the mackinac - sierra club · 2014-12-11 · ber) by the sierra club’s mackinac chapter, 300 n....

THE MACKINACTHE QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF MICHIGAN’S SIERRA CLUB iNOVEMBER-JANUARY 1998

Reach out & touch an elected official...................2

In Memorium....................................................2

ELECTIONS 1998:The Environment & the Governor’s Race.............3

Recapping the Engler environmental record........3

Excerpt from Geoffrey Fieger Policy Statement....4

Written interview with Fieger..........................5

Mackinac Chapter candidate endorsements........6

Michigan House vote record corrections...........10

Mackinac Chapter platform for 1998 & beyond...11

Mackinac Chapter Ex-Comm elections...............16

Michigan Forest Biodiversity update...................18

Voter Education goes into the home stretch.........19

Autumn Retreat “Thank-Yous”...........................21

Circuit Courts protect the people’s safety.............22

National News: Yosemite..................................23

Chapter/National 1999 Calendar Sales.................23

Group Meetings & Programs..............................24

Mackinac Chapter Outing News..........................26

State & local outings...................................27-31

Mackinac Chapter Ex-Comm election ballot..........32

ON NOVEMBER THIRD

Freeze-frame.PHOTO BY RALPH POWELL

2 THE MACKINAC QUARTERLY i NOVEMBER-JANUARY 1998

Walter Kuhlmann, an extraordinarily talented and dedicatedadvocate for national forests and wild creatures, died on Sep-tember 26 in his hometown of Madison, Wisconsin. As CarlZichella, Sierra Club’s Midwest Field Director, put it, Walterwas “a fierce negotiator, a dynamic advocate, and one of thebest damn environmental lawyers I have yet met.” Since themid 1980’s, Walter had donated close to $100,000 of pro bonolegal services on issues from national forest management toendangered species protection—helping to set critical prece-dents that changed, for the better, the way our resources aremanaged. In Michigan, the Sierra Club and other environmen-tal groups benefited both from his direct work to defend wil-derness qualities on Crooked Lake in the Sylvania Wilderness,and from his freely offered counsel, advice, and support. Hispassing leaves a huge hole in our hearts and our endeavors.We will miss him badly. i

B Y A N N E W O I W O D E

Program Director

IN MEMORIUM................................................................................

On November 3, a historic change in Michigan’s politi-cal landscape will be set into motion. Because of termlimits, more than 60% of the members ofthe House of Representatives electedthat day will be new to the hall of thecapitol. This new “class” of elected offi-cials will take their seats in the legisla-ture in January, and many of them willbe unfamiliar with the statewide envi-ronmental issue s that can be expectedto come before them in the following twoyears.

The Mackinac Chapter is joining withthe Michigan Environmental Council andthe Michigan Ecumenical Consultation on Christianityand Ecology (MECCE) to “reach out and touch” thesenewly elected legislators prior to their trek to Lansing

as your representatives. You are invited to participatein setting up meetings with your new legislators (and

in some cases reelectedones) to talk about what itis that motivates you andothers to work to protectthe air, the water and theearth on which we depend.See the article regarding theSierra Club’s Platform to getan idea of the issues wehope to expose new legisla-tors to!

If you would like tojoin in contact the Mackinac Chapter office for details.M any Group Chairs and Conservation Chairs will behelping to set up these visits as well. i

REACH OUT AND TOUCH AN ELECTED OFFICIALB Y A N N E W O I W O D E

Program Director

................................................................................

Because of term limits,more than 60% of themembers of theHouse of Representativeselected on November 3will be new to thehall of the capitol.

T H E M A C K I N A C Q U A R T E R L YThe Mackinac (USPS 396610) (ISBN 0744-5288) ispublished quarterly (February, May, August, Novem-ber) by the Sierra Club’s Mackinac Chapter, 300 N.Washington Square, Suite 411, Lansing, MI 48933.Periodical postage is paid at Lansing, MI.

Postmaster: Send address changes to The Mackinac,Sierra Club, 300 N. Washington Square, Suite 411,Lansing, MI-48933.

Annual dues for the Sierra Club are $35 of which $1is for a subscription to The Mackinac. Non-membersubscriptions are available for $10 per year from theMackinac Chapter office.

The Mackinac reaches more than 15,000 membersand friends of the Sierra Club in Michigan. Bothdisplay and classified advertising is accepted. For acurrent ad rate card, write or call: Gary Semer,Business Manager, 449 Pacific, Plymouth, MI-48170;(734) 453-4443.

We reserve the right to refuse advertising which wefeel conflicts with the goals and purposes of the Club.

Bylined articles represent the research and opin-ions of the author and not necessarily those of theSierra Club or the Mackinac Chapter.

Mackinac Chapter Office:

Davina PalloneAnne M. WoiwodeAlison HortonGary SemerBob VolzGary SemerFred TownsendHelen LeBlancRon SmithLydia Fischer

Mackinac Editor:Contributing Editors:

Business Manager:Calendar Editor:Editorial Board:

517-484-2372517-484-3108mackinac.chapter@sierraclub.orgwww.sierraclub.org/chapters/mi

Phone:Fax:

Email:Internet:

THE MACKINAC QUARTERLY i NOVEMBER-JANUARY 1998 3

B Y G W E N N Y U S T E NPolitical Committee

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THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE GOVERNOR’S RACE

A most exciting and unusual campaign is going on in ourstate in the race for governor. The environment is one ofthe main themes of the challenger, Geoffrey Fieger.Making the environment a major theme and commitmentof candidates is a top goal of our political program. Andhere we are with a person who has stepped forward and

is doing just that. There is moretalk and challenges about the envi-ronment in this race than any ofour activists can recall. Will won-ders never cease!

Where does Fieger stand on theenvironment, and what is his background? With eightyears of Governor John Engler you know his record. Al-most every issue of our newsletter has provided details.But what about this new person in the political arena?Environmental leaders from our chapter and from manyother organizations have met with Fieger and asked

questions. He has recently pro-vided us an expanded environ-mental position statement. Fromthe point of view of our major en-vironmental goals for Michiganand our future, there is not a single item we would dis-pute. We asked and received answers to more specificquestions which we are providing below.

A voter makes a decision based on many issues andassessments. Making the effort to see a candidate in per-son is invaluable. If that is not possible, talk to friendswho have. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are spenttrying to convince voters that one candidate or another isterrible. Some political pundits believe much of themoney is directed at keeping voters at home. Why vote?One of our goals is to urge our members to become edu-cated about the environmental positions of candidatesbefore voting, and to get out to VOTE.

You will find our written interview with GeoffreyFieger and excerpts of his Policy Statement on Protect-ing the Environment in this issue of the Mackinac. i

RECAPPING THE ENGLER ENVIRONMENTAL RECORD

Regular readers of The Mackinacare familiar with the EnglerAdministration’s dogged efforts tolay waste to environmental protec-tion in Michigan. This is a pre-election check list of some of theissues previously discussed inthese pages that we hope will beuseful to Sierra Club members.

The Engler Administration:• Shepherded the rollback of

Michigan’s Polluter Pay law• Led the campaign to adopt the

Michigan audit privilege law• Was a key player in the massive,

but failed, national campaign toblock new federal health stan-dards for air pollution

• Made a $90 million settlement

deal with political supporters in theoil business rather than take theNordhouse Dunes wilderness law-suit to the State Supreme Court

• Proposed to allow for increasedtoxic discharges into Lake Supe-rior

• Failed repeatedly to update endan-gered species listings as requiredby Michigan law

• Vehemently opposed implementa-tion of adequate health warningsfor consumption of sport fish con-taminated with PCBs

• Tried to raid money from NaturalResources Trust Fund for parksand recreation land so polluterswould not have to pay costs ofcontamination cleanups, was ruledunconstitutional in court

• Moved to zero out Michigan’sNatural Heritage Program

• Launched deceptive attacks on

U.S. EPA guidelines for incorpo-rating environmental justice con-siderations into pollution permitactions

• Rolled back state residential andcommercial energy efficiencystandards

• Vetoed modest funding for notifi-cation of communities regardingtoxic hazards being releasedfrom local business facilities.

• Refused for two years running toaccept federal funding to protectchildren from lead poisoning

• Typically use words like “vam-pire,” “liberal fear mongers,”“hatchet job,” “big spendinggiveaways,” “political attack,”and “trash” in published state-ments attacking the views of en-vironmental advocates and envi-ronmental agency professionalsat the federal and state level. i

B Y A L I S O N H O R T O NDirector, Mackinac Chapter Sierra Club

................................................................................

The Environment isone of themain themes ofthe challenger,Geoffrey Fieger.

Making an effortto see a candidate

is invaluable.


EXCERPT FROM GEOFFREY FIEGER’S“POLICY STATEMENT ON PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT”

“. . . We propose to actively leadthe great Lakes region in restoringand preserving our natural re-sources. We will put into place astructure and process that willbalance economic developmentwith “ecological” development. Anintegral part of our policy is incor-porating citizen and local over-sight of programs.

We propose the following pro-gram to start:

Consolidate the DEQ and a rein-vigorated DNR into an agency withcitizen oversight...

We will repeal the 1996 Environ-mental Audit Privilege and Immu-nity Law. We must ensure citizenoversight and the right to knowabout decisions made by the DEQand DNR. We also must allow forcitizen comment and appeal of theseenvironmental decisions. We willexpand the ability and willingnessof the DNR/DEQ to enforce envi-ronmental laws. This agency mustbecome de-politicized so that envi-ronmental decisions are made onthe basis of scientific studies andcoordinated resource managementand conservation.

Develop coordinated land develop-ment plans with emphasis on cleanup and utilization of existing devel-

opment and preservation or rural ar-eas. . . . conservation plan, which willstrike a reasonable balance betweeneconomic development and our prior-ity of protecting undeveloped areas.For example, we will only supportrevenue sharing formulas that empha-size redevelopment of existing infra-structure and urban areas and restricturban sprawl. Reforms are needed toprotect minority and/or low-incomeneighborhoods from continuing tosuffer the disproportionate share ofadverse effects from polluting indus-tries.

Immediate challenge of importation ofsolid and hazardous waste from otherstates and countries. Although we areconstrained by Federal Laws andRegulations, we believe that the Gov-ernor can effectively mount legalchallenges to the importation andtransportation of hazardous wastes inMichigan...

Revive the “polluter pays” law andexpand enforcement capability...

Urban environmental initiative: cleanup emphasizing environmental impactstudies on old structure demolition,mass transit and sensible transporta-tion planning, hazardous waste, sew-age and infrastructure rebuilding, ur-ban re-forestation.

Revive and reinforce wetland pro-tections.

Revive and reinforce park/forestsystem. We will make explicit pro-tections of forests and natural habi-tats of species from the forestry in-dustry and recreationaldevelopment. Rare and special ani-mal and plant life must be protectedso we must strike a conservativebalance between conservation andcommercialization. We believe thatthe State has moved far to rapidlyin the direction of development.

Protect the integrity of the NaturalResources Trust Fund: no more fis-cal raiding or diversion.

Moratorium on oil and gas leaseson public lands until environmentalimpact studied and public input. Wewill declare an immediate morato-rium on leasing until we can ad-equately assure complete environ-mental impact studies can becompleted, reform the leasing con-tracts to limit the size of acreageand lease by strata. Subleasing willbe significantly restricted andsafety regulations of wells will berigorously enforced. We will notapprove of drilling under the GreatLakes until the issue has been thor-oughly researched and the issuesubmitted to the people for consid-eration.” i

IT JUST TAKES A LITTLE WILL POWER...If you do not have a will, the state decides how your property and other affairs are handled. Decisions made now canlater provide financial security for your family, friends, and the Sierra Club. You can even direct your bequest to aspecific Club program or your home chapter. For more information and confidential assistance, contact:

John CalawaySierra Club Planned Giving85 Second St., Second Floor,San Francisco, CA 94105(415)977-5538


MACKINAC CHAPTER: Whether it is amatter of protecting the air we breathe,our wetlands, the health of residents ininner city neighborhoods, or the GreatLakes, there is frequently controversyover appropriate federal, state, and localgovernment roles. Please give us yourviews on the appropriateness of settingminimum federal standards as a floor forenvironmental protection, giving statesauthority to set higher protective stan-dards as needed, and giving local govern-ments authority to enact ordinances moreprotective that state requirements. Doyou believe states should have the au-thority to implement environmental pro-grams that are not as protective of healthand the environment as federal stan-dards?

FIEGER: I do believe that theFederal government shouldestablish minimal standardsas floor protections, particu-larly in areas that could affectan ecosystem extending be-yond State boundaries. Theseare minimal standards and Michiganshould regulate and enforce environmen-tal protections with standards well abovethose set by the Federal government.

I believe the same principle shouldapply within the State so that the Stateshould establish standards for environ-mental standards on issues that have im-plications beyond local systems (e.g. ag-ricultural chemical spillover).

Most people would enforce thetoughest standards on issues directly af-fecting their own immediate environ-ment. Therefore I would encourage localcitizen oversight and input to local andState-wide environmental decisions.

MACKINAC CHAPTER: Do you supportstate-level action to curb urban sprawland stem the loss of farmland and openspace? Do you support legislation andfunding to implement programs that sup-port acquisition of development rights,provide a state framework for local com-prehensive planning, and promote envi-

ronmentally sensitive transportationpolicy?

FIEGER: Yes. I will support only thoserevenue sharing plans that emphasize in-frastructure redevelopment and discour-age green land development. I will sup-port legislation to require developers payfor new development infrastructure as adisincentive. My environmental policyand road policy contain references tomass transportation.

MACKINAC CHAPTER: You indicate inyour policy statements that consolidationof the Department of EnvironmentalQuality (DEQ) and the Department ofNatural Resources (DNR) will “stream-line the process of environmental impactstudies and responsiveness to industry

concerns and needs” andthat there will be “an ac-celeration of the reviewand elimination of un-necessary or counterpro-ductive regulation ofbusiness by govern-

ment.” Please provide us with some ex-amples of where you believe streamlin-ing of environmental agencyresponsiveness to industry and the elimi-nation of environmental regulations areneeded currently. And will you supportrestoring citizen oversight of the environ-mental review process and assuring thepublic’s right to know about, commenton, and appeal environmental decisions?

FIEGER: One example is in thedeconstruction of urban buildings whichmay contain hazardous materials butneed to be razed to promote redevelop-ment. A rapid but thorough study wouldhelp identify risks and benefits for razingvs. gutting, etc.

Citizen oversight is the one continu-ing thread through all of my programs,especially environmental programs. Thisis an issue explicitly addressed in the en-vironmental policy statement.

MACKINAC CHAPTER: The clean-up of

old contaminated industrial sites, oftenlocated in minority and low-incomeneighborhoods, increasingly focuses oncreating an economic incentive for newindustry to develop on that site. What doyou believe needs to be done to addressthe concern that contaminated sites arenow cleaned up to a lower health stan-dard than prior to rollback of Michigan’spolluter pay law and the concern that theredevelopment of that site may result innew increases in air and water pollutionin that community?

FIEGER: The process of establishing aprogram of environmental justice is diffi-cult but will be addressed by my pro-grams for urban renewal. We have tostart first with the recognition that therehas been injustice perpetrated upon lowincome and minority neighborhoods andthat economic development is not a justi-fication for treating these populationspoorly.

