LANSING – State Representative Richard E. Hammel (D-Mt. Morris Twp.) today criticized the State Supreme Court's decision to strike down provisions in the Michigan Environmental Protection Act (MEPA) allowing citizens to hold companies accountable when they violate water and environmental protection laws. The ruling Wednesday came on the same day that Hammel and his colleagues in the House officially introduced a water protection package that gives the public additional tools to protect Michigan's most precious natural resource.
"We all need to work together to protect the Great Lakes, which are vital to our economy and our way of life in Michigan," said Hammel. "It is highly disappointing that the court supports limiting public involvement in protecting our state's most important natural resource. Every Michigan citizen has a stake in the future of the Great Lakes, and every citizen should have equal standing in fighting to protect them."
In a 4-3 vote, the Supreme Court struck down provisions in the MEPA that allow citizens to enforce environmental laws. According to Clean Water Action, citizens have used the MEPA to produce such public interest victories as halting Shell Oil's plan to drill for oil and natural gas in the Pigeon River Country State Forest in the late 1970s and forcing developers to comply with environmental standards in building condominiums along Lake Michigan in Manistee in the late 1990s.
Hammel and his colleagues on Wednesday introduced the "Great Waters, Great Michigan" package, which protects Michigan water from being diverted and defends our natural resources from harm by bottling companies. The package also strengthens environmental protections, requires large-scale users to adopt tougher conservation practices and gives citizens the ability to hold companies accountable for violating water protection laws.
"This Supreme Court ruling shows how important it is for the Legislature to move forward with this water-protection plan," Hammel said. "We need to put this plan into action to save the Great Lakes for future generations."