A Bi-Weekly Publication  Friday June 3, 2005       In This Issue: ·         MDEQ AMICUS BRIEF: GOOD NEWS FOR WETLANDS ·         GREEN BUILDINGS FORUM PLANNED FOR JUNE 16 ·         WETLAND WORKSHOPS CONTINUE [Hello All--Sorry this is a few days late...my first official day at Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council was Monday... THE NEXT ISSUE WILL BE BACK ON SCHEDULE – FRIDAY, JUNE 17! Grenetta]  MDEQ AMICUS BRIEF: GOOD NEWS FOR WETLANDS Recently, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality filed an amicus brief with the Court of Appeals regarding the Nestle Waters Inc.-owned Ice Mountain case.  Among other things, the brief supports arguments that Michigan environmental and conservation groups have been making for years - groundwater withdrawals should regulated.  Importantly, it is very good news for wetlands. In 2001, the DEQ determined that water withdrawals associated with the Ice Mountain plant did not require a permit under Michigan's Inland Lakes and Streams Act (ILSA).  Although the plain language states that permits are required to "create, enlarge, or diminish an inland lake or stream," the longstanding interpretation was limited only to those activities that changed the water's surface area or storage capacity.  In the amicus brief, the state Attorney General's Office noted that such a narrow interpretation is not consistent with the plain language of the statute, and water withdrawals that impact a lake or stream should require a permit. Because these same withdrawals can also impact wetlands, this reversal by the state is good news. Applying the plain language of ILSA - effective immediately – changes the tone of water policy debates in Michigan. The brief makes it clear that the policy of the state is to protect water resources and apply ILSA to water withdrawals.  This, in turn, has the potential to protect wetlands from harmful future withdrawals – an important victory for wetlands throughout the state.   GREEN BUILDINGS FORUM   Green Buildings Forum Thursday, June 16, 2005                        6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.   Admission free and open to the public Complimentary refreshments!   A Public Forum For The Purpose Of Exploring:   ·         Green Homes and Commercial Buildings in a world of rapidly increasing energy costs.   ·         LEED “certified” buildings—costs versus savings ????   ·         Building a LEED Certified Visitor Center at the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge—Wayne County and the US Fish & Wildlife Service’s challenging project.   6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Registration & Refreshments at the University of Michigan—Dearborn, Environmental Interpretive Center (EIC) Orientation to the environmental features of the building by Orin Gelderloos and staff.   7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.  Auditorium.  Presentation by staff of Green Building Council, Detroit Regional Chapter, led by Vice Chairman Paul Goldsmith, Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) -- Building for the 21st Century.   8:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Questions/Answers and Comments. Moderator: John Hartig Manager, Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge      RSVP by June 15, 2005 to Don A. Griffin, Advisor to the FDR Board Phone 313 274-8930 or e-mail DonAGriffin@wowway.com   Planned and Presented by: ·         Friends of the Detroit River ·         University of Michigan—Dearborn ·         U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service ·         Green Building Council—Detroit Regional Chapter ·           Sponsored by: National City Mortgage Co., A division of National City Bank of Indiana Wayne County Parks and Recreation Department   Wetland Workshops Continue Experts from Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council (TOMWC) and East Michigan Environmental Action Council (EMEAC) are presenting a series of statewide workshops in June sponsored by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Each workshop is designed to examine wetland types, wetland functions and values, benefits of local wetland protection, wetlands ordinances, and wetland inventory maps. Additional information will include land use tools for wetlands protection and information on how to get started in your community. Plan to attend one of these half day workshops, 1-5pm, located throughout Michigan. Participants will learn about the many planning and zoning options available to local governments including stand-alone ordinances for wetlands; stormwater and floodplain management; linking local, state, and federal permit approvals; and conservation planning. Visit the Watershed Council website for more info.       Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council 426 Bay Street , Petoskey, Michigan 49770 Phone: (231) 347-1181 x 118 Fax: (231) 347-5928 Email: grenetta@watershedcouncil.org  Web: http://www.michiganwetlands.org/