We should as a State provide incen-tives to clean sites thoroughly and pro-mote safe, clean redevelopment. We willrequire polluters to pay for clean-ups andcontinuing pollution.

MACKINAC CHAPTER: Our natural heri-tage is cherished and appreciated byMichigan families and visitors, is thefoundation for an enormous tourismbusiness, and is suffering from overuse,neglect, and years of agency capitulationto powerful development interests. Willyou support the funding, staffing, andpolicy initiatives necessary to put thestate back in the business of stewardshipand of enforcing the state and federallaws enacted to protect the natural valuesof our parks, forests, beaches, and wild-life areas?

FIEGER: Yes. The environmental policystatement addresses this issue by tryingto strike a careful, but conservative, bal-ance between recreation and conserva-tion. (By conservative I mean to err onthe side of increasing conservation andpreservation.)

GEOFFREY FIEGER AND THE ENVIRONMENT:A WRITTEN INTERVIEW

Citizen oversightis the one continuingthread throughall my programs.

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MACKINAC CHAPTER ENDORSEMENTS AS OF OCTOBER 10, 1998See the August-October issue for previous write-ups.

CANDIDATES FOR MICHIGAN SENATE:• Dan Bewersdorff (D-Columbus/Port Huron, District 27)• Kristin Carambula (D-Portage, District 21)• Sen. John D. Cherry (D-Clio, District 28)• Sen. Kenneth DeBeaussaert (D-Mt. Clemens, District 11)• Rep. Robert Emerson (D-Flint, District 29)• Sen. Gary Peters (D-Pontiac, District 14)• Sen. Alma Wheeler Smith (D-Salem Twp., District 18)• Ken Warfield (D-Wayne, District 8)

CANDIDATES FOR LOCAL OFFICES:CITY-COUNTY-TOWNSHIP• David Lossing, Candidate for Linden City Council

CANDIDATES FOR MICHIGANHOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:• Rep. Laura Baird (D-Okemos, District 70)• Randy Bertram (D-Sault Ste. Marie/Kincheloe, District 107)• Rep. Rose Bogardus (D-Davison, District 47)• Rep. Elizabeth S. Brater (D-Ann Arbor, District 53)• Rep. Lingg Brewer (D-Holt, District 68)• Rep. William Callahan (D-St. Clair Shores, District 26)• Rep. Deborah L. Cherry (D-Burton, District 50)• Rep. Eileen DeHart (D-Westland, District 18)• Paul Gieleghem (D-Clinton Twp./Mt. Clemens, District 31)• Bob Goodwin (D-Kalamazoo, District 61)• Rep. Derrick Hale (D-Detroit, District 14)• Rep. Michael Hanley (D-Saginaw, District 95)• John Hansen (D-Dexter/Ann Arbor, District 52)• Howard Heidemann (D-Port Huron, District 81)• Lance Hendrickson (D-Hesperia/Manistee, District 101)• Matt Hogan (D-White Lake/Waterford, District 44)• Gilda Jacobs (D-Huntington Woods, District 35)• Rep. Kwame Kilpatrick (D-Detroit, District 9)• Rep. Ed LaForge (D-Kalamazoo, District 60)• Rep. Lynne Martinez (D-Lansing, District 69)• Jack Minore (D-Flint, District 49)• Rep. Hubert Price (D-Pontiac, District 43)• David Richards (D-Royal Oak/Troy, District 41)• Rep. Vera Rison (D-Flint, District 48)• Rep. Mark Schauer (D-Battle Creek, District 62)• Gloria Schermesser (D-Lincoln Park, District 25 )• Rep. Martha Scott (D-Highland Park, District 6)• Art Toy (D-Almena, District 80)

CANDIDATES FOR THE U.S.HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:• Mich. State Sen. Jim Berryman, (D-Adrian/Jackson, District 7)• Rep. David E. Bonior (D-Mt. Clemens, District 10)• Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (D-Detroit, district 14)• Rep. Dale Kildee (D-Flint, District 9)• Rep. Sander Levin (D-Southfield, District 12)• Rep. Lynn Rivers (D-Ann Arbor, District 13)• Rep. Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing, District 8)


Election 1998

CANDIDATES FOR THEUNITED STATES HOUSEOF REPRESENTATIVES:............................................

REP. DALE KILDEE(D-Flint, District 9)

ongressman Kildee isa longtime environ-

mental friend and advo-cate who is currentlyworking with theNepessing Group in theirefforts to clean up theFlint River and protect thewatershed. He is a long-time advocate in the USHouse of Representativesfor protecting parks, for-ests, wilderness, and wildrivers. He is always acces-sible and has worked onsuch issues as resolvinginholding disputes in ourSylvania Wilderness Areaand acquisition of a valu-able privately held islandfor the Forest Service in

MACKINAC CHAPTER

ENDORSEMENTSMichigan. He also sup-ported many of the posi-tions the Club favoredduring the hearings onwilderness access andother national issues.

CANDIDATES FORMICHIGAN SENATE:

............................................DAN BEWERSDORFF

(D-Columbus/Port Huron,District 27)

r. Bewersdorff citesprotecting land

against “takings” legisla-tion and his opposition tothe DNR/DEQ split astwo of his conservationpriorities. He will seek tore-instate the citizen over-sight boards that theEngler administrationeliminated. Mr.Bewersdorff believes that

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MORE PRO-ENVIRONMENT CANDIDATESRECEIVE OUR STAMP OF APPROVAL

see VOTE! page 8

Make Michigan Greener: Vote November 3rd

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“My vote doesn’t make any difference.”False! A high percentage of elections are won or lostby less than one or two percentage points—many byonly a few hundred votes. It happens every year righthere in Michigan. The Mackinac Chapter has over15,000 members, and thousands of us are registered tovote. When we vote, we do make a difference.

Endorsements: A Sierra Club endorsement is a way of recognizing acandidate for good environmental work. We havestudied their records and found that they support ourissues.

“But my candidate didn’t vote right on the forestmanagement question.”Neither the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) northe Sierra Club considers any single issue or vote a“litmus test.” What is important is the overall record.

“I know a candidate that is really good on theenvironment, and the Club hasn’t made anendorsement.”You are right. Often we do not have sufficient infor-mation to recommend an endorsement of one candi-date out of several. Most of our endorsements are forcandidates who have built up a record of public ser-vice and votes. Because of the new law on term limits,the Michigan House has an unprecedented number ofopen seats and candidates (see page 2 of this issue).There are many primary races with four, five and sixcandidates. Most of them are new to us. We alwayswelcome more information on candidates with strongenvironmental backgrounds. Many candidates have re-turned our questionnaire and we continue to gather in-formation on the campaigns.

Ask environmental questions—show the candi-dates that the Grassroots (that’s us) care. There arecandidate forums, talk shows on the radio, questionand answer sessions after speeches. Candidates are ea-ger to meet the voters. You can help by asking ques-tions on the environment. This gives everyone impor-tant information we need to make decisions on how tovote.

To volunteer in the political program, call ourchapter office at 517-484-2372, or Gwen Nystuen,Political Committee Chair, at 734-665-7632. i

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............................................KEN WARFIELD

(D-Wayne, District 8)

r. Warfield is adeputy Wayne

County Clerk and aformer mayor of Wayne,MI. Prior to elective officehe was the first presidentof the Wayne Firefightersunion. Mr. Warfield’s con-cerns are preventing urbansprawl, eliminating com-bined sewer overflows,and reducing non-pointsource pollution. His dis-trict is western WayneCo., including Wayne,Westland and Canton. Heis expected to have a veryclose race with incum-bent—and Engler crony—Loren Bennett.

CANDIDATES FORMICHIGAN HOUSE OFREPRESENTATIVES:............................................

RANDY BERTRAM(D-Sault Ste. Marie,

District 107)

Chippewa County

Commissioner and formerTownship official, Mr.Bertram has a long-stand-ing concern about envi-ronmental issues. As a lo-cal official he has acted toseek a ban on oil and gasdrilling under the GreatLakes, to support wet-lands protection, and toaddress toxic waste prob-lems. Mr. Bertram identi-fies the import of toxicwastes into Michigan, as-suring that polluters pay,and protection of naturalresources as his top state-wide concerns. Mr.Bertram’s candidacy is en-thusiastically supported bythe Three Lakes Group.

............................................PAUL GIELEGHEM

(D-Clinton Twp./Mt.Clemems,District 31)

former aide to long-time environmental

hero Sen. KenDeBeaussaert, Mr.Gieleghem is seeking pub-lic office for the first time.In this central MacombCounty district that in-cludes Mt. Clemens andFraser, Mr. Gieleghem isconcerned with the cleanup of Lake St. Clair andthe effects of urban

sprawl. He is also con-cerned with the lack ofenforcement of the law byDEQ. Mr. Gieleghem isexpected to have a closerace in this open seat.

............................................BOB GOODWIN

(D-Kalamazoo, District 61)

ob Goodwin is a pub-lic school teacher and

active member of hisparty, having helped manyother candidates with theircampaigns. With practicehe has become an ablespeaker and can clearlyarticulate the environmen-tal perspective on state is-sues. Review of his ques-tionnaire responses showsthat he holds and ex-presses strong pro-envi-ronmental positions whichis in clear contrast to hisopponent in this election,

Charles Perricone. Hishistory of working with abroad range of peoplesuggests that he wouldwork effectively with thegroups that would seek toprovide input on environ-mental issues.

............................................JOHN HANSEN

(D-Dexter/Ann Arbor,District 52)

ince the primary, Mr.Hansen—a former

school administrator—hasvigorously promoted localballot Proposal 1, theWashtenaw County“Comprehensive LandUse Initiative.” Voter ap-proval of this proposal isHuron Valley Group’s toppriority in this electioncycle. Local environmen-tal groups consider thisseat to be extremely im-portant. Mr. Hansen hasmet with a number of lo-cal groups and has gener-ally impressed the localenvironmental communityas a person with a graspof the politics of the envi-ronment and overarchingissues. He has had hands-on experience with a widevariety of environmental

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we have a stewardshiprole where natural re-sources are concerned. Heis challenging incumbentDan DeGrow in this St.Clair County district.

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issues, ranging from sickbuilding syndrome to tak-ings. He has sound posi-tions on watershed protec-tion, medical wasteincineration, and utilitiesderegulation. He is articu-late on the issues, he cam-paigns well, he is acces-sible, and he has a goodprospect of winningagainst his opponent.

............................................HOWARD HEIDEMANN

(D-Port Huron, District 81)

r. Heidemann is anopponent of the

“polluters secrecy act”and would work to get itrepealed. He supports theexpansion of mass publictransportation as well asthe development of windand solar power. In addi-tion, he is the supervisorof the Ecology Club at hislocal high school. Mr.Heidemann is running in amarginally Republicandistrict that runs along theSt. Clair River. The dis-trict includes Port Huron,Marysville, and St. Clair.

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Jsee VOTE! page 10

.............................................LANCE HENDRICKSON(D-Hesperia/Manistee,

District 101)

r. Hendrickson, alawyer in Hesperia,

has served on the localschool board. He is astrong advocate for en-forcement of environmen-tal laws. He is particularlyconcerned about develop-ing public safety standardsfor exposure to H2S (sourgas from oil drilling)—amajor problem in his dis-trict. He believes citizensshould have oversight forthe Department of Envi-ronmental Quality. Healso advocates encourag-ing and empowering pro-active local planning toaddress the problems ofurban sprawl. He supportsa more pro-active staterole in waste regulationand recycling.

............................................MATT HOGAN

(D-White Lake/Waterford,District 44)

r. Hogan supports thedevelopment of rapid

transit and fuel efficiencyin all forms of transporta-tion. A retired statetrooper, he worked to re-move gas tanks from State

See page 14 for infoon the MackinacChapter ExecutiveCommittee Elections!

Police posts and advo-cated road clean-up. Mr.Hogan opposes “takings”legislation and seeks topass on a clean environ-ment to future genera-tions. His district is incentral Oakland Countyand includes White Lakeand Waterford townships.The district is an openseat and tends to be amarginal Republican seat.

............................................GILDA JACOBS

(D-Huntington Woods,District 35)

s. Jacobs is a hardworking, well-in-

formed public servant. Asan office holder in Hun-tington Woods and Oak-land County, she is pro-fessional and concernedabout the environment.She lists land use, openingup participation by citi-zens in the Department ofEnvironmental Quality,polluters pay, and wet-lands protection as herpriorities.

............................................JACK MINORE

(D-Flint, District 49)

ack Minore is seek-ing a first term in the

Michigan House. He has

served as a Flint CityCouncilman where heworked hard to bring re-cycling to Flint. He alsorepresented the City ofFlint on the BrownfieldDevelopment Authorityand served on the city-county water study com-mittee.

............................................DAVID RICHARDS

(D-Royal Oak/Troy, District 41)

Royal Oak CityCommissioner who

helped bring curbside re-cycling to that city, Mr.Richards’ main concernsare the protection of Stateforests and increasedfunding for State Parksand environmental protec-tion. Mr. Richards is op-posed to “takings” and fa-vors the purchase ofdevelopment rights toslow urban sprawl. Hefaces a difficult raceagainst John Pappageorge,who is a three-time loseragainst Sierra Club en-dorsed US Rep. SanderLevin. This District in-cludes northern RoyalOak, Clawson and south-ern Troy..............................................

GLORIA SCHERMESSER(D-Lincoln Park, District 25)

former Mayor Pro-Tem of Lincoln Park,

Ms. Schermesser is theChair of the Friends ofEcorse Creek and a regu-lar participant in theRouge River Clean-up.Her environmental priori-ties include air and water

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quality and the removal ofunderground storagetanks. In this traditionallyDemocratic district, Ms.Schermesser is expectedto have an easy election inNovember.

............................................ART TOY

(D-Almena, District 80)

rt Toy is a researchscientist with


AA

Pharmacea-Upjohn and astrong environmentalist.He is both well informedand articulate. He stronglyadvocates meaningful citi-zen involvement in de-partmental (DEQ, DNR,etc.) decision making,strengthening of environ-mental regulations, andlegislative empowermentof appropriate (local) units

of government to take astrong position on envi-ronmentally responsibleland use, planning, andzoning. He has exhibitedleadership in his party af-fairs and is well respectedfor the soundness of hispublic stances and state-ments. The KalamazooValley Group knows himwell and has heartily en-dorsed his candidacy. Thisendorsement would havebeen listed in our summerissue except for some mis-haps in handling his ques-tionnaire form.

............................................DAVE WOODWARD

(D-Madison Heights, District 34)

former aide to term-limited and Sierra

Club endorsed Rep. John

Freeman, Mr. Woodwardis in his first race for pub-lic office. He favors anexpanded bottle bill andthe permanent closure ofthe Madison Heights in-cinerator. Mr. Woodwardis widely supported by lo-cal environmental activistsand is expected to prevailin this southern OaklandCo. district that includesMadison Heights, HazelPark, and southern RoyalOak. i

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& Representativesvote on

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1998Scorecard

THE MICHIGAN HOUSE

ENVIRONMENTALVOTES 1997-1998C O R R E C T I O N

The following legislators’environmental votes forthe 1997-1998 House ses-sion were misrepresentedin the August-October is-sue of The Mackinac. Be-low are the correct votes

made by each legislator affected. For the entire Vote Chart and brief explanations ofeach issue, please refer to page 18 of the August-October issue of The Mackinac. i

KEY TO VOTE CHART:A capital Y or N represents a pro-environment vote, a lower case y or n a negative environmen-tal vote. nv indicates not voting. A record of all or nearly all capital letters is a very good record.

