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To the Journal editor:
Michigan House Bill 5536 could deregulate over one million acres of Michigan's wetlands. Yes, you read that right. Introduced by state Rep. David Martin, R-Grand Blanc earlier this year, HB 5536 has passed the Michigan House of Representatives and now awaits consideration in the Senate Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee.
HB 5536 would impose the federal government's narrow interpretation of the Clean Water Act on Michigan's wetlands, requiring that wetlands have a direct surface connection to federally-regulated "Waters of the United States" in order to be worthy of the state's protection. In other words, any wetland that is physically separated from a lake, river, or stream could be deregulated. Wetlands that are connected only seasonally or via groundwater (which wetland science tells us many are) could also be deregulated.
According to analysis by the Natural Resources Defense Council, 3 of the top 10 Michigan counties with the most wetlands at risk of deregulation due to the federal "Waters of the United States" standard are located in the Upper Peninsula; Delta County, Mackinac County, and Schoolcraft County. Over 200,000 acres of wetlands in Delta County alone could be deregulated if HB 5536 becomes law. Statewide, that number climbs to over 1.5 million acres. That means they could be drained, filled and destroyed without any permit or environmental oversight.
To make matters worse, federal rules on what "Waters of the United States" means has changed six times since 2015. HB 5536 would tie state law to that ever-changing standard. Meanwhile, Michigan has had a consistent and nationally-renowned wetland protection program since 1979.
If you believe Michigan should maintain its wetland protections, please contact your state senator and members of the Senate Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee and tell them to reject HB 5536.