COVER PHOTO: NEIL WEAVER 2013 Annual Report 602 W. Ionia Street • Lansing, Michigan 48933 • (517) 487-9539 • www.environmentalcouncil.org 3 100% post-consumer recycled paper MICHIGAN ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL FROM THE PRESIDENT Offense or defense, Defense Whether it’s offense or defense, MEC has been MEC is always in the game Anti-biodiversity. Legislation passed by the State Senate the eyes, the ears and the voice of the environmental proposed to bar the Department of Natural Resources community at our State Capitol for more than three at the State Capitol from designating lands to protect biodiversity. MEC decades. We continue that mission, day in and day out, was the leading group to recognize the gravity of this with a respected team of policy experts who monitor, rotecting poisons thousands of children annually and is legislation and engaged our members and the public to educate and advocate for strong environmental policies. PMichigan’s entirely preventable. testify and speak out against it. An impressive array of Thank you for helping us do what we do best. natural resources in Fracking. For years, MEC and our allies have pushed experts, scientists, activists and regular folks rallied to Sincerely, the legislative arena the Department of Environmental Quality to establish help stall the bill before it reached a vote in the House. sometimes feels stronger regulations to protect Michigan’s waters from the Dunes Permits. MEC predicted an assault on our iconic like a rugby scrum. risks associated with a more intensive wave of natural gas dunes after a 2012 law weakened protections for them. Chris Kolb, President One minute you’re “fracking.” We succeeded in convincing state regulators to The first test of the weaker law surfaced in 2013 with a Chris Kolb moving forward. Then you’re moving backwards, and then modernize some rules. And we continue to advocate for proposed quarter-mile road bisecting a you’re getting spun sideways. Upside down is the worst! closing loopholes and gaps in the law that leave Michigan’s public dunes preserve in West Michigan. That’s why the MEC staff has to be on its toes, water and public health at unnecessary risk. Knowing that this test would set the bar ready to transition quickly when they see the game is Detroit’s Future. MEC’s Sandra Turner-Handy worked for future proposals, we pulled out all the changing. We’re here at the Capitol every day, overseeing diligently to make sure the voices of all Detroiters were stops to identify the legal and technical legislative and administrative actions, ready at a moment’s heard as the Detroit Future City (DFC) planning process shortcomings of the proposed road. We notice to jump into the fray to protect our state’s people moved toward a blueprint for a new Detroit. MEC armed allies with our detailed analysis and and environment. educated Detroiters about the Kresge Foundation–funded submitted verbal and written comments to In 2013 we played a lot of both offense and defense. initiative’s ambitious vision and showed them how to state regulators. The proposal was denied. impact the DFC recommendations. Additionally, MEC was Yard Waste. Like a mole that keeps Offense involved in creating the Detroit Environmental Agenda—a popping its head up, legislation allowing MEC participated in Governor Rick Clean Energy. framework for city leaders to build a more sustainable and yard clippings and other compostable Snyder’s fact-finding meetings regarding Michigan’s healthy Detroit. material back into our landfills keeps energy future. James Clift made a formal presentation Public Land. Faced with legislative momentum to ban coming back, session after session after at one of the seven hearings and MEC helped mem- state acquisition of parkland or other property, MEC led session. And, MEC keeps leading the ber groups and others prepare testimony. The result a coalition that deflected the assault. Instead, legislators charge against it. We killed it again in was reports from the State Energy Office and the Michi- adopted a temporary ban while a state land strategy was 2013, and we will do it again in 2014 gan Public Service Commission confirming the afford- formulated—and MEC was right in the thick of that if necessary. ability and benefits of both energy efficiency and renew- land strategy process by earning an appointment to the Trust Fund. With limited state money able energy. The reports concluded that Michigan Department of Natural Resources Public Land Advisory to meet myriad needs and no appetite to could increase its use of renewable electricity to 30% Committee. raise revenue, the Michigan Legislature by 2035. Governors Summit. MEC was the only state-level continued to look at the fund balance Lead Poisoning Prevention. After years of education environmental organization to sponsor the Great Lakes in the Natural Resources Trust