FISH SPRWL DNR HAZ BRWN DRNK WWDobronski, Agnes (15) N n Y Y Y Y YHertel, Curtis (2) N n Y Y nv nv YJellema, Jon (89) N n Y n Y n nLeland, Burton (13) N n n Y Y Y YLondon, Terry (81) N nv n n n Y YPrice, Jr., Hubert (43) N n Y n Y Y YRocca, Sue (30) N n n n n Y YSchermesser, Gloria (25) N n Y Y Y nv YThomas III, Samuel (11) N n Y Y n nv Y


In the 1970s and 1980s, the State of Michigan was in theforefront of the effort to stem environmental degradation.Through laws advancing clean air, clean water and pro-tection of forest and wetland habitats, the State was amodel for the rest of the nation. Michigan’s ethic of en-vironmental stewardship and its enactment of farsightedenvironmental protection laws, coupled with strongimplementation and enforcement, substantially improvedthe quality of life for Michigan citizens.

Sadly, though, the environmental track record inLansing has been a dismal one in recent years. It hasbeen a parade of actions responsive to corporate specialinterests and scornful of constituent concerns about as-suring a healthy environment for our families and our fu-ture. Gutting Michigan’s landmark Polluters Pay law,giving polluters new secrecy privileges, failing to carryout our responsibilities to protect endangered species andour natural heritage—Lansing has lost touch with whatMichigan citizens want.

This platform outlines some of the most pressing ac-tions we need to take for the environment in Michigan.Pro-environment candidates in 1998 have an importantopportunity to campaign with a clear pro-environmentagenda. Michigan voters, reflecting the strong supportAmericans everywhere demonstrate for the environment,consistently support environmental protection. Votershave said they want to hear what the environmentalagenda of candidates is.

Restoring Michigan’sEnvironmentalProtection Programs

Enforcing our Environmental LawsWhen individuals or corporations violate the law theyshould be held accountable for their actions. But Michi-gan is awash in violations of environmental laws whilefunding and staffing for enforcement are suffering in theenvironmental agencies, and the enforcement actions be-ing taken fall far short of what is needed. A few ex-amples of the problem: There are now over 4,000 illegalgroundwater discharges in Michigan leaking toxic sub-stances and other pollutants into one of our most impor-

tant sources of drinking water. A growing number ofdrinking water supplies are violating health standards.Last year, agency records showed declines in inspec-tions, audits, notices of noncompliance and penalties as-sessed. According to the state’s Auditor General, threequarters of the complaints about violations of the Wet-land Protection Act are never followed up; and, accord-ing to agency sources, field staff are increasingly calledon to ignore the intent of the wetland law.

The Sierra Club supports increases in budget out-lays for compliance and enforcement programsand aggressive legislative and public oversight, toput a halt to the DEQ’s consistent pattern of dis-regard for its legal obligations.

Protecting the Public’s Right to Know and Act

The Sierra Club strongly urges the repeal of the1996 Environmental Audit Privilege and Immu-nity Law.

Polluters can now shield their records of environmentalviolations from public view and are given immunityfrom any administrative agency actions against thoseviolations or any legal actions by citizens. What is it thatpolluters must do in order to receive this protection fromthe law? Merely compile its records on illegal pollutionand violations of permits in its own audit report, labeledas such in its own files. As just one example of the harmallowed under the new law, polluters are specifically al-lowed to continue their illegal pollution for three yearsafter completing an audit, and that, of course, can onlybe tracked independently if someone other than the pol-luter has been able to secure information about that vio-lation. “Pollution secrecy” laws are bad public policyand should be removed from the books.

Assuring Citizens Access to theState’s Environmental Decision MakingAgency decisions and actions on pollution permits, vio-lations of environmental laws and management of natu-ral resources are not made with adequate citizen involve-ment.

PROTECTING MICHIGAN’S ENVIRONMENT:SIERRA CLUB PLATFORM

FOR THE 1998 ELECTIONS AND BEYONDContributors to the Sierra Club platform include Alison Horton, Tim Killeen, Gwen Nystuen and Anne Woiwode.

see SIERRA CLUB PLATFORM, page 12


The Sierra Club is seeking to restore citizen over-sight functions, and to assure the public’s rightto know about, comment on, and appeal environ-mental decisions made by both the Departmentof Environmental Quality and the Department ofNatural Resources.

Protecting the Healthof Children and Familiesfrom Harmful Pollution

Making Environmental Justice a RealityAcross the country it has been demonstrated that resi-dents of minority and/or low income communities suffera disproportionate share of the damaging economic,health, and environmental impacts of polluting indus-tries.

The Sierra Club endorses Environmental Justicelegislation recently introduced in Michigan tohelp correct this problem. Key changes that needto be enacted include: limits on the siting of newpolluting facilities where pollution inequity ex-ists; meaningful citizen participation in air pollu-tion permit decisions; and full assessment of en-vironmental impacts.

The DEQ was recently found to be in violation of thestate constitution with regard to public health and or-dered to rectify its procedures by a Circuit Court inGenesee County. Legislative leadership is needed to pre-vent costly future lawsuits and to address impacts onhealth and communities.

Putting a Stop to Toxic Pollution from IncineratorsThe case cited above involved a trash-to-energy incinera-tor that would put high levels of lead into the air and soilin a five mile area surrounding the plant. Across thestate, incinerators such as municipal trash incineratorsand medical waste incinerators are the source of toxiccontamination affecting schools and neighborhoods andadding to the contamination of the Great Lakes. Michi-gan has not taken action to implement recent federal re-quirements to reduce emissions from solid or medicalwaste incinerators.

The Sierra Club opposes the re-licensing of exist-ing incinerators and supports a moratorium onthe building of new ones. These facilities havebeen demonstrated to release high levels ofheavy metals as well as a rich assortment of toxiccompounds into the surrounding communities.The Sierra Club encourages a policy of recyclingand land-filling of materials that would otherwisebe sent out of the chimneys of these facilities.Such an approach is not only less damaging tothe environment, it is more economical.

Cleaning Up Power Plants:A key part of Utility DeregulationThe Michigan Legislature has begun work on utility de-regulation. The rules by which this new electric utilitymarket will operate are as of yet undefined. The produc-tion of electrical energy—primarily from coal-firedpower plants—is a major source of environmental prob-lems ranging from mercury in our fish to acid rain toglobal warming.

The Sierra Club advocates that the following be apart of any deregulation initiative: require allpower plants to reduce toxic emissions to meetstandards set for new power plants; implementenergy conservation programs to encourage theuse of energy efficient technologies; set up a“cap and trade” program to reduce mercury emis-sions; and mandate increased use of renewableresources in electricity production.

By reducing consumption and cleaning up production,we can take a big step forward in limiting pollution.

Curbing Urban Sprawl,Protecting Communitiesand Open Space

Making Smart Growth DecisionsMany Americans consider sprawl to be the fastest grow-ing threat to their local environment and quality of life.Polling last spring indicated that 75% of Michigan votersare concerned enough about the loss of our open spacesthat they would support taxpayer funding to protect ourdisappearing farmland, natural areas, and open space.Michigan has been losing farmland at the alarming rateof 10 acres per hour faster than in any other Great Lakes

SIERRA CLUB PLATFORMContinued from page 11



state. Projections for Southeast Michigan, the GrandRapids, and the Traverse City areas anticipate that openspace will be devoured at a rate six times greater thanpopulation growth over the next 20 years. Detroit andother Michigan cities are suffering from the neighbor-hood deterioration, traffic congestion and pollution, andworsening of quality of life in suburbs which accompanysprawl.

Michigan and its local governments can combatsprawl, and the Sierra Club urges that we moveforward quickly with a number of smart growthsolutions. There are numerous successful strate-gies being employed by states and communitiesacross the country: state funding for the purchaseof development rights to protect farms and valu-able natural areas from development; settingstate goals and encouraging local comprehensiveplanning; calling for urban growth boundariesaround communities in the state; guiding statefunds to priority growth areas such as existingcities and enterprise zones; raising revenues fromgas taxes and bonds for purchase of green space;and promoting effective new mass transit.

Voters on the Leelenau Peninsula have enacted a farm-land protection program. Voters in Washtenaw Countywill vote on a purchase of development rights millagethis coming November. Michigan needs to start adoptingsome smart growth solutions statewide as well.

Preventing Industrial Pollutionfrom Corporate Animal FarmsLarge scale Confined Animal Feeding Operations(CAFOs) are becoming a major environmental problemthroughout much of the country. Overwhelming odors,threats of groundwater and surface water contaminationfrom liquefied manure stored in open lagoons, and prob-lems with land application of the waste have promptedmany other states to pursue reasonable regulations ofthese industrial livestock factories. In many parts of thecountry, contamination of waterways by waste fromCAFOs has caused devastating fish kills and is impli-cated in human illnesses caused by pfisteria andcryptospordium. Property values near these facilitieshave been driven down by the overpowering odor andthreat of water pollution.

The Michigan Right to Farm Act, passed in the1970s, and the regulations developed to implement itmake no distinction between family farming operations

and industrial animal operations housing upwards of3,000 hogs, tens of thousands of chickens or turkeys, orother enormous confined livestock feeding facilities. Pro-tection of family farms is a legitimate goal of the Rightto Farm Act, but current loopholes allow facilities thatproduce an amount of animal waste equivalent to a cityof 10,000 or more people to be exempted from compli-ance with any prior regulations or standards.

The Sierra Club supports enactment of a stronglaw to protect Michigan’s rural communities andsmall family farms against the devastating im-pacts of massive CAFOs. More than 20 states aremoving ahead with such laws that respect legiti-mate small family farm interests, but assure thatcorporate livestock factories are not free to pol-lute. The Sierra Club also urges that a moratoriumon large facilities be immediately enacted whileMichigan crafts effective and protective legisla-tion to protect family farms and rural residentsagainst the devastation of massive, corporatelivestock factories.

Making theClean Michigan InitiativeWork for the Environment

The Michigan Legislature responded to strong public de-mands and added significant environmental funding tothe Clean Michigan Initiative before voting to place it onthe November ballot.

The Sierra Club supports the Clean Michigan bondproposal, which now includes funding to rebuildMichigan’s tattered water quality monitoring net-work; to address stormwater runoff and failedseptic systems, which have contaminated recre-ational waters around the state including Lake St.Clair; for small business pollution prevention ef-forts; to specifically target clean up of contami-nated brownfield sites that pose serious healthand environmental risks; and to give a start tostate clean-up of lead contamination.

In addition to the major economic development fundingincluded in the initial version of the bond proposal, thereis funding to control pollution from city and farm runoffand to overhaul or construct state and local park facilitiessuch as restrooms and roads. If Michigan voters follow


see SIERRA CLUB PLATFORM, page 14


their past pattern of support for environmental proposals,the ballot measure will pass by a sizable margin—andwe will have an opportunity to invest some useful newenvironmental funding if we carefully monitor theinitiative’s implementation.

Protectingthe Great Lakesand our Water Quality

Stopping Destruction of Rivers, Streams,and Private Property at Taxpayer ExpenseIn Michigan, any stream can be a drain or sewer; any ofthe many waterways now designated as drains can bechannelized without regard to fish, wildlife or other natu-ral values; and county drain commissioners have abso-lute authority over decisions that generate growing sub-urban sprawl. Legislative committees have struggledover reform of the antiquated Drain Code during thissession, but critical changes have not yet been made.

The Sierra Club believes that fair treatment oftaxpayers and property owners and environmentalprotection have to go hand-in-hand to achievethe needed changes in the Drain Code. A re-formed Drain Code needs to insure the public’sright to know about, comment on, and appealdrainage ditch projects; environmental review ofand public information on the cost, size, and im-pact of drain projects; that drain projects con-form with current state environmental laws andregulations; and that drain commissions shouldnot have the authority to pollute the water anddestroy wetlands that are in the common interestof all Michigan citizens.

Taxing Pollution for Cleaner Air and WaterMost of the pollution which goes into our air and wateris not taxed. One of the best ways to make our air andwater (including the Great Lakes, where 90% of the con-tamination is deposited from the air) cleaner is to preventthe pollution from occurring in the first place.

The Sierra Club supports shifting taxes away fromproductivity—and onto harmful waste—to createincentives for cutting pollution and generateneeded funds for environmental monitoring, com-pliance, and enforcement.

A survey of American voters earlier this year found thata majority support a tax on air and water pollution—voicing slightly more support for this environmental taxeven than for taxes on cigarettes or liquor. According tothe US EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory (annual data onthe amount of some 300 toxic chemicals released by ma-jor industrial producers of pollution, according to thecompanies’ own measurements), over 90 million poundsof toxic pollution was released in Michigan in 1996. Areasonable tax on pollution by the pound would be a trueeconomic incentive for major polluters to clean up emis-sions and would provide a source of needed funds tomonitor, track the effects of, and prevent pollution.

Strengthening Fish AdvisoriesToxic pollutants from the air and from direct dischargeare still contaminating Michigan’s rivers, lakes, andstreams—and our effort to prevent new pollution andclean up existing pollutants must continue. While Michi-gan waters remain polluted, it is critical that people whoeat fish from our waters be fully aware of the health haz-ards associated with contaminated fish. The Sierra Clubis encouraged that, in response to public concern, theState of Michigan has issued fish advisory informationfor 1998 that is more protective of the public’s healththan information provided in recent years. However, thecurrent advisory provides confusing and inadequate in-formation about mercury health advisories on inlandlakes, fails to provide health advice for men in additionto women and children, fails to provide informationabout other harvested aquatic species such as clams andcrayfish, and minimizes information about potentialhealth effects.

The Sierra Club urges that the fish advisory be re-vised to reflect current research on health effectsand on accumulations of toxins in members offamilies who eat fish, and that the distributionprocess be significantly improved in light of find-ings that the majority of women in fishing fami-lies and minorities who fish are unaware of fishconsumption warnings. We support the right ofthe public to read and decide for themselvesbased on the best information available.


VOTE ON NOVEMBER 3RD!SEE PAGE 6 FOR A COMPLETE

LISTING OF SIERRA CLUBENDORSED CANDIDATES. continued on next page


Protecting Michigan’sForests, Parks,and Natural Values

Reforming Oil and Gas Development PracticesMichigan’s oil and gas interests have been seeking toconduct extensive oil drilling under Lake Michigan, todrill in the pristine Jordan River Valley natural area, andhuge new lease sales of drilling rights in northern Michi-gan. They have profited from an unprecedented windfallof millions of dollars of taxpayer money in a misguidedsettlement of a deeply flawed “takings” claim atNordhouse Dunes. Michigan urgently needs a new oiland gas law which protects citizens from health hazardsassociated with oil and gas production, protects the natu-ral and recreational values—which our residents andvisitors cherish—from destructive development, and pre-vents oil companies from trampling individual privateproperty rights. The legislature has begun consideringways to address oil and gas development problems in thestate.

