Poof! Two Agencies Become One

Governor Granholm used her executive powers yesterday to recombine the Departments of Natural Resources and Environmental Quality.

Most of the environmental community believes that the newly formed Department of Natural Resources and Environment, which will house both human and environmental health programs under one roof, has the potential to be a cutting-edge environmental protection agency and serve as a model for other states and countries.

But only if the new agency is adequately funded.

The Governor's action must NOT be used as a fix for our state's budgetary problems. Funding for Michigan's natural resources has plummeted over the past 12 years. We are now 47th in the nation in investment in the beautiful places we tout in our Pure Michigan ads.

We'll be keeping a close eye on this recombo, making sure that the Department of Natural Resources and Environment has the resources it needs to fulfill its broad and critically important mandate. Stay tuned.