Down to the Wire in the Lame Duck: Lansing Attacks Threaten our Waters and Values


Photo credit: Charles Brackett

Michigan’s waters and environmental values are under attack.

In the next two weeks, Michigan citizens have an opportunity to defend them from a lame duck Legislature that is defying the clear mandate of the State Constitution and the preferences of strong majorities of Michigan voters.

Michiganders are not clamoring to leave 500,000 acres of wetlands, over 3,000 lakes and over 20,000 miles of streams undefended. They are not calling for Michigan environmental standards to be weakened to minimum federal requirements. They are not asking the state to take away the authority of their local governments to enact tree ordinances or protect groundwater from failing septic systems. And Michiganders are not calling for continued operation for 10 more years of decaying petroleum pipelines in the Straits of Mackinac by and for the benefit of a Canadian company with a shoddy environmental track record. Yet all these things could become law before the end of 2018.

We have assembled the information on these and other looming policy choices here.

Please take a few minutes to learn about one or more of these issues and make your views known to the legislators who are charged with representing you.


 

3 comments on “Down to the Wire in the Lame Duck: Lansing Attacks Threaten our Waters and Values

  1. Andrea Overweg on

    I grew up in Michigan and family vacations were often to the beach or to Mackinaw and the UP. Nature has given Michigan both breathaking beauty and bountiful resources like fish, birds, timber, copper, iron, rich soil, etc. . It is without question that the Great Lakes are one of the largest sources of fresh water in the world. Michigan has been entrusted with a vast and rich ecosystem and vigilant stewardship is required not reckless pursuit of profit. A leak or spill will be catastrophic in human lives and environmental damage that will be permanent. I beseech the leadership of Michigan to do what is right by yielding to the voice of the people and protect our valuable natural resources! Stop the pipeline! It is not hyperbole to state that the viability of Future generations are dependent on your ability to protect our waters and natural resources!

    Reply
  2. catherine eng on

    the UN report states we have 12 years to combat catastrophic climate change.

    Clean water is a BASIC need for human survival. WHY are we decimating all of these natural resources. EVEN if you don’t believe the myriad of scientists saying HUMANS are effecting nature- why chance it? Why not be proactive.

    PLS remember that clean water is BASIC NECESSITY

    Reply

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