The Sierra Club supports establishment of a plan-ning and environmental review process for oil andgas development that assures meaningful citizeninvolvement, coordinates with local land useplans, and protects waterways, wetlands, parks,dunes, and important natural areas from develop-ment. The Sierra Club also supports legislationwhich would require agreements from surfaceowners of property before drilling could occur,and which would prevent drilling close to resi-dentially zoned land.

Protecting our Great OutdoorsMichigan’s natural resources are being neglected andpoorly managed. Powerful interest groups that focus onsingle uses of resources have become unduly influential.Under-funding and inadequate staffing of the DNR’s re-source management and protection agencies have aggra-vated long-standing neglect of State Forests, State Parks,and Wildlife lands, and have sabotaged enforcement ofcritical state and federal resource protection policies.

These problems have taken a huge toll on stateowned and managed natural resources. Michigan is theonly place in the world where bovine TB is spreading inthe wild white-tailed deer population, threatening thestate’s dairy industry and showing up now in coyote

populations as well. Lobbying by agricultural, huntingand retail interests have continued the practices of deerbaiting and deer feeding in Michigan long after thesewere outlawed in most other states. Management of StateForest lands have continued to emphasize production ofhabitat for deer despite overpopulation throughout thestate that is leading to decimation of natural communi-ties. And a 1997 state audit found the worst compliancewith voluntary best management practices to preventpollution of waterways from timber harvesting was onState Forests, in comparison with industrial, private, orNational forests in Michigan.

Michigan’s timber industry has played an increas-ingly aggressive role in lobbying for more logging onState Forests. The FY98 and FY99 budgets for DNR in-cluded language written by the timber industry to man-date a minimum timber marking level to increase log-ging on State Forest lands. Responding to publicpressure, the 1999 budget included direction that wildlifeand recreation values must be protected, but provided noincreased funds to carry out those objectives.

Outdoor recreation is big business in Michigan, butour state recreation assets have been allowed to deterio-rate from both overuse and neglect. Off-road vehicledamage is continuing on State Forest lands despite astate law to regulate these vehicles, as conservation of-ficers are stretched well beyond their limits and restora-tion funding is insufficient. Legislative proposals to de-velop funding for State Forest campgrounds,non-motorized trails, and other neglected facilities, havebeen stalled in the legislature, while commercializationand privatization of publicly owned lands and resourceshas been increasingly emphasized.

Rare and special animal and plant life is increasinglyat risk in Michigan. The DNR is now five years late inmeeting its legal deadline for updating the Michigan En-dangered Species list. The agency has consistently failedto fund or conduct required scientific research or seekpublic input regarding protection of species and habitatswhen development, timber cutting, or other activitiesproceed on public lands.

The Sierra Club believes full enforcement ofMichigan’s laws and regulations that protect andmanage our natural resources is the essentialfirst step toward reversing the long decline ofState Forests, State Parks, Wildlife areas andother state public lands and resources. That goaldemands full funding of resource needs andstaffing and a demonstrated commitment to pro-tection of all multiple use values, from endan-gered species to enjoyable family camping expe-riences. i



B Y S U E K E L L Y

Member Programs Committee

................................................................................

The following candidates have agreed to accept the nomina-tion to run for five At-Large Member positions on theMackinac Chapter Executive Committee for terms runningfrom January 1999 through January 2001. We greatly appreci-ate their past environmental work and their willingness to takea leadership position at the Chapter level.

The Mackinac Chapter Executive Committee consists of 9At-Large Members representing all of the Sierra Club mem-bers in Michigan, and 10 representatives from the regionalGroups in Michigan. Their responsibility is to establish andmanage the chapter’s budget, fundraise, set and implementconservation priorities and policies, oversee Chapter staff, andaddress member concerns. These Executive Committee Mem-

MACKINAC CHAPTER EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ELECTIONVote for your Sierra Club Representatives

Michael JohnsonTwo years ago I began active involve-ment with the Sierra Club by attendingKalamazoo Valley Group meetings.Since that time, Group activities I’veparticipated in have been clean-ups,public presentations, outings planning,and contributions to the newsletter. Atthe Chapter level I’ve attended Political,Conservation, and Executive Committeemeetings, and have been a student of theforest issues workshop. At the Nationallevel I’ve received activist training andtraveled to Washinton to lobby on thebehalf of the Sierra Club for the protec-tion of Utah wilderness, meeting withstaff members of all of Michigan’s rep-resentatives and senators.

Environmental issues most impor-tant to me are Great Lakes, forest andwetland, and wilderness protection, and“sprawl”. Given the Mackinac Chapter’sunique location in the midst of theworld’s largest pool of fresh water, asan Executive Committee member Iwould work for greater Chapter involve-ment in Great Lakes concerns. As a sup-porter of grass-roots activism I wouldpropose Chapter implementation of a

policy which would permit Chapterfinancial grants to Groups working onissues of state wide importance.

Helen LeBlancCurrent :• Mackinac Chapter Treasurer• Central Michigan Group Treasurer• Environmental Fund for Michigan

Treasurer• Member Ingham County Solid Waste

Plan Committee• Member Ingham County Emergency

Planning and Right to Know Commit-tee

• Member Williamston Township Envi-ronment and Open Space AdvisoryCommittee

Past Experience:• Chair, Sierra Club Central Michigan

Group• Chair, City of Lansing Planning Com-

mission• Member Ingham County Groundwater

Protection Committee.I am interested in issues dealing

with Urban Sprawl and what I see asone of the solutions to sprawl: makingour cities places people want to live in

and publicizing the good aspects ofurban life. I am also interested in recy-cling, solid waste and hazardous wasteissues, as well as groundwater and pro-tection of wetlands. I have been work-ing on these issues through various gov-ernmental boards and committees.

As a treasurer, my vision for theChapter is to have a good financial baseso we can accomplish our conservationand public outreach goals and continueto attract and retain quality staff.

Linda RosenthalDuring the year, I served the SierraClub West Michigan group as chapterrepresentative to the executive commit-tee, and also as alternate chapter del-egate to the Midwest Regional Conser-vation Committee during the Big Riversweek conference. I was involved as anactivist in a local wetlands preservationeffort, our chapter outreach to local faithcommunities, several voter and educa-tional workshops, as well as in groupnewsletter duties. My primary interestsinclude the Great Lakes, endangered/threatened animal and plant populations,

bers are expected to participate on some committees and attendchapter functions. The Executive Committee meets four times ayear and meetings are open to all members.

Your vote is necessary in the selection of those candi-dates who you feel best represent the interests of MichiganSierra Club members.

Please write your Sierra Club membership number on theoutside of your envelope to insure ballot validation. Your mem-bership number is on the mailing label for this newsletter.

The ballot is found on the back page of this issue (page32). Please follow the instructions and vote for no more than fivecandidates. Ballots must be received on or before December10, 1998. i

Chapter Executive Committee At-Large Representative Candidate Statements



public land issues, and greenspace plan-ning. This summer, I served as a DNRvolunteer piping plover warden where Ilearned the strength of networkingthrough media and the Internet and pub-lic attitudes toward an endangered spe-cies. I am a Kent countycommissioner’s appointee to the Tim-berland Resource and DevelopmentCouncil, Inc., where I am learning toadvise on regional conservationprojects. Our chapter has, and will con-tinue to have, national impact on landuse and forest issues. I am offering myservice as a leader who believes in in-tegrity, openness, and a willingness tolisten to possibilities for solutionthrough education and coalition. My vi-sion includes furthering positive waysof changing public and government atti-tude and law so that we develop a moreconscious and responsible connection toMichigan.

Gary SemerI have served on our Chapter’s Execu-tive Committee for the past eight years,most recently as your Chapter Chairsince January 1997. I believe that myservice to the Club has been focusedand effective. What has made us astrong organization is our broadly repre-sentative grassroots and our well devel-oped positions on issues—positions thatreflect the values of our membershipand the public, alike. I believe that ourgrassroots strength is best fostered byfocusing the Chapter efforts on our re-gional groups. Through providing “bestpractices” examples of various club ac-tivities and training in essential areas,such as running conservation cam-paigns, we can strengthen and tie to-gether the regional groups. Furthermore,individual members are given a sense ofempowerment.

The struggle to protect our naturalheritage will be ongoing. And, as such,it requires all of us to have the continu-ity and support that the Sierra Clubuniquely offers. I would like to retainmy leadership position in this Chapterto work towards this end. I would ap-preciate your vote.

Mike KeelerFor two years I have served as theMackinac Chapter’s National Delegate.From interacting with 65 delegates fromthe US and Canada, I learned our Chap-ter is among the most dynamic in theClub. I am proud and honored as an ac-tivist to have worked, over the past 6years, to help shape the direction of ourChapter.

My volunteer activism includes:• 6 years service on the Executive Com-

mittee• Serving 2nd year as our Chapter’s Na-

tional Delegate• In 1996, I helped lead a successful In-

dependent Expenditure Campaign• Active on our Chapter’s Political

Committee• Organized environmental press events• Trained Sierra Club members at media

and activism workshops• 2nd year as Mackinac Chapter Raffle

Coordinator• 5 terms as Co-Conservation Chair for

the Nepessing GroupThe lifeblood of our state Chapter

comes from the strength of our localgroups. From a total group effort ofOutings, education, and media attention,we have shaped our local group to at-tract the largest number of new mem-bers and activists since I joined the Clubin 1990.

My vision is to share this knowl-edge with group leaders across the stateby serving you on the Chapter Execu-tive Committee. I would appreciate yourshow of confidence in me.

Paul HaasI have been active in the Club for anumber of years. I am presently servingon the Executive committee of theKalamazoo Valley Group, and am thegroup representative to the Chapter Ex-ecutive Committee. I have held a varietyof positions in our local group, haveserved as the chapter conservation chair,and have been the chapter representativeto the Midwest Regional ConservationCommittee. My personal interests areOutings, our forests, and land use. I be-lieve strong Outings programs are a keyfactor in moving people from being“concerned” about the environment on asurvey to being active and effective en-

vironmental advocates. Today, withsome of the worst enemies of the envi-ronment presenting themselves as“green,” we need to be able to drawever clearer distinctions. It is this realcontact with real places that allowspeople to sort that which is green fromthat which has been merely tinted formass consumption.

Lydia Fischer• Incumbent Vice-Chair

Since becoming a member quite afew years ago, I’ve been active in a va-riety of Club endeavors—including po-litical activity, fundraising, and outings.Conservation has also been an importantfocus for me, especially our campaignto stop the expansion of trash incinera-tion in the Detroit area. I’ve been amember of the chapter executive com-mittee since 1997, and now serve as itsvice-chair. From these experiences I’vedrawn a good understanding of the con-siderable strengths in our chapter.Among them, our dedicated, extremelycompetent staff in Lansing and the com-mitment and creativity of our activistsin every Group across the state rank atthe top. As I’m also vice-chair of theSoutheast Michigan board, I remainclosely in touch with the joys and frus-trations of working for the environmentat the group level, with lots of enthusi-asm and little resources.

I think the greatest challenge forour Chapter Ex-Comm is to help theGroups turn more members—our coreresource—into effective activists. Thereis no scarcity of problems. Too many ofMichigan’s elected politicians vote con-sistently against the environment. In ourcities, pollution continues unabated.Wetlands and farmland are disappearingat an alarming rate. Most Groups haveidentified opportunities for action; how-ever, a variety of reasons make attract-ing and involving additional members inthe Club’s activities more difficult thanever.

I’m seeking reelection because I’meager to continue working with fellowmembers in the executive committee tofind ways of helping established Groupsachieve their goals as well as assistingin the creation of new Groups across theState. i

EX-COMM CANDIDATESContinued from page 16


M I C H I G A N F O R E S T B I O D I V E R S I T Y P R O G R A M................................................................................

B Y A N N E W O I W O D E

Program Director

STATE SUBMITS FINAL P-R GRANTS:FATAL FLAWS STILL EXISTThe Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR)Wildlife Division 11th hour submission of an applicationfor funds under the Pittman-Robertson Federal Aid inWildlife Restoration Act (P-R) brought to an end a frantic1.5-year-long effort to secure wildlife habitat funds forFY98. While the five projects submitted have been or areexpected to be approved, the Sierra Club contends theyfall far short of the requirements of both P-R and the Na-tional Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). As a result,these five P-R projects cast a deep shadow over the workof the state agency, and raise serious questions about le-gal compliance by the US Fish and Wildlife Service(USF&WS) Office of Federal Aid,which oversees these wildlife habitatrestoration grants. The overall P-R pro-gram brings between $6 and $7 millionper year to the DNR Wildlife Divisionin the form of five-year grants.

The fifth of the seven expected grantapplications, “Wildlife Habitat Manage-ment On Michigan State Forest Land,”was submitted on the last day of Sep-tember, barely sliding under the October1 end of Fiscal Year 98. This was theonly proposal of the seven for which the state had com-mitted to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA).The DNR kept its promise, even though the agencies, atthe prompting of USF&WS, are claiming that this projectis categorically excluded from further environmental re-view under NEPA. Unfortunately, the application and theEA were both significantly flawed—prompting heavycriticism from the Sierra Club in comments on this pro-posal.

A major problem is that the original unified projectsubmitted in 1995 has been subdivided in a way intendedto avoid triggering environmental review under NEPA.Yet the projects, as submitted, are in fact intertwined—with actions in one project dependent on the decisionsand actions in another. The artificial lines among the pro-posals prevented substantive review of the potential envi-ronmental effects of the projects. The one EA preparedwas so vague as to offer only the most broad brush over-view of effects. As a result, the agencies confounded the

fundamental goal of environmental review—which is todisclose to the public and the decision makers what posi-tive or negative effects would be caused by actions pro-posed to be taken with federal funds. In the 61 years ofP-R funding for Michigan projects, there has never beenconsideration of the environmental effect of activities—which have included annual manipulation of more than100,000 acres of wetlands and clearcutting of more than40,000 acres of State Forest lands. The Sierra Club con-tinues to criticize the agencies for failing to do adequateenvironmental reviews, thereby undercutting the law andsubverting the public’s right to know the effect of themassive resource management activities undertaken withthese funds.

Other problems include the man-ner in which public input on the docu-ments was taken. Sierra Club notesthat the ultimate decision maker, theUSF&WS, has failed to solicit anycomments from the public on the pro-posals submitted by DNR. While theDNR did solicit public input, the pro-cess rendered the comments effec-tively meaningless. Citing a short timeframe, the DNR substantially modifiedthe draft proposal while the documents

were out for public comment. Members of the public, un-aware of the changes, submitted comments on a draft thathad already been drastically altered before the commentswere even received. In addition, one set of documentswas submitted to the USF&WS prior to the close of pub-lic comment period, nullifying even the appearance ofconsideration of the public’s concerns.

“We remain disappointed that the DNR and theUSF&WS have failed to correct the severe legal and pro-cedural deficiencies in these grants,” said Anne Woiwode,Program Director for the Michigan Forest BiodiversityProgram of Sierra Club. “The Sierra Club has worked forthree years with these agencies to try to fix the problemswith Pittman Robertson funding in Michigan. While therehas been progress, the failure to address these major legalproblems will continue to haunt the program.” The lead-ership of the Mackinac Chapter is currently consideringoptions for pressing for further changes in the P-R pro-gram in Michigan.i

Members of the public,unaware of changes,

submitted comments on adraft that had alreadybeen drastically altered

before the comments wereeven received.


................................................................................

