A Bi-Weekly Publication Friday July 2, 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. Some of the files linked from this e-newsletter are in Adobe PDF format. For a free copy of software to read these files click here. If you would like to be added to or unsubscribed from this list or if you would prefer to receive a text-based version of the e-newsletter, please email Chris Grubb. OPPOSE BILL TO EXCUSE ROAD COMMISSIONS FROM MITIGATION It is well established in state and federal law that mitigation conditions may be imposed on any permit applicant impacting wetlands. And it is a no-brainer that government entities such as county road commissions must follow the letter of the law along with other permit applicants in the state. Unfortunately, House Bill 5274 would prevent the DEQ from imposing mitigation conditions on road work in wetlands within the right-of-way of existing roads. The state of Michigan has lost over 50% of its wetlands. Lawmakers should be doing everything in their power to preserve and protect existing wetlands, and to ensure that unavoidable wetland impacts are mitigated. As with most everything else coming out of the House on wetlands, this legislative effort is misguided. In fact (and also ironic), the U.S. Department of Transportation lists the Memorandum of Understanding (between DEQ, MDOT, County Roads Association and Michigan Municipal League) that guides road work in wetlands as a "Success in Streamlining" story on its website. This bill is yet another in a recent string of unnecessary bills designed to weaken Michigan's wetland laws. Each one jeopardizes state assumption of the Clean Water Act (Section 404) wetland permitting program. Read a letter to Land Use and Environment Cmte Re: HB5274 CORPS' DETROIT DISTRICT CHANGING OF THE GUARD Next Friday, July 9^th the Detroit District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will say goodbye to its Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Magness. LTC Magness has served the Detroit District well, and has been unswayed by politics in protecting Michigan's remaining wetlands. He created an atmosphere in which District staff felt secure in using sound science to guide permitting decisions. While we are still hoping for modifications to the recently issued Regional Permit, it has been clear during his tenure that LTC Magness understands the Corps' important responsibilities with respect to implementing the Clean Water Act. A clear example of this can be found in a Detroit Free Press Letter to the Editor published this Monday. Michigan's wetland advocates may help send off LTC Magness and welcome his successor, LTC Donald Lauzon, at the July 9^th Change of Command Ceremony in Detroit. An awards ceremony for the outgoing commander, open house, and breakfast reception will take place at 10:00 am, with the change of command ceremony starting promptly at 11:00 am. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to Theresa ASAP by calling (312) 226-6762.			Shoreline Dooming There is currently pressure on certain members of the House from S.O.S. and other members to move House Bill 5945. The bill would allow commercial shoreline property owners in Grand Traverse Bay and Saginaw Bay to destroy wetland vegetation along the entire width of their property. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Great Lakes and Tourism. If and when the bill is heard in committee, Michigan's wetland advocates need to once again show up in force and make the message clear: coastal wetland destruction is a grave mistake. The Senate has already begun to see the light, and the members of the House supporting this bill are wasting their time and the taxpayers' money.
	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