Real Results For Michigan's Environment
1. Preserving Michigan’s Wilderness
In 2006 we were joined by 8,000 citizens in asking Gov. Granholm to protect our public lands from logging, mining and development. As a result, the state passed laws curbing sales of park land and committed to creating at least three new protected areas.
2. Controlling Water Withdrawals
In 2006, our research and advocacy led to the passage of the state’s first-ever laws regulating private water withdrawals and diversions, a strong first step toward putting an end to the profit-driven free-for-all on Michigan’s waterways.
3. Protecting Our Waters From Drilling
After exposing the threats that drilling operations would pose to our waters, in 2005 Environment Michigan staff and a coalition of organizations secured a permanent federal ban on future oil and gas drilling in the Great Lakes.
4. Preventing Mercury Pollution
Thanks to our advocacy, Gov. Granholm announced in 2006 that she would require coal-fired power plants to reduce their mercury emissions by 90 percent, a major step toward addressing mercury contamination in Michigan’s waterways and fish.
5. Stopping Sewage Dumping
In 2005, we won a major victory for clean water by convincing the EPA to withdraw its “sewage blending” policy. The plan would have allowed the government to cut corners when treating raw sewage before discharging it into Michigan waterways.
6. Fighting For A New Energy Future
During the 2006 election season, Environment Michigan signed 87 candidates for state office, some now in positions of power, on to our “New Energy Future” platform, which calls for 20 percent of our energy to come from clean, renewable sources by 2020.
7. Preserving The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Our coalition has stopped Congress from opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling every time it has been proposed, despite the influence of the Bush administration and ExxonMobil.
8. Making Polluters Pay
On Earth Day 2004, at the urging of our coalition, Gov. Granholm signed a law requiring companies that pollute Michigan waters to pay for a portion of the cost of the state’s clean water monitoring and enforcement programs.
9. Restoring The Great Lakes
In 2006, Congress doubled funding for fish and wildlife habitats in the Great Lakes. This is a major step toward the implementation of the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy, a plan for restoring the Great Lakes that Environment Michigan helped draft.
10. Fighting For Clean Air
In 2005, our coalition won a key committee vote to stop the industry-backed “Clear Skies” Initiative, a cleverly packaged attempt to weaken the Clean Air Act.