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Citizen Participation
State Closes the Door

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Government Leaders
Centralize Power,
Call It Reform
By Hans Voss

A decade ago Michigan set the standard for
involving citizens in decisions affecting the
environment. Today, after the Engler
Administration eliminated 19 citizen advisory
councils and established unprecedented
authority in the hands of political appointees,
Michigan is the only Great Lakes state without
an oversight board to review decisions on
environmental policy-making or permitting.

"It's the purest, most direct form of government.
The people elect the Governor, and the Governor
appoints people who make decisions."
~ Ken Silfven, press secretary for the DEQ

Since 1991, the Engler Administration has eliminated or seriously weakened all of the citizen advisory and
oversight boards that participated in decisions about what happens to Michigan's air, water, and land. Political
appointees now make state environmental policy without the public debate that once was the norm.
Supporters of Gov. John Engler's actions say they result in more efficiency and rightfully put decision-making
authority in the hands of trained professionals.
Opponents say that in the name of reform, the Governor has cut substance instead of excess -- that the
elimination of citizen oversight has placed Michigan's natural resources at risk, made government less
democratic, and raised costs and inefficiency by increasing public discontent.
All involved would agree, however, that the Engler Administration's actions have set a new course for
Michigan's environmental policy.
With a Few Strokes of the Pen
The Governor's actions shortly after taking office were swift and decisive:
• In 1991, he eliminated by Executive Order 19 citizen advisory councils that provided important oversight of
state decisions affecting natural resources. Among them were the widely respected Air Pollution Control
Commission and the Water Resources Commission, two citizen councils that held the authority to grant and
deny permits and which built a reputation as fair and objective tribunals.
• The same year, the Governor used his administrative powers to significantly weaken the
independent authority of the Natural Resources Commission, the citizen oversight body for the Department of
Natural Resources that once was free to take uncommon leadership on some of Michigan's thorniest environmental
debates. Now most of the NRC's decision-making authority has been transferred to the director of the DNR.
• In 1995, the Governor created a new state agency, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), and
gave it responsibility for water and air quality, waste management, wetlands, sand dunes, and oil and gas
regulation. All of these functions had previously been handled by the DNR. The DEQ reports directly to the
Governor's Office, making Michigan the only Great Lakes state without an oversight board to review
decisions on environmental policy making or permitting.
(continued on next page)



	Citizen Participation State Closes the Door
	Citizen Participation State Closes the Door
Government Leaders Centralize Power, Call It Reform By Hans Voss
			A decade ago Michigan set the standard for involving citizens in decisions affecting the environment. Today, after the Engler Administration eliminated 19 citizen advisory councils and established unprecedented authority in the hands of political appointees, Michigan is the only Great Lakes state without an oversight board to review decisions on environmental policy-making or permitting.
		"It's the purest, most direct form of government. The people elect the Governor, and the Governor appoints people who make decisions." ~ Ken Silfven, press secretary for the DEQ
Since 1991, the Engler Administration has eliminated or seriously weakened all of the citizen advisory and oversight boards that participated in decisions about what happens to Michigan's air, water, and land. Political appointees now make state environmental policy without the public debate that once was the norm. Supporters of Gov. John Engler's actions say they result in more efficiency and rightfully put decision-making authority in the hands of trained professionals. Opponents say that in the name of reform, the Governor has cut substance instead of excess -- that the elimination of citizen oversight has placed Michigan's natural resources at risk, made government less democratic, and raised costs and inefficiency by increasing public discontent. All involved would agree, however, that the Engler Administration's actions have set a new course for Michigan's environmental policy. With a Few Strokes of the Pen The Governor's actions shortly after taking office were swift and decisive: • In 1991, he eliminated by Executive Order 19 citizen advisory councils that provided important oversight of state decisions affecting natural resources. Among them were the widely respected Air Pollution Control Commission and the Water Resources Commission, two citizen councils that held the authority to grant and deny permits and which built a reputation as fair and objective tribunals. • The same year, the Governor used his administrative powers to significantly weaken the independent authority of the Natural Resources Commission, the citizen oversight body for the Department of Natural Resources that once was free to take uncommon leadership on some of Michigan's thorniest environmental debates. Now most of the NRC's decision-making authority has been transferred to the director of the DNR. • In 1995, the Governor created a new state agency, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), and gave it responsibility for water and air quality, waste management, wetlands, sand dunes, and oil and gas regulation. All of these functions had previously been handled by the DNR. The DEQ reports directly to the Governor's Office, making Michigan the only Great Lakes state without an oversight board to review decisions on environmental policy making or permitting. (continued on next page)