently going through with the proposed modifications to the Michigan Regional Permit, except that it would apply to all shoreline property owners, not just hotel and motel owners. The potential impacts to Great Lakes coastal wetlands from this bill would be extreme, and would certainly surpass the "minimal adverse environmental impact" criteria required of activities regulated under a general permit. Congressman John Duncan, the sole co-sponsor of the bill, is also the subcommittee chairman before whom the bill sits. We urge Michigan's wetland advocates to oppose this legislation by contacting your representative, as well as Reps. Duncan and Stupak. Read the MWAC Bill Analysis BUSH POLICY GUIDANCE PUTTING MICHIGAN WETLANDS AT RISK Environmental groups across the nation called on the Bush Administration this week to withdraw a policy guidance that undermines the Clean Water Act and weakens protections for many of the nation's wetlands and other waters. The policy guidance was issued January 2003 to Corps of Engineers field staff instructing them not to enforce Clean Water Act protections for certain wetlands, streams, and other waters considered "isolated" without receiving permission from headquarters. State wetland officials have estimated that up to 1 million acres of Michigan wetlands could be considered "isolated" according to the policy guidance. While Michigan's Wetland Protection Act would likely protect about 73% of these wetlands, that still puts 271,534 acres at risk. The Clean Water Authority Restoration Act of 2003 (H.R.962 and S.473) would clarify the definition of "waters of the United States" in the Clean Water Act to include the "isolated" waters that are losing protection under the policy guidance. Please ask President Bush, Senators Levin and Stabenow, and your representative to: work for the withdrawal of the harmful policy guidance, fully enforce the Clean Water Act, and support passage of the Clean Water Authority Restoration Act. View a National Wildlife Federation Michigan Fact Sheet MICHIGAN WETLANDS: CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF PROTECTION To honor the 25^th anniversary of the Wetland Protection Act, the Michigan Departments of Environmental Quality and Natural Resources, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Northwestern Michigan College, Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, and a number of other organizations are planning a special conference. The event will include a plenary session on Great Lakes coastal wetlands; presentations by many of the state’s leading experts in wetland science and management; concurrent sessions on wetland restoration, local government options for wetland management, natural history, wetland education, wetland monitoring and assessment, and wetland regulatory protection programs; GIS technology demonstrations; field trips; vendor and non-profit exhibits; and a number of social and networking opportunities. A full brochure, vendor application, contributor form and online registration are available on the Web (follow the link and click on "workshops"). Registration Information: Environmental Assistance Center, 800‑662‑9278, or E‑mail. If you would like to exhibit at this conference, contact Mary Goodhall, Environmental Science and Services Division, 517-241-7968.			Stand Up for Michigan's Water Conference Saturday, April 17th 2004 9 am - 5 pm Trenton, Michigan This conference is for individuals and groups who care about Michigan's waters--whether its restoring rivers like the Detroit, protecting lakes like Erie, shielding drinking water sources like Lake St. Clair from pollution, or preserving any of Michigan's thousands of inland lakes and rivers. The conference will expose how the Bush Administration is failing to protect Michigan's waters. Topics to be covered include: Toxic Discharges into Michigan's Waters; Keeping Beaches Open and Protecting Public Health; Failing to Fund Michigan's Waters; and, Important Actions Every Citizen Can Take. For more information or to register contact: Bethany Renfer (517)203-0754 Sponsored by: Clean Water Action, Clean Water Fund, ACCESS, East Michigan Environmental Action Council, Ecology Center, Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, Michigan Environmental Council, Michigan Land Use Institute, PIRGIM
	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