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Our State Cleanup Laws
Are Under Attack

TELL THE SENATE
TO OPPOSE THE BILL

>>> See the sample email below

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- December 1, 2005

Legislators trying to protect Dow Chemical are proposing to change the way the State manages our cleanup laws with negative consequences for everyone in Michigan. HB 4617 would remove the state's ability to designate some property as a "facility" or potentially contaminated. An amendment would also allow the polluter to decide whether a property can receive the designation.

The result will be more expensive cleanups, slower cleanups, and increased liability for individual property owners whose property may be contaminated. Residents may actually lose the ability to force polluters to pay! In addition, the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" provisions of the bill would prevent property owners from knowing that their property is contaminated, would prevent future owners from being informed, and would prevent the DEQ from doing anything about it, even if the property owners wanted help.

We need your help to send a strong message to the Senate that this bill actually diminishes the rights of owners, and future owners of properties. HB 4617 is strongly opposed by environmental organizations and by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.

The MDEQ says the bill would:

  • Increase the cost of cleanup for both the state and other parties

  • Slow progress in cleaning up contaminated sites

  • Prevent many properties from being eligible for state and local financial incentives that support redevelopment.

  • Prevent the state from undertaking investigation and cleanup actions on a 'homestead' regardless of whether the homestead property owner wanted that work to be done.

  • Prevent prospective purchasers and lessees of contaminated property from getting important information about the contamination through disclosure provisions of Part 201.

  • Potentially create important and potentially negative implications for the state budget and for local units of government.


This bill is an attempt by the legislature to weaken the authority of the DEQ to protect the resources including our Great Lakes!

Please email the Senate Majority leader and tell him you don't want the bill to move forward.

A sample email can be found below.

Also, please sign this petition to force Dow to clean up its mess.



Senator Ken Sikkema
P.O. Box 30036
Lansing, MI  48909-7536
(517) 373-0797

senksikkema@senate.michigan.gov

Dear Senator Sikkema,

I am strongly opposed to HB 4617 and urge you to work against the passage of this bill.  The bill will threaten my rights as a property owner if my property is contaminated by another party. This bill would actually put homeowners and property owners at the mercy of the very company that contaminated their property. The bill is also bad for Michigan. The bill will:

  • Increase the cost of cleanup for both the state and other parties

  • Slow progress in cleaning up contaminated sites

  • Prevent many properties from being eligible for state and local financial incentives that support redevelopment.

  • Prevent the state from undertaking investigation and cleanup actions on a 'homestead' regardless of whether the homestead property owner wanted that work to be done.

  • Prevent prospective purchasers and lessees of contaminated property from getting important information about the contamination through disclosure provisions of Part 201.

  • Potentially create important and potentially negative implications for the state budget and for local units of government.

  • Is a bold stroke by the legislature to weaken the authority of DEQ to protect resources including our Great Lakes!


I urge you to oppose the passage of this bill in any form. Michigan needs a clean environment for our health, and the long term health of our economy.

Sincerely,

 

 


    For more information, contact:
    
    Tracey Easthope, Ecology Center:  (734) 761-3186

 


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