Learn how to buildwith logs and stone!The Michigan School of Log Building and Stone Masonryoffers 5-day hands-on workshops in early June.Call (517) 734-4688 for information now!

• Scandinavian Full Scribe Technique• Chink-style Building & Saddle Notching• Complete Stone Masonry Work; Tools Provided

Courses include the option of three excellent meals dailyand comfortable lodging at NettieBay Lodge.

Other workshops at NettieBay Lodge:School of Bird Identification Weekend

The Outdoor Woman WorkshopFacilities available to groups for private workshops.

NettieBay Lodge

Your hosts: Mark and Jackie Schuler9011 West 638 Hwy., Hawks, MI 49743(517) [email protected]

B Y M E L A N I E N A N C E

Mackinac Chapter Staff

With just ten days to go before the1998 elections, dozens of volunteersfrom the Mackinac Chapter spent alate October weekend in Lansing,Brighton, and Saline neighbor-hoods—all part of Michigan’s 8thCongressional District—distributingenvironmental voter guides. Workingtoward the goal of educating the pub-lic on the environmental records oftheir elected officials and candidates,volunteers went door to door with aside by side comparison of Congress-woman Debbie Stabenow’s excellentenvironmental voting record and the

ENVIRONMENTAL VOTER EDUCATION GOES INTO THE HOME STRETCHpoor voting record of her challenger,former State Representative SusanMunsell.

As a part of the Sierra Club’s na-tionwide election year campaign, theMackinac Chapter is encouraging thepublic to get the facts about candi-dates’ environmental records beforethey vote on November 3. Voters inMichigan’s 8th Congressional Dis-trict have been the focus ofMichigan’s component of the na-tional effort to raise the visibility ofthe environment in this year’s elec-tions. The Mackinac Chapterlaunched its 1998 campaign in mid-May and has not slowed down since.Throughout the summer, Sierra Club

volunteers talked with people aboutRepresentative Debbie Stabenow’sexcellent environmental votingrecord and asked them to sign post-cards telling her that environmentalprotection is important to them. As aresult of these efforts, over 1,300postcards were sent to RepresentativeStabenow telling her that voters inMichigan care about the environmentand want to ensure that it is pro-tected.

The Voter Guides give voters atool to make informed decisions atthe polls. Knowing where the candi-dates stand is critical to electing offi-

atIeNTcdatIeNsee VOTER EDUCATION, page 20


Get your free copy of “A Citizen’s Guide To StateGovernment” to find out who all your legislatorsare. Call House Speaker Curtis Hertel’s office at(517) 373-1983, mention you are an environ-mentalist and ask them to mail you a copy!

Sierra Club Legislative Hotline: (202) 675-2394

White House Fax Line: (202) 456-2461

White House Comment Line:(202) 456-1111

White House email:[email protected]

The Honorable __________US House of RepresentativesWashington, DC 20515

The Honorable __________US SenateWashington, DC 20510

To Call State Legislators:Call the State Capitol Switchboard:(517) 373-1837

The Honorable _________Michigan SenateState CapitolLansing, Michigan 48909

The Honorable __________Michigan HouseState CapitolLansing, Michigan 48909

The White HouseThe White HouseThe White HouseThe White HouseThe White HousePresident Bill ClintonThe White House1600 Pennsylvania Ave.Washington, DC 20500(202) 456-1414

US CongressUS CongressUS CongressUS CongressUS CongressUS Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121

MichiganMichiganMichiganMichiganMichiganGovernor John EnglerState CapitolLansing, Michigan 48909(517) 373-3400

Sierra Club Resources For ActivistsSierra Club Resources For ActivistsSierra Club Resources For ActivistsSierra Club Resources For ActivistsSierra Club Resources For Activists

• ENVIRO-MICH is the Mackinac Chapter-sponsored Internet list andforum for Michigan environmental and conservation Issues. For a freesubscription, send email to: [email protected] with a one-linemessage body of “subscribe enviro-mich” (leave your signature file off).

• Sierra Club’s National Web Page is at: http:/www.sierraclub.org.Check out the daily War On the Environment postings.

• Find our Mackinac Chapter Web Page by Rick Pearsall at:http:/www.sierraclub.org/chapters/mi/

• Get a free subscription to “The Planet” by promising to write at least3 letters a year to your elected officials in support of the environment.Send your name and address to Sierra Club Planet SubscriptionRequest, P.O. Box 52968, Boulder, CO 80322-2968.

• Free resources for global warming activists: 7 publications aboutthe causes and effects of global warming, solutions, and what individualscan do to make their voice heard! If you would like copies,email [email protected] or contact Sierra Club’s GlobalWarming & Energy Team at (202) 547-1141.

TAKING ACTION:Your words count!cials who care about the issues we

all care about—the environment. InMichigan’s 8th Congressional Dis-trict, voters were given a guide thathighlighted issues such as Water andWetland Protection, Public’s Rightto Know, Protecting Land, ToxicWaste Clean Up, and Clean Air. Thevoter guide gives specific examplesof how both CongresswomanDebbie Stabenow and her opponent,former State Representative SusanMunsell, have voted on these issues.Congresswoman Stabenow showedher clear commitment to the envi-ronment by voting pro-environmenton all issues; her opponent, how-ever, voted against the environmentand the Sierra Club position all butonce among the six votes listed.

When it comes tochoosing a leader forMichigan’s environ-ment, the work theSierra Club is doingin Michigan’s 8thCongressional dis-trict lays the facts onthe line and lets thecandidates’ votingrecords speak forthemselves. i

VOTER EDUCATIONContinued from page 19

NT

1998 SIERRA CLUB AUTUMN RETREAT

The 1998 Sierra Club Autumn Retreat at CampMiniwanca was another success, enjoyed by over 150people of all ages and interests. The weather spiritssmiled upon this section of Lake Michigan shorelinefor two days of workshops, fun, relaxation, and fel-lowship with nature and otherlike-minded people.

The Retreat is made possibleby scores of volunteers donatingtime (hundreds of hours and phonecalls!) and energy, by speakers andpresenters donating their knowledgeand experience; and by all who at-tended, participated, and shared inthis environmental and community process.

Key volunteers were Gary and Cathy Semer, whoonce again “guided” the process with their past experi-ence and knowledge; Lisa Wickman, who tackled andaccomplished the registration and lodging logistics; andLee Ganger, who coordinatedthe speakers, workshops, andRetreat schedule.

Special thanks to JanetWulf-Marvin for again headingup the Kids Camp, where kidsmade their own aquatic andland mini-ecosystems—teachthem early! And to Tim Killeenfor guiding the Teen Retreatagain this year, where teenscould come together and learnfrom each other socially, envi-ronmentally, and as a group.

Our speakers and theirpresentations were as varied asthe many people who attended the Retreat. We thank allof them: Sandy Carden for early morning yoga; Dave

Bailey for orienteering across acres of hills and dunes;Brett Hulsey for presentations on Protecting the GreatLakes, Sprawl in the Midwest, and flyfishing basics;Anne Woiwode for the always popular forest diversityhikes; Alison Horton for Current Environmental Issues in

our State; Cre Woodard for naturallandscaping alternatives; MaryBuckwalter (of the Kalamazoo Na-ture Center) for the beautiful livehawks and owls; Miniwanca Campstaff for the walking history tours ofthe camp; Fred Townsend for Hu-man Population Growth and its im-pacts; Aspin Bernath-Plasted for theHypno-Chi Therapy experience; SueKelly and Mike Keeler for a discus-

sion on the 1998 election year; Kevin Breen for his per-sonal Lake Michigan 500 Mile walk experience; TimBerneth-Plasted for Tai-Chi—an annual favorite; PhilCrookshank for sharing his Grand Canyon trip and infor-mation on Sierra Club outings; Tom Foote for his storytelling and games; and Chris Wilkinson for evening andearly morning binocular astronomy.

Thanks is also in order forall the other volunteers, the of-fice staff (thanks MelanieNance and Rita Jack!), and theretreat participants who assistedin many ways.

The retreat is made possibleby volunteers and grows withthe new creative energiesbrought by those willing to par-ticipate and share. Contact anylocal Sierra Club group or theLansing office to volunteer.

PHOTO BY SUE KELLYStorytime

Pete Perez entertains the crowd

PHOT

O BY

SU

E KE

LLY


B Y L E E G A N G E R................................................................................

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!


ENVIRONMENTAL LITIGATION:TWO JUDGES ORDER PROJECTS STOPPED BECAUSEDEQ FAILED TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH

B Y C H R I S B Z D O K...................................................................

If the state agencyin charge of protectingthe environment refusesto guard the basic safetyof the people, thenthe circuit courts will.

When Governor Engler split theDNR in 1996 and created the DEQ,which reported directly to himself,many environmentalists were con-cerned that the removal of indepen-dent citizen oversight from thestate’s chief pollution regulator couldhave harmful implications for envi-ronmental protection. Now, twomembers of the Michigan judiciaryhave made strong statements thatthey share those concerns. In thepast year, two judges in two differentcounties have issued injunctions be-cause they were convinced that theDEQ had failed to meet its responsi-bility to protect public health.

The first case was NAACP-Flintvs Engler, which was reported by at-torney Linda Berker in the Autumn1997 issue of the Mackinac. In thesummer of 1997, Genesee CountyCircuit Judge Archie Hayman en-joined the DEQ from issuing air pol-lution permits in Genesee Countyuntil the agency reformed the per-mitting process. The NAACP-Flintcase was brought to prevent theemission of airborne lead from apower plant fueled by the burning ofwaste wood. The main source of thepollution was lead-based paint onwood from older homes burned togenerate steam for the plant. Theplant was sited in an African Ameri-can community whose residents al-ready had artificially-elevated levelsof lead in their blood.

The judge found that the DEQ’sair permit review process did “notadequately account for pollution inthe urban environment.” He alsofound that the DEQ, as an agent ofthe state, had failed to meet its con-stitutional responsibility to protectthe health and safety of Michigancitizens. Based on these and otherfindings, Judge Hayman barred the

DEQ from issuing further air permitsin Genessee County until it enactedprocedures through which a risk as-sessment would be performed andthe public would be provided with ameaningful opportunity to comment.

The second case was FilerTownship vs Michigan ProductionCompany, decided in the summer of1998. Manistee County CircuitJudge James Batzer ruled that anatural gas well containing high con-centrations of the deadly gas hydro-gen sulfide could not be operated un-til the state legislature issuedstandards that, in Judge Batzer’s

words, would provide “strong assur-ances” that the public health wouldbe protected.

The well at issue in the FilerTownship case is located in a resi-dential area just south of the City ofManistee. The formation in whichthe natural gas is found containspressurized hydrogen sulfide, a gaswith roughly the toxicity of cyanide,at a concentration of 43,000 partsper million. This concentration is143 times the lethal level designatedby the federal government, and 48times the concentration of hydrogensulfide in a nearby well where an ac-cident in August of 1996 sent elevenpeople to the emergency room.

The well was drilled in 1990,then temporarily “shut-in” with ce-ment. In 1997, after being rebuffedby the DEQ, which permitted thewell after claiming it had no jurisdic-tion over public health and safety,Filer Township sued the well’s own-ers. The Township sought to have

the well permanently plugged be-cause of the danger its operationwould pose to nearby residents.

Judge Batzer found that the wellposed an unacceptable danger to theneighborhood, given the high con-centrations of hydrogen sulfidewhich could be released. He alsofound that no state regulation existedto protect the public from the dan-gers of oil and gas wells containinghydrogen sulfide. The judge thenruled that without adequate regula-tion, the risk posed by the well was alegal nuisance and violated theMichigan Environmental ProtectionAct. Judge Batzer ordered that thewell could not be re-opened until thegas company could prove that thelegislature changed the law to pro-vide “strong assurances” that publichealth and safety would be protectedfrom the dangers of hydrogen sul-fide.

The NAACP-Flint case has beenappealed, and the Filer Townshipcase will probably be appealed, too.Regardless of the outcome of theseappeals, however, the message sentby Judges Hayman and Batzer willstand: someone, somewhere, has aresponsibility to protect people inresidential areas from serious risks totheir health and well-being, risksforced upon them without their con-sent. If the state agency in charge ofprotecting the environment refuses toguard the basic safety of thesepeople, then the circuit courts will.

Chris Bzdok is an attorney with Olson,Noonan, Ursu & Ringsmuth, P.C., aTraverse City firm with a statewidepractice in environmental law. His of-fice represented Filer Township in theManistee case. He acknowledges theassistance of Tom Stephens, co-coun-sel for the NAACP-Flint Chapter, inpreparing this article. i


The Sierra Club has filed a lawsuit against the National Park Service's Plan forthe Yosemite Lodge Area. One of the issues is we claim that the park Service isviolating their own 1980 General Management Plan for Yosemite. That Planwas a result of 8 years of unprecedented public input and democratic process.20,000 people worked on this plan, attended numerous meetings, and turned incomprehensive, large workbooks on all aspects of Yosemite in order to developthis plan. Most people who worked on this plan are still very connected to it.The preservation goals of this plan are now being subverted by the ParkService's new plans. We are trying to stop this further development and com-mercialization of Yosemite. i

CALLING ALL THOSE WHO WORKED ON THE 1980 GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN for YOSEMITE! If you worked onthis plan and want to lend your name to help to prevent the perversion of its intent and goals, please con-tact Joyce Eden, Sierra Club Yosemite Committee by phone (408)973-1085, fax 408 973 1087, or email<[email protected]>.

NATIONAL NEWS

Join your local-state-na-tional-global Sierra Club!

300 N. Washington Sq., Suite 411Lansing, MI 48933

1999 SIERRA CLUBCALENDAR SALE

When you buy from us instead of a bookstore, half theprice of each stays in Michigan to support local conserva-tion. Complete this form and mail with your check (sorry,no credit cards or C.O.D. orders) to:

Sierra Club Calendars300 N. Washington Sq., Suite 411Lansing, MI 48933

Please include postage: $3.00 for first wall calendar or en-gagement calendar, and $1.00 for each additional calendarin order; $1.00 for first pocket calendar, and .50 for eachadditional pocket calendar.

Wilderness Wall Calendar $11.95Engagement Calendar $12.95Wildlife Wall Calendar $11.95Flowers Wall Calendar $11.95Birds Wall Calendar $11.95Oceans Wall Calendar $11.95Pocket Calendar $ 5.00

STUNNING PHOTOGRAPHY! 100% RECYCLED.

printer to paste join-up info here


Group Meetings ProgramsAG

Algonquin GroupThis group is currently in reorganization. Ifyou are interested in helping with futuremeeting plans, please call Rita Jack at thechapter office at 517-484-2372.

CMGCentral Michigan Group

The general meetings are held the third Mon-day of each month at the Harris Nature Cen-ter, off Van Atta Road in Meridian Township.Come at 5:30 for supper (small donation re-quested) or at 6:15 for the meeting. Call PetePasterz at (517)676-3339 for information.

The Conservation Committee usuallymeets the second Monday of each month inWells Hall on the MSU campus. Call MariaLapinski at 517-569-3302 for information.

The Executive Committee meets the firstMonday of each month. Call Jerry Schuur at(517)351-7796 for information.

11/9 Conservation Committee11/16 Trail Work at Chapel Beach. Slide

show on Central Michigan Group’s serviceouting in Pictured Rocks. At Harris NatureCenter, dinner at 5:30 program at 6:15.