Fund and advocacy at the Capitol, MEC, working through the Governors Summit held on Mackinac Island in June. as its potential ATM machine. MEC, Michigan Alliance for Lead Safe Housing, secured $1.25 This was the first time in 8 years that the Governors and our member groups, Michigan United million in state funding for lead poisoning prevention Canadian Premiers had gathered to discuss Great Lakes Conservation Clubs, and our conservancy programs. This was the first new appropriation in years for issues—providing a foundation for future cooperation and allies fought as a united front to defeat a program that is critical in eliminating a scourge that Great Lakes protection. each attempt to raid the fund. PHOTO: KERRIN O’BRIEN 2 3 FROM THE PRESIDENT Offense or defense, Defense Whether it’s offense or defense, MEC has been MEC is always in the game Anti-biodiversity. Legislation passed by the State Senate the eyes, the ears and the voice of the environmental proposed to bar the Department of Natural Resources community at our State Capitol for more than three at the State Capitol from designating lands to protect biodiversity. MEC decades. We continue that mission, day in and day out, was the leading group to recognize the gravity of this with a respected team of policy experts who monitor, rotecting poisons thousands of children annually and is legislation and engaged our members and the public to educate and advocate for strong environmental policies. PMichigan’s entirely preventable. testify and speak out against it. An impressive array of Thank you for helping us do what we do best. natural resources in Fracking. For years, MEC and our allies have pushed experts, scientists, activists and regular folks rallied to Sincerely, the legislative arena the Department of Environmental Quality to establish help stall the bill before it reached a vote in the House. sometimes feels stronger regulations to protect Michigan’s waters from the Dunes Permits. MEC predicted an assault on our iconic like a rugby scrum. risks associated with a more intensive wave of natural gas dunes after a 2012 law weakened protections for them. Chris Kolb, President One minute you’re “fracking.” We succeeded in convincing state regulators to The first test of the weaker law surfaced in 2013 with a Chris Kolb moving forward. Then you’re moving backwards, and then modernize some rules. And we continue to advocate for proposed quarter-mile road bisecting a you’re getting spun sideways. Upside down is the worst! closing loopholes and gaps in the law that leave Michigan’s public dunes preserve in West Michigan. That’s why the MEC staff has to be on its toes, water and public health at unnecessary risk. Knowing that this test would set the bar ready to transition quickly when they see the game is Detroit’s Future. MEC’s Sandra Turner-Handy worked for future proposals, we pulled out all the changing. We’re here at the Capitol every day, overseeing diligently to make sure the voices of all Detroiters were stops to identify the legal and technical legislative and administrative actions, ready at a moment’s heard as the Detroit Future City (DFC) planning process shortcomings of the proposed road. We notice to jump into the fray to protect our state’s people moved toward a blueprint for a new Detroit. MEC armed allies with our detailed analysis and and environment. educated Detroiters about the Kresge Foundation–funded submitted verbal and written comments to In 2013 we played a lot of both offense and defense. initiative’s ambitious vision and showed them how to state regulators. The proposal was denied. impact the DFC recommendations. Additionally, MEC was Yard Waste. Like a mole that keeps Offense involved in creating the Detroit Environmental Agenda—a popping its head up, legislation allowing MEC participated in Governor Rick Clean Energy. framework for city leaders to build a more sustainable and yard clippings and other compostable Snyder’s fact-finding meetings regarding Michigan’s healthy Detroit. material back into our landfills keeps energy future. James Clift made a formal presentation Public Land. Faced with legislative momentum to ban coming back, session after session after at one of the seven hearings and MEC helped mem- state acquisition of parkland or other property, MEC led session. And, MEC keeps leading the ber groups and others prepare testimony. The result a coalition that deflected the assault. Instead, legislators charge against it. We killed it again in was reports from the State Energy Office and the Michi- adopted a temporary ban while a state land strategy was 2013, and we will do it again in 2014 gan Public Service Commission confirming the afford- formulated—and MEC was right in the thick of that if necessary. ability and benefits of both energy efficiency and renew- land strategy process by earning an appointment to the Trust Fund.