Governor's Plan Not Clear Cut
Who should oversee, protect and regulate Michigan's wetlands? In her state of the state address Governor Granholm proposed deep cuts across the board to just about every state department. One of the shifts the Governor recommended involves handing over authority of our wetlands. The Governor said "I will recommend returning enforcement of wetlands and protection to the federal government where more staff exists to effectively safeguard our natural resources. In a cost cutting measure, she proposed handing over enforcement and protection of Michigan's wetlands to the E.P.A. and other federal agencies.
Lets start with the facts how much would this save the state? The governor's office hasn't been able to give us a hard and fast number which has many people wondering if what would be saving is worth what we would be giving up.
I made some phone calls, and here's what opponents to the plan are saying.
According to the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council handing over control from the state to the feds could jeopardize two things; first the wetlands themselves, and second, control over development.
First, when it comes to the wetlands the state currently has guidelines rules and regulations in place to protect them. The federal standards in many situations are less stringent and somewhat vague. For example the same rules apply for Arizona as Michigan, with little consideration to surrounding ecosystem characteristics.
The second red flag that is raised for opponents deals with development. Right now any proposed development, from building a park to nearby hotel has to go through state permitting. In some ways that allows for local consideration, site visits from nearby DNR and DEQ officials, the permitting process from the state averages weeks, from the feds months which could delay or kill projects on a timeline.