12/7 Executive Committee12/14 Conservation CommitteeNo general meeting in December1/18 (tentative) Holding the line: Stop-

ping runaway sprawl and enforcing the urbanservice boundary in Meridian Township. AtHarris Nature Center; dinner at 5:30 p.m.,program at 6:15.

CUPCentral Upper Peninsula Group

Sierra Club members in the central and west-ern counties in the Upper Peninsula are in-vited to participate in CUP group activities.General membership and executive commit-tee meetings are held in West Science Build-ing, Room 270, on the Northern MichiganUniversity campus at 7 p.m. For informationcall John Rebers, (906)228-3617.

To receive news about outings or otherSierra Club activities in the Central UpperPeninsula, send $5 for a subscription to theCUP newsletter to Sierra Club, 338 WestCrescent, Marquette, MI, 49855.

CGCrossroads Group

Want to learn more about the MadagascarRainforests? Or maybe you want to learnabout bats, or snakes, or making your yard

more wildlife friendly? These are all pro-grams we plan to present at our monthlymeetings, held the second Wednesday of eachmonth. We present our programs at 7 p.m. inthe Brighton District Library at 200 CharlesOrndorff Drive. These meetings are free andrefreshments are provided.

Conservation Committee meetings areusually held on the third Wednesday of eachmonth. For locations and information, callEleanor Conaway at (810)632-7776.

For membership information, contactEmily Gobright at (517)548-0995. You donot have to be a member to participate in out-ings or meetings.

If you have any ideas for a speaker,topic, or would like to learn more informationabout a program, contact Rick Pearsall at(810)227-6298.

HVGHuron Valley Group

The General Meetings of the Huron ValleyGroup of the Sierra Club are held on the 3rdTuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at theUM Matthaei Botanical Gardens, 1800 N.Dixboro Road, Ann Arbor. For more informa-tion call (313)665-7345.

11/17 (Tue) General Meeting. Topic tobe announced.

12/15 (Tue) General Meeting. This willbe our annual members slide show. The meet-ing will be preceded by a potluck at 6:30 p.m.Bring your own eating utensils and a dish topass.

1/19 (Tue) General Meeting. Topic to beannounced.

KVGKalamazoo Valley Group

General membership meetings are usually

held on the third Thursday of each month at7:30 p.m. at Kalamazoo Valley CommunityCollege.

The Executive Committee meets on the2nd Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m.,and all members are welcome. Contact Verneand Cindy Mills at (616)344-4279 for moreinformation.

11/19 Southwest Michigan Land Conser-vancy (SWMLC). The Conservancy is doinga fantastic job of protecting valuable openspace and habitat throughout southwestMichigan. Rene Kivikko, director of theSWMLC, will update us on their recent ac-tivities and provide us with information onhow we can become involved. The meeting isat the Kalamazoo Valley Community CollegeTexas Twp. Campus, Room 4370, at 7:30p.m. Call Verne at (616)344-4279 for moreinfo.

1/21 (Thurs) Kenya Photo Safari. VerneMills will present a slide program on NationalParks & Reserves of Kenya as experienced onsafari this summer. The meeting is at KVCCTexas Twp Campus, Room 4370, at 7:30 p.m.Call (616)344-4279 for more info.

2/22 (Mon) Natural History of Trees.This program is a joint meeting with theAudubon Society of Kalamazoo. Jim Rich-mond will present the program, which willdescribe the evolution and ecological progres-sion of the trees we enjoy today. Note thatthis meeting is being held on a Monday nightat Peoples Church, 1758 North 10th Street.Refreshments & socializing at 7:00 p.m., withthe speaker’s presentation starting at 7:30p.m.

NGNepessing Group

General membership meetings are held the2nd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. inthe Prahl Center, Genesee Room of MottCommunity College, 1401 E. Court St., Flint.We have special speakers at 6:30 followed byrefreshments. An environmental programstarts at 7 p.m., followed by a business meet-ing. Non-members are encouraged to attend.For more information call Carol Graham at(810)659-4965.

For Conservation meeting information,call Mike Keeler at (810)732-7385.

The Nepessing Group 1998 weekly hik-ing series schedule is available at (810)743-0335, or online at http://gfn.org/sierrang.

11/21 (Sat) 1999 Hike Schedule Meet-ing. Flint Public Library, 1026 E. Kearsley.

&

GROUPBOUNDARIESOF THEMACKINACCHAPTERSIERRA CLUB

NEMG

CUPG TLG

TG

AG

WMGWMcNG

TVG

CMG

KVGHVG

CG

NG

SEMG


Call Cindy Engelmann at (810)743-0335 fortimes.

NEMGNortheast Michigan Group

This group is currently inactive. Please callRita Jack at the chapter office at (517)484-2372 for information or if you are in-terested in helping with reorganization.

SEMGSoutheast Michigan Group

General membership meetings are held 7:30p.m. on the first Thursday of each month,Sept. through June, at Northwest Unitarian-Universalist Church, 23925 NorthwesternHwy (southbound M-10 service drive) be-tween Southfield & Evergreen roads and Nine& Ten Mile roads in Southfield. The SEMGgeneral information number is (313)928-3423.

The Executive Committee meets the 2ndTuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at St.John’s Episcopal Church, Woodward and 11-mile Rd, Royal Oak. Contact Anna Holden,Chairperson, for information at (313)331-0932.

Conservation Committee meetings areheld on the third Thursday of each month at7:30 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church.Parking in back of the church, south of 11Mile Road. For information call Ed McArdle,(313)388-6645.

Outings Committee: Contact PhilCrookshank if you are interested in planningor leading outings, (313)562-1873.

Political Action to support pro-environ-ment legislation, state and national. ContactTim Killeen, Chair, Political Action Commit-tee, at (313)526-4052.

No meeting scheduled for August.11/5 Newburgh Lake. John O’Meara and

Van Omen, chief engineer, will discuss resto-ration of River Rouge in Livonia, sponsoredby the outings committee of SEMC.

1/7 Population Growth and Its Effect onthe Environment. “Population growth is oneof many critical factors affecting our globalenvironment. Rising resource consumptionlevels, waste of natural resources and humanpopulation levels are degrading ecosystems atan unprecedented rate. In recognition of theimpact of population on habitat and ecosys-tem conservation, the National Wildlife Fed-eration has begun a Population and Environ-ment Campaign to advocate in the grassrootsand political arenas in support of a sustain-able global population.

2/4 Natural Landscaping: What Is It? Isit planting perennials instead of annuals orwhat kind of trees to plant in your yard? Dr.

Join theForest

ActivistNetwork

Name

Address

Phone &/or Email

I’d like to receive:__ Forest Activist Network Newsletter__ Notice of upcoming Trainings__ Background Forest Activist Network Information__ Other things? Let us know!

If you would like information about the MichiganForest Activist Network, fill in and send thisform to F.A.N., Sierra Club, 300 N. Washington,Suite 411, Lansing, 48933, or [email protected] with thesame information:

Orin Gelderloos, a professor in the Dept. ofNatural Sciences at the University of Michi-gan-Dearborn, will give everyone more tothink about than which flowers to plant. He’llsneak to the heart of the issue—that is ...why? Why, “Natural Landscaping!”

3/4 What’s Happening In and AroundLake St. Clair? Come find out, and learnabout who’s responsible for cleaning it up.Doug Martz is the chairman of the newMacomb County Water Quality Board, thewatchdog panel which monitors MacombCo.’s anti-pollution efforts. Doug will informus on the health of our closest “Great Lake.”

TLGThree Lakes Group

Sierra Club members in the Upper Peninsulacounties of Chippewa, Luce, Mackinac andSchoolcraft are welcome to attend meetingsof the Three Lakes Group. Business meetingsare held monthly at various locations in SaultSte. Marie. Programs are held on the firstWednesday of each month from Septemberthrough May at the Walker Cisler Center onthe campus of Lake Superior State Univer-sity. For information call Floyd Byerly at(906)632-0218.

TVGThumb Valley Group

We would appreciate any input on poten-tial meeting options, especially ones ascentrally located for the TVG as possible.Additional leaders and programs desired.Please contact Craig and Janis Kendziorskiat (517)631-5170 if interested in beingon leadership team, and/or arranging anevent.

12/2 7:00 p.m. Leadership Meeting. Planwinter events and Newsletter. Meet at Craigand Janis’ house, 4209 Linden Drive, Mid-land (517)631-5170.

1/16 6:00 p.m. Group Meeting (Potluck).Bring a dish to pass. Craig and Janis’ house,4209 Linden Drive, Midland (517)631-5170.

TGTraverse Group

General membership meetings are held the2nd Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. atNorthwestern Michigan College in the OlesonCenter, Room 1. However, the January meet-ing will be held in the Beckett Building,Room 140 at NMC. For more informationcall Mark Fowler at (616)275-2389.

We are selling Sierra Club Calendars. Ifyou care to purchase one of these great calen-dars, call Mark.

11/12 Bill Herd, a Park InterpretiveRanger from the Sleeping Bear Dunes Na-tional Lakeshore, will give a presentation onthe Top 10 reasons to visit the Sleeping BearDunes.

12/10 Rebecca Lessard, local Raptor re-habilitator, will be the featured presenter.

1/14 Rick Moore, District Forester, willcover forestry issues of Northwest LowerMichigan.

WMcNGWakelin McNeel Group

This group is currently in reorganization.Please call Rita Jack at the chapter officeat 517-484-2372 if you are interested inhelping with future meeting plans.

WMGWest Michigan Group

Meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday ofeach month in the East Grand Rapids Admin-istration Building board room, beginning at 7p.m. Contact Elaine Goodspeed at (616)364-4704 for more information. i


MACKINAC CHAPTER OUTING NEWSB Y R A L P H P O W E L L

Chapter Outings Coordinator

................................................................................

Watch for opportunitiesto participate infuture service tripsto help build theNorth County Trail,of which Michigan hasmore miles thanany other state.

Summer Service Trip in the Upper PeninsulaMany members took advantage of several scheduled out-ings to build new trails and maintain existing ones, in-cluding some bridge construction in the Pictured RocksNational Lakeshore. Two such trips took place where thePictured Rocks Lakeshore Trail was taken off the road inthe Twelve Mile Beach area. Participants stayed in acampground near the work area. The Lakeshore Trailalong Lake Superior has been part of the North CountryNational Scenic Trail, and will be officially called theNorth Country Trail in the park. The park is only one ofthe many scenic areas through which this national trailpasses on its route from New York toNorth Dakota—the trail also passesthrough Tahquamennon State Park, sev-eral national forest wilderness areas,and two state wilderness parks (CraigLake and Porcupine Mountain).

The Chapter, along with the NorthCountry Trail Association, also cospon-sored a two week service trip at OldVictoria, an area south of theKeweenau Peninsula. Here a section ofthe North Country Trail was built in avery scenic area on private land. This is the third yearthat the club has helped build new trail in this area. Oneattraction here is the historic setting and opportunity tostay in a rebuilt cabin, where participants help in themeal preparation.

Trail work in Wilderness State ParkAlso this summer, Sierra Club members (mainly fromthe Huron Valley Group) worked to repair storm damageand remove limbs in Wilderness State Park. The groupcamped in a secluded site on Lake Michigan. The NorthCountry Trail, some of which was built by participants inan earlier service trip a few years ago, winds about sixmiles through this beautiful state park.

In the last dozen years, the Sierra Club has built andhelped maintain many miles of North Country Trail inthe state of Michigan. Watch for opportunities to partici-pate in future service trips to help build this national sce-nic trail, of which Michigan has more miles than anyother state. When completed, it will have over 4000miles stretching all the way from the Appalachian Trailin the east to the Lewis and Clark trail in the west.

Deer Marsh Interpretative Trailin the Ottawa National ForestA small group camped at Lake St. Kathyrn in the upperpeninsula for one week, to improve and make handicap-accessible a nature trail of about three miles goingaround a beautiful marsh. Several new sections of trailwere constructed. The group helped in the start of abridge and boardwalk in one section, and put in stepsleading to this part of the trail. On longer service trips,time off is taken to relax and explore the area. On thistrip, the group spent some time bushwacking in the Stur-geon River Gorge Wilderness—where in addition to hik-

ing to the Sturgeon River, they alsoexplored a research natural area con-taining virgin forest.

National NewsThe Sierra Club have revised theirfirst-aid policy, in which they alloweach chapter and group to specify thelevel of first aid training needed byapproved outing leaders. The mainemphasis is to make the requiredtraining appropriate to the type ofouting.

The Club is coming out with a revised outing leadershandbook—or “red book”—which is recommended forall outings leaders. This useful book can be obtainedfrom the nationl office.

Outings Leader Training and Backpacking SkillsIn the past, the club has provided training for outingsleaders and sessions on learning backpacking skills. Ifthere is interest among the groups for scheduling suchtraining, contact your group or the chapter office. Con-sider when you would prefer this to be done. i

Don’t forget to vote for yourMackinac ChapterExecutive Committee Members!See page 16 for more information;the ballot is located onthe back of this issue.


OutingsT O E X P L O R E , E N J O Y A N D P R O T E C T

Abbreviations in capital letters signifythe group that is planning the outing.Refer to the Group Meetings map onpage 24 to determine a group’s loca-tion. Trips begin at the trailhead. Out-ings are open to everyone.

NOVEMBER

Mid-August Mackinac Chapter Outing.Service Trip for North Country NationalScenic Trail Construction. Contact RalphPowell (734) 971-9013.

11/1 SEMG Crosswinds Marsh. Let’s ex-plore this new marsh to see what plants andanimals are still here from fall, before win-ter sets in. Dress for the weather. Meet at10:30 a.m. behind the Dearborn Civic Cen-ter, (S.W. corner of Michigan Ave. andGreenfield, East end of parking lot) inDearborn. Leader: Lee Becker (810)294-7789.

11/1 HVG (Sun) Haenele Crane Watch.Come and watch the Sandhill Cranes comein to roost at sunset at this sanctuary nearChelsea. Meet at the Ann Arbor City Hallparking lot at 3:30 p.m. Call Jeanne Grae at(734)665-2419 for more information.

1/7 KVG Mott Sanctuary Service Outing.Projects that still need work include pullinggarlic mustard, trimming brush along thefence, and sprucing up signs. Meet at thesanctuary (corner of 40th & 24th St., northof Mattawan) at 9:30 a.m. Bring gloves andpruners if you have them. For more infor-mation or directions, call Ed at (616)649-4885.

11/7 NG Bald Mountain Recreation AreaHike. 10:00 am. Take M24 south to LakeOrion, Left on Flint St. to Orion Rd. to lefton Stoney Creek Rd. to left on Harmon Rd.Parking lot at corner of Harmon andPredmore. 4 miles. State Vehicle Permit re-quired. Lunch at Red Knapp’s in Oxford.Dick Groomes (810)724-7812.

M A C K I N A C C H A P T E R S I E R R A C L U B

i11/8 SEMG (Sun) Losee Lake Hike. Thisnew hiking trail in the Pinkney State Rec.Area will make for a beautiful Sunday af-ternoon. 6 miles of moderate hiking (rainor shine) will give us an appetite for a mealat a nearby restaurant afterwards. Meet atnoon behind the Marathon station at Tele-graph and Twelve Mile Rd. (Tel-TwelveMall) in Southfield. Leader: John Kalam(248)681-9160.

