Water Wars Over Public Trust
In September 2009, Rep. Dan Scripps (Leland) who represents the district with the most Lake Michigan shoreline, introduced House Bill 5319, which would place all state waters in the public trust and empower the attorney general to take required legal action to protect it. It is not unlike what our attorney general is doing now to protect the Great Lakes from Asian carp.
Michigan's public trust doctrine, as originally adopted into the Michigan Environmental Protection Act (before its power was eroded by bad Supreme Court decisions), would provide for government stewardship responsibility to protect and maintain public natural resources for future generations. Given that the Great Lakes and our incredible waterways are what define this beautiful state, and that all Michigan residents depend on clean water supplies to lead healthy lives, it is essential that our ground water, as well as our lakes and rivers, is protected. Rep. Scripps’ proposed legislation will do just that. Unfortunately, the Detroit News got it all wrong in their December 3, 2009 editorial, while the Traverse City Record Eagle has provided a much more balanced look at the issue. Both the Grand Rapids Press and the Kalamazoo Gazette took an objective look at another serious water protection issue - the problem of chemical contamination of groundwater in communities throughout our state.
>Traverse City Record-Eagle_Preserve Water, Protect Rights.pdf
> NY Times_Clean Water- Still Elusive.pdf
> Detroit News_Proposed Michigan water bills renege.pdf
> TC Eagle_Advocating for 'Public trust'.pdf
> Grand Rapids Press_Water expert warns not to drink well water.pdf