Michigan LCV calls on lawmakers to halt legislative attack on our water

OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, Dec. 10, 2018

Contact: Katie Parrish, Communications Director, (239) 537-9507

 

Michigan LCV calls on lawmakers to halt legislative attack on our water

Massive last-minute push in Lame Duck will harm our water for generations to come

LANSING – The Michigan League of Conservation Voters (Michigan LCV) along with businesses and conservation leaders today called on state lawmakers to halt legislative attacks on  Michigan’s Great lakes, inland lakes, rivers, streams and drinking water ahead of Tuesday’s legislative session, in which several dangerous and irresponsible proposals are expected to be hastily considered and quickly adopted. The bills under consideration include:

• Senate Bill 1197, legislation that creates a new authority to oversee a proposed tunnel to replace Line 5 under the Straits of Mackinac, keeping the damaged pipeline in operation for another 7-10 years while the tunnel is built.
• Senate Bill 1211, legislation that would eliminate protections for wetlands, including inland lakes, rivers and streams.
• Senate Bill 1244, legislation that would weaken cleanup standards for toxic chemicals like PFAS.
• House Bill 4205, legislation that would prevent state agencies from adopting standards that are more stringent than current federal level standards.

“This week, lawmakers are poised to advance bills that keep oil pipelines in the Great Lakes, undo long-standing wetlands protections and weaken toxic chemical cleanup standards for PFAS chemicals,” said Lisa Wozniak, executive director of Michigan LCV. “We call on lawmakers to consider the long-term impacts of these dangerous proposals and reject this set of bills that will harm our water, our health, our economy and the future of the Great Lakes State.”

“At a time when our Great Lakes, inland lakes, rivers, streams and drinking water face monumental challenges, we need lawmakers to do more to ensure these vital assets to our economy and way of life are protected, not less,” said Bob Sutherland, owner of Cherry Republic. “As the owner of a business in Northern Michigan, my livelihood depends on Lake Michigan and our treasured Great Lakes and inland lakes that attract visitors from around the country. I urge lawmakers to reject legislation being jammed through in Lame Duck that would put our water, economy and Michigan way of life at risk.”

“These bills will have direct negative impacts on the fish and wildlife which sustain our hunting and fishing lifestyle and economy in Michigan,” said Drew YoungeDyke, senior communications coordinator for the National Wildlife Federation. “You can’t claim to be a pro-hunting and fishing legislator and simultaneously vote to gut the basic habitat and water protections for the fish and wildlife that sustain every hunter, angler, sporting goods store and fly shop in Michigan.”

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