11/8 HVG (Sun) Lost Nation State GameArea Hike. Explore a potential route forthe North Country Trail in a very scenicarea in southern Michigan near the Ohioborder. Meet at the Maple Village Shop-ping Center near the Fox Village Theater at11:00 a.m. to carpool. Bring a snack andplan on approximately 1 hour travel eachway. Call Ralph Powell at (734)971-9013for more information.

11/8 HVG (Sun) Crooked Lake TrailHike. Hike over glacial terrain and enjoyfall temperatures and colors. Meet at theAnn Arbor City Hall parking lot at 1:00p.m. to carpool. Call Milton French at(313)295-6321 for more information.

11/14 KVG Grand Mere Dune Hike. Meetat the northeast corner of KVCC’s TexasTwp parking lot at 9:30 a.m. for car pool-ing. You may want to pack a snack and abeverage. Bring rain gear in case theweather is stormy. We may stop for lunchif there is enough interest. For more info,call Verne at (616)344-4279.

11/14 SEMG (Sat) Beat the Bullet Hike.Last chance to hike Holly Rec. Area beforeDeer Hunting season! Join us for 5.5 miles,moderately paced. Wear lug soles, bringtrail snack and water, restaurant stop after-wards. Meet at noon behind the Marathonstation at Telegraph and Twelve Mile Rd.(Tel-Twelve Mall) in Southfield. Leaders:Pat and Tom Skinner (734)981-8031.

11/14 NG (Sat) Holly North Hike. 10a.m. Meet in the parking lot behind theGroveland Township Hall, 4695 GrangeHall Rd. Holly, east of I-75 between Mt.

Holly and Ortonville (not to be confusedwith fire and police department building oncorner of Dixie Highway and Grange HallRoad). State Park Vehicle Permits not re-quired. This trail is well marked with num-bered signs, thanks in part to the NepessingGroup’s own Mike Keeler. Restaurant stopfollowing. Call Cindy Engelmann at(810)743-0335 for any additional informa-tion.

11/15 SEMG Paint Creek Trail. We willbegin our 6 mile, moderately paced hike atthe Cider Mill. See the level trail meanderalong the old railbed, and open at interest-ing wooded rest stops along the way. Wearstrong shoes and Nov. layers. Meet at 11a.m. behind the Michigan Nat’l Bank on 14Mile Rd. and I-75 (South edge of OaklandMall) in Troy. Leader: Mike Scanlon(313)884-2214.

11/15 HVG (Sun) Parker Mill Hike. Wewill hike the boardwalk along FlemingCreek in this fairly new park. There willbe an option to hike the pathway to GallupPark also. Meet at Parker Mill parking lot,off Geddes, about 1 mile east of US23 at1:00 p.m. Call Ruth Graves at (734)483-0058 for more information.

11/19 HVG (Thur) Indoor Rock Climb-ing. Rock climb inside at the REI store inNorthville, 7-9 p.m. Beginners welcome,equipment provided, liability waiver re-quired by REI. Please call Alan Richardsonat (734)332-0207 for reservations, direc-tions, and information.

11/21 NG (Sat) Flint River Urban Hikeat 1 p.m. Meet at City Farmers’ Marketparking lot at 420 East Boulevard Dr.Bring lunch. 6 miles round trip. Cindy En-gelmann (801)743-0335.

11/22 SEMG (Sun) Mystery Hike! Comeand explore a new place or rediscover a fa-miliar one. We will hike 5-6 miles overfairly easy terrain. Dress for weather, res-taurant stop afterwards. Meet at 1 p.m. in

see OUTINGS page 28


the shopping center parking lot behindMcDonald’s on Telegraph, just north ofSquare Lake Rd. Leader: Cindy Gunnip(248)557-7768.

11/28 NG (Sat) Camp Copneconic andGenesys Health Park Hikes. This double-header starts at YMCA Camp Copneconicat 10407 Fenton Rd., Fenton. From US23,near Fenton, exit 84 (Thompson Rd.), eastabout 2 miles, north on Fenton Rd. 0.5 to 1mile. Camp is on east side of road. From I-75 near Grand Blanc, exit 108 (Holly Rd)south (right) 0.5 mile to Baldwin Rd., westabout 3.5 miles, south on Fenton Rd about0.5 mile. Camp on east. At fork go left to-ward Day Camp. Go straight past horsebarn. Park at Toboggan Run. Hike 3.5miles around camp then drive to GenesysHealth Park. Take Fenton road right 0.5mile. Right on Baldwin Rd. 2.8 miles toG.H.P. entrance, straight through at stopsign. Left into parking lot at blacktoptrailhead (on right), two quick right turnsinto Honeysuckle parking lot. Hike 2.5miles of the hospital’s trails throughwoods, fields, and wetlands. Lunch insidehospital in atrium food court atSchlotzsky’s Deli and/or Frullati. CindyEngelmann (810)743-0335.

11/29 HVG (Sun) Bird Hills Hike. Enjoyan invigorating 5 mile hike in and aroundthis interesting city park. Meet at the AnnArbor City Hall parking lot at 1:00 p.m.Call Ron Killebrew at (734)429-0671 formore information.

11/29 SEMG (Sun) Huron Meadows Tur-key Trot. Hike off those extra Thanksgiv-ing calories by joining us for a brisk 5 milehike near Brighton. This is a slightly hillyarea, just enough to work up an appetite fora restaurant stop afterwards. Meet at 12:30p.m. behind the Marathon station at Tele-graph and Twelve Mile Rd. (Tel-TwelveMall) in Southfield. Leaders; Joanne Spatz(248)932-5370, Delores Liebawitz(248)553-6823.

DECEMBER

12/5 NG (Sat) Annual Sierra ClubChristmas Potluck. 1 p.m. at Ligon Out-door Center, 5213 E. Farrand Rd., Clio. 5miles of trails to hike and/or ski. Bring adish to pass and enjoy the rustic ambiance

of the lodge overlooking Lake Ligon. Thisreplaces the December general membershipmeeting. Denny Crispell (517)624-5038.

12/5 HVG (Sat) Hidden Lake GardensHike. We’ll take a leisurely 3 mile hikeand tour of the conservatory, then enjoy theChristmas bazaar and luminaries at thebeautiful MSU botanical gardens nearTecumseh. Meet at the Ann Arbor CityHall parking lot at 2:00 p.m. to carpool.Call Ron Killebrew at (734)429-0671.

12/6 SEMG (Sun) Winter WonderlandNature Hike. We will enjoy Matthaei Bo-tanical Gardens on a 2 hour winter stroll,with short stops to identify trees & shrubsand look for creature tracks. Hot ciderawaits at the end of the hike! Dress for thecold, cancel if there is pack ice. Meet at 1p.m. in the parking lot behind “Oil Dis-patch”—S.W. corner of Middlebelt and I-96 (Jeffries Fwy.) in Livonia, or 1:30 atMatthaei Gardens building entrance onDixboro Rd, 0.25 mile South of Plymouth/Ann Arbor Rd. near Dixboro. Restaurantstop after. Leader: Max Nemazi (734)421-4397.

12/12 NG (Sat) Metamora-Hadley StateRecreation Area Hike. 10 a.m. Located inLapeer County between Metamora andHadley. Take M-15 to Hill Rd. nearGoodrich. East on Hill/Pratt Rd. 7 miles toHurd Rd. South on Hurd 0.5 mile. Meet incamp store parking lot by bearing right af-ter entering park. State Park Vehicle Per-mits required. Hike 4.5 miles around LakeMinnewanna. Lunch at White Horse Inn inMetamora. Cindy Engelmann (810)743-0335.

12/12 SEMG (Sat) Outings SchedulingMeeting. Open to everyone interested indoing or learning about outings. Join us ina fun filled evening. Bring a dish to passfor this casual holiday dinner at 6 p.m;planning meeting at 7. You are on SquareLake Rd. at Rochester Rd. in Troy. Go Eastto 1st street on the left (Walker Dr.). TurnNorth, 1.5 blks. on the left, 6143 WalkerDr.—Mary Stoolmillers house. (248)879-6004.

12/12-13 CUP Pictured Rocks (BeaverBasin Rim) Wintercamping Ski/Snow-shoe Tour. Two day loop tour (75%bushwacking) with bivouac on Saturdaynight. Suitable for fully equipped, physi-cally fit, minus 20°F experienced, interme-diate level wintercamper. Info: MichaelNeiger (906)226-9620.

12/13 SEMG Waterloo Wanderings. Youmight think we are going in circles as Ilead a series of loops from the GeologyCenter in Waterloo Recreation Area. Witha 4“ snow cover, we should see lots of ani-mal tracks on this 6 mile hike. Wear lugsole boots for traction, restaurant stop after.Meet at 9:30 a.m. in the lot behind ‘OilDispatch’, S.W. corner of Middlebelt and I-96 (Jeffries Fwy.) in Livonia, or 10:45 atthe Geology Center. Leader: PhilipCrookshank, (313)562-1873.

12/19 NG (Sat) Davison Lake Hike. 10a.m. Ortonville Recreation Area. About 5miles. Go 4.1 miles south of Hadley onHadley Rd., left on Fox Lake Rd. 0.25 mileto trailhead on corner of Big Fish Lake Rd.Lunch at Cappuccino’s in Hadley. CindyEngelmann (810)743-0335.

12/20 SEMG Stoney Creek Stroll. Take aday off walking the malls and join us onthe trails at Stoney Creek Metropark. Wewill be looking for winter birds near theNature Center, and for deer prints along thetrails. Meet at 12:30 p.m. at 16 Mile Rd.(Metro-Pkway) and Van Dyke (S.E. cor-ner), in the SMART parking lot. Restaurantstop afterwards. Leader: Lee Becker(810)294-7789.

12/26 NG (Sat) Hadley Hills Hike -Lookout Mt., Ortonville Recreation Area.10 a.m. Some say it’s higher than PinnaclePoint. The view is definitely better. TakeM-15 1 mile south of Goodrich to GreenRoad. East on Green Rd. 2 miles toWashburn Rd. South on Washburn lessthan 1 mile to Fox Lake Rd. East on FoxLake about 0.5 mile. Trailhead on northacross from “ranch.” State Park VehiclePermit required. Lunch at CranberriesCafe. Cindy Engelmann (810)743-0335.

12/27 SEMG Ganatchio Trail. “Been there,done that!” Well, I know you’ve all been toWindsor, but have you hiked the GanatchioTrail? Come and explore it from Windsorto Tecumseh, parallel to the Lake St. Clairshoreline. Meet at 10:30 a.m. at the TouristInformation Center on Rte. 3 (HuronChurch Rd.) in Windsor, 0.75 mile fromthe bridge. Bring border crossing I.D. Res-taurant stop after. Leader: Liz Allingham(313)581-7579.

12/28 CMG Festival of Light at PotterPark Zoo. Meet in the parking lot at 5:30p.m. Dinner afterwards at a local restau-rant..


OUTINGSContinued from page 27


JANUARY

1/3 SEMG Sleepy Hollow State Park. An-other Sierra First! This park N.E. of Lan-sing has variegated terrain, woods, openfields, and a lake for a pleasant 5-6 milehike. This should make for a fairly levelyet interesting hike; dress according toweather. Meet at 11 a.m. in the shoppingcenter parking lot behind McDonald’s onTelegraph, just north of Square Lake Rd.Restaurant stop after. Leader: John Kalam(248)681-9160.

1/9-10 CUP Pictured Rocks (Spray CreekArea) Wintercamping Ski/SnowshoeTour. 2-day loop tour (75% bushwacking)with bivouac on Saturday night. Suitablefor fully equipped, physically fit, minus30°F experienced, intermediate levelwintercamper. Info: Michael Neiger(906)226-9620.

1/10 SEMG Addison Oaks X-Country Ski.Twelve miles of trails for beginners & in-termediates. Ski rentals, snacks, and tablesin large warming bldg. If no snow, we willhike nearby, and have lunch afterwards.Meet at 10 a.m. in the parking lot at thewest end of Meijers, Rochester Rd. at Au-burn Rd. in Rochester Hills. Bring snack &drink for skiing. Leader: Mary Stoolmiller(248)879-6004.

1/15-18 CUP Agawa Canyon Area(Canada) Wintercamping Ski/SnowshoeTour via Algoma Central Railway BushTrain. 4-day loop tour (50% bushwackingwith lake travel) with bivouacs on Friday,Saturday, and Sunday night. Suitable forfully equipped, physically fit, minus 40°Fexperienced, advanced level wintercamper.Info: Michael Neiger (906)226-9620.

1/16 TG Munising, Pictured Rocks Na-tional Lakeshore Cross Country Skiing.Meet at the Munising Ski Trail at 9:00a.m.—it’s located 3 miles east of Munisingon H-58. The trail has 8 loops, 10.7 miles,novice to advanced. Come and make aweekend of it. There are several major mo-tels in the area. There are also half a dozenother ski trails within 15 miles ofMunising, so we could try another trail inthe afternoon and then one on Sundaymorning if anyone wanted to. For furtherinformation contact Mark Fowler,

(616)275-2389.

1/16 KVG (Sat) Cross-Country Ski atKellogg Forest. Join us for a late morningadventure on the wooded hills of KelloggForest. The terrain ranges from gently roll-ing hills to really big ones for the more ad-venturous. If there’s not enough snow forskiing, we will have a hike instead. Plan tomeet at Kellogg Forest at 10:00 a.m. Bringwater and a snack if you wish. For moreinfo or directions, call trip leader VerneMills at (616)344-4279.

1/17 SEMG Holly Recreation Area. Joinus for a fast paced, energetic 5 mile hikethrough (hopefully) thin snow coveredtrails at Holly Rec. Area. Bring trail lunchand beverage, possible restaurant stop after.Meet at noon in the shopping center park-ing lot behind McDonald’s on Telegraph,just north of Square Lake Rd. Leaders:Crystal Burnham (888)902-4211, MarySolano (313)584-5351.

1/17 HVG (Sun) Everybody Skate andHike. We’ll skate if the ice is solid, other-wise hike. Be prepared for both. Meet atthe Ann Arbor City Hall parking lot at 1:00p.m. or the Silver Lake parking lot at 1:45p.m. Contact Milton French at (313)295-6321.

1/23-2/1 CUP Maui, Hawaii Service TrailBuilding Project in Haleakala NationalPark. Backpack and work in the world’slargest dormant volcano. Recreation daysreserved for cabin camping on the tropicaleast coast, with day hikes to waterfalls, theSeven Sacred Pools, and a black sandbeach. Steep trails, climate changes andhigh elevation make this an advanced out-ing. Fee: $225 includes meals and cabins(does not include airfare). Send SASE to:Dave Bos, 337 E. Crescent, Marquette, MI49855.

1/23 HVG (Sat) Historic Homes Hike.Come enjoy a leisurely paced hike ob-serving historic homes in Ypsilanti. Bringyour copy of “Footloose in WashtenawCounty” if you have one. Meet at theFarmer’s Market in Depot town at thenorth entrance at 1:00 p.m. Optional stopfor a warm-up and snack at a Depot townrestaurant afterward. Call Ruth Graves at(734)483-0058 or Kathy Guerreso(734)994-7183 for more information.

