Great Lake Bulletin Spring 1998

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Lawmakers Take UpProposal for Better Oiland Gas Planning
Would Enact Model Used in the Pigeon River Country

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The House Forestry and Mineral Rights Committee is holding hearings in Lansing on a proposal thatwould significantly strengthen citizen oversight of and planning for oil and gas development in Michigan.Introduced by committee Chairman David Anthony, (D-Escanaba), the proposal is based on therecommendations in Rivers at Risk, a report published by the Institute last year.
Rep. Anthony's proposal requires the oil and gas industry to work with state regulators, citizens, and localgovernments to prepare formal plans that guide the installation of wells, pipelines, and processing stationsalong the Great Lakes coastline and in the sensitive watersheds of northern Michigan. The intent of theproposal is to promote the orderly development of Michigan's valuable oil and gas reserves, protect theenvironment, safeguard communities, and ensure maximum economic returns to taxpayers.
Such goals would be realized by establishing Citizen Advisory Councils in watersheds to assist theindustry and the state in preparing development plans before exploration occurs. The 12-member councilswould be made up of state officials, local government leaders, residents, and industry executives
Rep. Anthony said the law is needed because the "record shows the Department of Environmental Qualityis not adequately managing the industry," and that the DEQ's rulings have favored oil and gas companies atthe expense of the environment, communities, and private property owners. He added that having the law inplace would reduce conflicts and address "the needs of local communities and local governments."
The proposal is supported by leading conservation organizations, including Trout Unlimited, Friends of theJordan River Valley Watershed, Anglers of the Au Sable, Michigan Environmental Council, NorthernMichigan Environmental Action Council, and the Grand Traverse Audubon Club. Resolutions supporting theproposal have been adopted by the Antrim County Board of Commissioners and six townships in northernMichigan.
However the Engler Administration is siding with the energy industry and some legislators to block theproposal. Industry executives insist that they already are burdened with too many requirements. The stateofficial in charge of oil and gas regulation, DEQ Geological Survey Division Chief Hal Fitch, backs up theindustry's assessment and says that implementing oil and gas development planning would "require too muchbureaucracy."
Rep. Anthony counters his opponents by pointing out that the planning process would use existingenvironmental data, local expertise, and industry technology to:
• Coordinate permitting decisions with local land use plans to reduce the conflicts among oil and gasdevelopment and residential and recreation uses.
• Identify acceptable areas for oil and gas development.
• Identify the most environmentally-sensitive areas that should be placed off-limits to drilling.
• Establish specific criteria to guide oil and gas development in other areas, emphasizing directional
drilling technology and sharing pipeline corridors and access roads.

• Establish appropriate setbacks from sand dunes,
wetlands, surface water, parks and residences.
• Restrict the use of buried on-site waste pits.
Rep. Anthony's proposal contains recommendationsendorsed by a number of state commissions since 1980that reached the same conclusion: There is a need forMichigan to establish comprehensive planning for oiland gas development.
The most recent study was completed last Octoberby the Michigan Environmental Science Board, whichcalled for "comprehensive environmental planning" thatincludes "communication between all stakeholders," andthe use of local land use plans'" before drilling isallowed on the Great Lakes shoreline.
CONTACT:Rep. David Anthony, State Capitol, P.O.Box 30014, Lansing, MI 48909-7514. 517-373-0156,danthon@house.state.mi.us.

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Rep. David Anthony, left, consults with an aide
on a proposal he is sponsoring to promote theorderly development of Michigan's valuable oiland gas reserves, protect the environment,safeguard communities, and ensure maximumeconomic returns to taxpayers.



Lawmakers Take UpProposal for Better Oiland Gas Planning Would Enact Model Used in the Pigeon River Country

	The House Forestry and Mineral Rights Committee is holding hearings in Lansing on a proposal thatwould significantly strengthen citizen oversight of and planning for oil and gas development in Michigan.Introduced by committee Chairman David Anthony, (D-Escanaba), the proposal is based on therecommendations in Rivers at Risk, a report published by the Institute last year. Rep. Anthony's proposal requires the oil and gas industry to work with state regulators, citizens, and localgovernments to prepare formal plans that guide the installation of wells, pipelines, and processing stationsalong the Great Lakes coastline and in the sensitive watersheds of northern Michigan. The intent of theproposal is to promote the orderly development of Michigan's valuable oil and gas reserves, protect theenvironment, safeguard communities, and ensure maximum economic returns to taxpayers. Such goals would be realized by establishing Citizen Advisory Councils in watersheds to assist theindustry and the state in preparing development plans before exploration occurs. The 12-member councilswould be made up of state officials, local government leaders, residents, and industry executives Rep. Anthony said the law is needed because the "record shows the Department of Environmental Qualityis not adequately managing the industry," and that the DEQ's rulings have favored oil and gas companies atthe expense of the environment, communities, and private property owners. He added that having the law inplace would reduce conflicts and address "the needs of local communities and local governments." The proposal is supported by leading conservation organizations, including Trout Unlimited, Friends of theJordan River Valley Watershed, Anglers of the Au Sable, Michigan Environmental Council, NorthernMichigan Environmental Action Council, and the Grand Traverse Audubon Club. Resolutions supporting theproposal have been adopted by the Antrim County Board of Commissioners and six townships in northernMichigan. However the Engler Administration is siding with the energy industry and some legislators to block theproposal. Industry executives insist that they already are burdened with too many requirements. The stateofficial in charge of oil and gas regulation, DEQ Geological Survey Division Chief Hal Fitch, backs up theindustry's assessment and says that implementing oil and gas development planning would "require too muchbureaucracy." Rep. Anthony counters his opponents by pointing out that the planning process would use existingenvironmental data, local expertise, and industry technology to: • Coordinate permitting decisions with local land use plans to reduce the conflicts among oil and gasdevelopment and residential and recreation uses. • Identify acceptable areas for oil and gas development. • Identify the most environmentally-sensitive areas that should be placed off-limits to drilling. • Establish specific criteria to guide oil and gas development in other areas, emphasizing directional drilling technology and sharing pipeline corridors and access roads.
• Establish appropriate setbacks from sand dunes, wetlands, surface water, parks and residences. • Restrict the use of buried on-site waste pits. Rep. Anthony's proposal contains recommendationsendorsed by a number of state commissions since 1980that reached the same conclusion: There is a need forMichigan to establish comprehensive planning for oiland gas development. The most recent study was completed last Octoberby the Michigan Environmental Science Board, whichcalled for "comprehensive environmental planning" thatincludes "communication between all stakeholders," andthe use of local land use plans'" before drilling isallowed on the Great Lakes shoreline. CONTACT:Rep. David Anthony, State Capitol, P.O.Box 30014, Lansing, MI 48909-7514. 517-373-0156,danthon@house.state.mi.us.

		Rep. David Anthony, left, consults with an aide on a proposal he is sponsoring to promote theorderly development of Michigan's valuable oiland gas reserves, protect the environment,safeguard communities, and ensure maximumeconomic returns to taxpayers.