1/23 KGV (Sat) Cross-Country Ski atYankee Springs Recreation Area. Meet at10:00 a.m. at the D Ave/US-131 ride share

lot for car pooling. Plan on skiing (or hik-ing if there’s a shortage of snow) for 2-3hours over varied terrain. If there is enoughinterest, we will stop at Sam’s Joint (GunLake) for lunch afterward. Call trip leaderPaul Haas at (616)664-5417 for more info.

1/24 SEMG 5 Mile Belle Isle Hike.Bundle up and let’s see if we can “con-quer” Belle Isle on a cold, windy Januaryday! Call if weather is doubtful. Meet at 10a.m. on the Island, follow the signs to theparking lot of the Belle Isle Casino. Res-taurant stop after. Leader: June Cox(248)435-9522.

1/29-31 HVG MacMullan ConferenceCenter Ski Weekend. Spend 2 nights atthe conference center on Higgens Lakenear Roscommon and ski the numeroustrails in the area. Good food and accommo-dations in a beautiful setting. Trip limit of12. Call Jeanne Grae at (734)665-2419 forreservations.

1/30-31 CUP McCormick TractWintercamping Ski/Snowshoe Tour. 2-day loop tour (80% bushwacking with laketravel) with bivouac on Saturday night.Suitable for fully equipped, physically fit,minus 30°F experienced, intermediate levelwintercamper. Info: Michael Neiger(906)226-9620.

1/31 SEMG Indian Springs Ski/Hike.Come and enjoy the beautiful, wide, andfairly flat ski trails of Indian SpringsMetropark. Trip goes rain, snow, or shine.Hope for snow! Meet at 12:30 p.m. in theshopping center parking lot behindMcDonald’s on Telegraph, just north ofSquare Lake Rd. Restaurant stop after.Leader: Cindy Gunnip (248)557-7768.

FEBRUARY

2/4 HVG (Thurs) Indoor Rock Climbing.Rock climb inside at the REI store inNorthville, 7-9 p.m. Beginners welcome,equipment provided, liability waiver re-quired by REI. Please call Alan Richardsonat (734)332-0207 for reservations, direc-tions, and information.

2/7 SEMG Island Lake Hike. Join us for afast paced 8 mile hike on the rivers edge,through the rolling hills and woods ofbeautiful Island Lake State Rec. area. Wearlug sole shoes, dress for the weather. Bring

see OUTINGS page 30



trail lunch and water. Meet at 11 a.m. inthe parking lot behind “Oil Dispatch,”Southwest corner of Middlebelt and I-96(Jeffries Fwy.) in Livonia. Restaurant stopafter? Leaders: Mary Solano (313)584-5351, Crystal Burnham (888)902-4211.

2/12-14 HVG Tawas Cross Country SkiTrip. Ski the scenic Corsair trails nearTawas City or on the high bluffs overlook-ing the AuSable River. Housekeeping cab-ins. Common commissary. All ages wel-come! Call Ruth Graves at (734)483-0058for more information.

2/12-15 CUP Lake Superior ProvincialPark Area (Canada) Wintercamping Ski/Snowshoe Tour. 4-day loop tour (100%bushwacking with lake travel) with biv-ouacs on Friday, Saturday, and Sundaynight. Suitable for fully equipped, physi-cally fit, minus 40°F experienced, ad-vanced level wintercamper. Info: MichaelNeiger (906)226-9620.

2/13 KVG (Sat) Social Gathering atKraftbrau Brewery. Join your fellow Sier-rans for a get- together and musical enter-tainment. Plan to meet at the brewery at8:00 p.m. We’ll all pitch in for pizza, con-versation, and beer (or the non-hops bever-age of your choice), and we’ll enjoy themusic, which starts at 9:00. For more infocall Mike at (616)948-8840.

2/13 SEMG (Saturday) Maybury Moon-light Stroll. Wish for a clear sky and fullmoon to enjoy a night walk with your Si-erra friends. We will walk the trails and lis-ten for the resident owls. Meet at 7 p.m. atthe Maybury State park horse stable park-ing lot (2 miles W. of Northville). Entrancesign is on Beck Rd., 0.25 mile south of 8Mile Rd., then 0.25 mile in. Restaurant

stop after. Leader: Ed McArdle (313)388-6645.

2/21 SEMG Kensington Metropark Hike.End winter with a pleasant hike throughKensington’s lovely hills. Wear boots andappropriate layers. Meet at 11 a.m. behindthe Marathon station at Telegraph andTwelve Mile Rd. (Tel -Twelve Mall) inSouthfield, or 11:45 at Kensington NatureCenter. Restaurant stop after. Leaders: Bev.& Marshall Fogelson (248)280-4975.

2/27-28 CUP Grand IslandWintercamping Ski Tour. 2-day circum-navigation tour (100% rim road with LakeSuperior crossing) with bivouac on Satur-day night. Suitable for fully equipped,physically fit, minus 30°F experienced, in-termediate level wintercamper. Info:Michael Neiger (906)226-9620.

2/27 SEMG (Saturday) Pointe Pelee IceHike. Join the 8th annual Ice Hike inCanada. Let’s hope that “La Niña” willprovide the Winter Wonderland that “ElNiño” failed to give us in ‘97. Dresswarmly for those Lake Erie winds thatpush huge piles of snow and ice up on thepoint. Meet at 9:30 a.m. at the OntarioTourist Center on Route 3 (Huron ChurchRd.) in Windsor, 0.75 mile from the bridge.Bring border crossing I.D. Restaurant stopafter. Leader: Liz Allingham (313)581-7579.

2/28 SEMG Highland Fling & Ski. Bundleup and we will ski or tromp across themoors west of Pontiac (OK, so they’re re-ally moraines!). Bring a snack, a smile, skis(for snow), or hiking boots (for not); mod-erate skiing ability needed. Meet at 10 a.m.behind the Marathon station at Telegraphand Twelve Mile Rd. (Tel-Twelve Mall) inSouthfield. Restaurant stop after. Leader:Lydia Fischer (313)863-8392.

MARCH

3/7 SEMG Proud Lake Perimeter. Let’stake the outside edge and explore theMarsh area, Moss Lake and woods for a 6mile hike in the March mush. Meet at 10a.m. behind the Marathon station at Tele-graph and Twelve Mile Rd. (Tel-TwelveMall) in Southfield. Restaurant stop after.Leader: Philip Crookshank (313)562-1873.

3/14 SEMG Independence Oaks Ski orHike. Keep your fingers crossed that LaNiña delivers the long, snowy winter aspromised. We will cross country ski 2-3hours through this North Oakland countypark. Intermediate ability and equipmentneeded. No snow? We will hike! Wear lay-ers for conditions, bring trail snack. Res-taurant stop after. Meet at 10 a.m. behindthe Marathon station at Telegraph andTwelve Mile Rd. (Tel-Twelve Mall) inSouthfield. Leader: Joanne Spatz (248)932-5370.

3/21 SEMG Highland Rec. Area Hike.Join us for a moderately paced hikethrough the beautiful woods of this parkwith, perhaps, cold winter weather behindus. Dress in layers, bring trail snack, res-taurant stop after. Meet at 11:30 a.m. in theshopping center parking lot behindMcDonald’s on Telegraph just north ofSquare Lake Rd. Leader: Lee Becker,(248)294-7789.

3/28 SEMG Paint Creek Hike. This is agentle, 6 mile hike following the old rail-road from Rochester on the multi-use trailto Lake Orion. Bring water & snack, call ifweather is doubtful. Meet at noon behindthe Michigan Nat’l Bank on 14 Mile Rd.and I-75 (South edge of Oakland Mall) inTroy. Restaurant stop after. Leader: MikeScanlon, (313)884-2214.i


November 10........ Chapter Steering Committee Meeting

November 14........ Chapter Conservation Committee Meeting, Lansing

December 8.......... Chapter Steering Committee Meeting

January 9-10........ Chapter Executive Committee and Conservation Committee Meetings,Nettie Bay Lodge, Hawks

MAJOR CHAPTER DATES FOR THE UPCOMING QUARTER

Send your Group Meetings and Outings to:

Bob Volz, Mackinac Calendar Editor414 Sleepy Hollow Dr.Flushing, MI 48433

[email protected]

Submit articles & photos to:Davina Pallone754 E 300 S #2

Salt Lake City, UT 84102phone: [email protected]

NEXT DEADLINE:JANUARY 8

MACKINAC CHAPTER OFFICE300 N. Washington Sq., Suite 411,Lansing, MI 48933 (517) 484-2372FAX (517) 484-3108Internet: <[email protected]>http://www.sierraclub.org/chapters/mi/ Alison Horton, Director Anne M. Woiwode, Project Director Rita M. Jack, Member Programs Director (Answering Machine 810-632-6309) Melanie Nance, Administrative Assistant

SIERRA CLUB MIDWEST OFFICE214 N. Henry St., Suite 203, Madison, WI53703 (608) 257-4994 Carl Zichella, Midwest Regional Staff Director Brett Hulsey, Great Lakes Program Director

SIERRA CLUBNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS 85 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94105(415) 977-5500

ADDRESS CHANGES:Please include old mailing label and send to:Sierra Club - Membership, P.O. Box 52968,Boulder, CO 80321-2968

CHAPTER EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEOfficersGary Semer, Chair ........... 313-453-4443Lydia Fischer, Vice Chair .. 313-863-8392Fred Townsend, Secretary 248-627-3587Helen LeBlanc, Treasurer . 517-655-6454Sue Kelly, 5th Officer ...... 810-227-9563

At-Large Representatives (Terms expire January 1999)Lydia Fischer ................. 313-863-8392Mike Keeler ................... 810-732-7385Helen LeBlanc ................ 517-655-6454Gary Semer .................... 313-453-4443Ron Smith ..................... 313-878-3689 (Terms expire January 2000)Sue Kelly ....................... 810-227-9563John Rebers .................. 906-228-3617Judy Thompson .............. 734-677-2517Fred Townsend ............... 248-627-3587

Group RepresentativesCMG Tom Nelson .......... 517-336-9707CUPG John Rebers ......... 906-228-3617CG Rick Pearsall ......... 810-227-6298HVG Nancy Shiffler ....... 734-971-1157KVG Paul Haas ............. 616-664-5419NG Lynn Livingston .... 810-627-9908SEMG Anna Holden ........ 313-331-0932TLG Floyd Byerly ......... 906-632-0218TVG Janis/Craig Kendziorski 517-631-5170WMG Linda Rosenthal .... 616-361-5943

Regional Group ChairsCMG Pete Pasterz ......... 517-676-3339CUPG John Rebers ......... 906-228-3617CG Rick Pearsall ......... 810-227-6298HVG Doug Cowherd (co-chair) 734-662-5205

Michael Sklar (co-chair)734-995-1831KVG Rus Hollister ......... 616-685-2301NG Linda Berker ......... 810-664-5009SEMG Anna Holden ........ 313-331-0932TLG Floyd Byerly ......... 906-632-0218

TVG Janis/Craig Kendziorski 517-631-5170WMG Elaine Goodspeed .. 616-364-4704

CHAPTER COMMITTEESAwards Mike Keeler .............. 810-732-7385 Lynn Livingston ........ 810-627-9908Chapter Elections John Rebers ............. 906-228-3617 Dave & Judy Allen .... 906-228-9453Chapter Nominations (open)Conservation Judy Thompson ........ 734-677-2517Energy Subcommittee David Wright ............ 810-229-1685Environmental Education (open)Finance (open)Fundraising Gary Semer .............. 313-453-4443Hunter/Angler Outreach Ron Smith ............... 313-878-3689Information Systems Alex Sagady ............. 517-332-6971Inner City Outings (WMG) John Pulver ............. 616-453-2480Legal Anna Holden ............ 313-331-0932The Mackinac Davina Pallone ......... 801-961-9939Mackinac Chapter History Gwen Nystuen .......... 734-665-7632Member Programs Sue Kelly ................. 810-227-9563Outdoor Skills Training Elaine Goodspeed...... 616-364-4704Outings Ralph Powell ............ 734-971-9013Personnel Ron Smith ............... 313-878-3689Political Gwen Nystuen .......... 734-665-7632Sexual Harassment Investigation Gary Semer .............. 313-453-4443 Claudia ApplegateSierra Club Council Delegate Mike Keeler .............. 810-732-7385Webmaster Rick Pearsall ............ 810-227-6298


SIERRA CLUB MACKINAC CHAPTER DIRECTORYPREMIERE OF “THERANGE OF LIGHT”“The Range of Light”—a workcomposed for symphonic concertband by B.B. Campbell, AssociateProfessor of Music at MichiganState University since 1985—willdebut on Friday, December 11, 1998at 8:00 p.m. in the Great Hall ofMSU’s Wharton Center. The work—which is based upon writings ofJohn Muir, Scottish-American natu-ralist, mountaineer, and founder ofthe Sierra Club—will be performedby the Lansing Concert Band, acommunity group that recently cel-ebrated its 50th anniversary. Theband is conducted by RichardSuddendorf, Director of BandsEmeritus of Western Michigan Uni-versity.

A special feature is the inclusionof a part for the highland bagpipe,which will be played by DJ Krogol,Adjunct Professor of Bagpipe atHillsdale College. The bagpipe isnot used as an exotic effect: rather, a2/4 march, a jig, and a 3/4 retreatmarch are fully integrated into thecomposition. The piece seeks to por-tray the effects of light upon land-scape as described so eloquently byMuir in Chapter 1 of his book, “TheYosemite.” The rest of the programwill consist of joyous and familiarChristmas music, and promises to befun for young and old.

For more information, pointyour web browser to http://www.msu.edu/~bruce/TROL.htm.i

Advertise in TheMackinac andreach 15,000households in

Michigan!Call (734) 453-

4443 for our ratecard, or email:

[email protected]

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to SIERRA CLUB, 300 N. Washington Sq., Lansing, MI 48933


✁MACKINAC CHAPTER SIERRA CLUBEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ELECTION

BALLOTPlease vote for no more than five (5) candidates.The second row of boxes is for the second memberof a joint membership only.

Write your Sierra Club membership number onthe outside of your envelope to validate yourballot.

Return your ballot by December 10, 1998, to:Mackinac Chapter Election Committee300 N. Washington Square, #411Lansing, MI 48933

Helen LeBlanc

Gary Semer

Mike Johnson

Lydia Fischer

Mike Keeler

Linda Rosenthal

Paul Haas

WHAT DOES THE SIERRACLUB WORK TO DO?To explore, enjoy and protect thewild places of the Earth; to practiceand promote the responsible use ofthe Earth’s ecosystems and re-sources; to educate and enlist hu-manity to protect and restore thequality of the natural and humanenvironment; and to use all lawfulmeans to carry out these objectives.

DON’T FORGETTO VOTE!

IN THIS ISSUE:• SIERRA CLUB ENDORSEMENTS

OF LOCAL, STATE,AND NATIONAL CANDIDATES,PAGE 6

• AN INTERVIEW WITHGEOFFREY FIEGER,CHALLENGER TO ENGLER FORTHE GOVERNOR’S SEAT,PAGE 5

• MACKINAC CHAPTEREXECUTIVE COMMITTEECANDIDATE STATEMENTS,PAGE 16

the mackinac - sierra club · 2014-12-11 · ber) by the sierra club’s mackinac chapter, 300 n....

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