Great Lake Bulletin Winter 1997

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Institute Updates

New Grants Awarded

The Institute's work to gain greater oversight over energy development and to assist communities in cur- tailing sprawl was supported by new grants from a number of organizations in the second half of 1996:

*The Institute received $15,000 from The Ruth Mott Fund in Flint to support the Michigan Energy Reform Coalition.The funding will substantially contribute to the salaries of three full-time researcher/writers and a part-time assistant, and help to cover office, travel, and publishing expenses.

* The Alpern Foundation in New York provided $5,000 for computer equipment and general program support.

* The redesign and publication of the Great Lakes Bulletin is supported by a $5,000 grant from The Seabury Foundation in Chicago, and by a $3,000 research grant from the Michigan Environmental Council.

* The Michigan Environmental Council also has awarded the Institute $5,000 to support work in Northwest Michigan on MEC's statewide Land Stewardship Initiative. (see article on page 9).

* The American Institute for Foreign Study Foundation gave the Institute $2,000 to support a graduate student internship in the summer of 1996.

Other organizations funding the Institute's work are The Joyce Foundation, The Frey Foundation, and The Borwell Charitable Foundation.

We wish to thank these organizations for their generosity, and for their confidence in our work. We are for- tunate for the commitment they have shown to the Institute and to the quality of life in Northwest Michigan.

Institute Report On National Parkland "Swap" - Basis for Action

A study by the Institute played an important role last summer in blocking a private developer's proposal to obtain 204 acres of public land within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore to add a golf course and more homes to Leelanau County's Homestead Resort.
The report found that the proposal, which involved an exchange of private land for federal park land, was a "distortion of the national park ideal," that "would subvert the national interest." Its principal findings were cited by U.S. Representative Bart Stupak, whose opposition to the proposal effectively nixed the idea in Congress.
The Homestead Swap: Trading Public Land for Private Gain in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, was commissioned by the Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council, a Traverse City based group.Additional support was provided by the Sierra Club, the National Parks and Conservation Association, Friends of the Crystal River, and interested citizens.
The study also reached these conclusions:
* The Homestead swap appeared to have no "demonstrable benefit to the nation," which is a requirement of land exchanges involving a national park. In almost every way, the trade was structured to benefit a single individual.
* The swap appeared to violate the key land acquisition provision of the enabling legislation that established the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
* Such an exchange would have no precedent in the 124-year history of the national parks. * Had Congress approved the Homestead swap, it would have whittled away land and resources from the National Park System, and undermined the credibility of the National Park Service.

Public Trust Alliance Responds To Radical Property Rights Agenda

Michigan is undergoing a steady erosion of its once-commendable stewardship of public health, natural resources, and the land.An extremist property rights movement is persuading state and local officials, with increasing success, that environmental laws and regulations jeopardize Constitutional protections and personal freedoms.
The Institute is managing a new statewide project, known as the Public Trust Alliance, that will address this issue. The project articulates a new environmental vision to recapture the public imagination by stressing fairness, sound economic goals, and shared civic responsibility.
Joining the Institute in the Public Trust Alliance are the Mackinac Chapter of the Sierra Club, the Michigan Environmental Council, the East Michigan Environmental Action Council, and the Michigan United Conservation Clubs.
The Public Trust Alliance will:
* Develop an effective research and public education program.
* Build a broad base of support for reversing state government decisions that are harming the public interest for the benefit of a few.
* Coordinate a network of citizen advocates to defend existing laws, and promote enlightened public policy through administrative, legislative, and judicial action.
* Establish a quick response team to assist local leaders, organize news conferences, and mobilize citizens at the grass roots when radical property rights initiatives threaten to undermine the public good.u

For more information about the Public Trust Alliance and how you can participate, contact the Institute at 616-882-4723.




			Institute Updates
		New Grants Awarded The Institute's work to gain greater oversight over energy development and to assist communities in cur- tailing sprawl was supported by new grants from a number of organizations in the second half of 1996: The Institute received $15,000 from The Ruth Mott Fund in Flint to support the Michigan Energy Reform Coalition.The funding will substantially contribute to the salaries of three full-time researcher/writers and a part-time assistant, and help to cover office, travel, and publishing expenses. The Alpern Foundation in New York provided $5,000 for computer equipment and general program support. * The redesign and publication of the Great Lakes Bulletin is supported by a $5,000 grant from The Seabury Foundation in Chicago, and by a $3,000 research grant from the Michigan Environmental Council. * The Michigan Environmental Council also has awarded the Institute $5,000 to support work in Northwest Michigan on MEC's statewide Land Stewardship Initiative. (see article on page 9). * The American Institute for Foreign Study Foundation gave the Institute $2,000 to support a graduate student internship in the summer of 1996. Other organizations funding the Institute's work are The Joyce Foundation, The Frey Foundation, and The Borwell Charitable Foundation. We wish to thank these organizations for their generosity, and for their confidence in our work. We are for- tunate for the commitment they have shown to the Institute and to the quality of life in Northwest Michigan. Institute Report On National Parkland "Swap" - Basis for Action A study by the Institute played an important role last summer in blocking a private developer's proposal to obtain 204 acres of public land within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore to add a golf course and more homes to Leelanau County's Homestead Resort. The report found that the proposal, which involved an exchange of private land for federal park land, was a "distortion of the national park ideal," that "would subvert the national interest." Its principal findings were cited by U.S. Representative Bart Stupak, whose opposition to the proposal effectively nixed the idea in Congress. The Homestead Swap: Trading Public Land for Private Gain in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, was commissioned by the Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council, a Traverse City based group.Additional support was provided by the Sierra Club, the National Parks and Conservation Association, Friends of the Crystal River, and interested citizens. The study also reached these conclusions: * The Homestead swap appeared to have no "demonstrable benefit to the nation," which is a requirement of land exchanges involving a national park. In almost every way, the trade was structured to benefit a single individual. * The swap appeared to violate the key land acquisition provision of the enabling legislation that established the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. * Such an exchange would have no precedent in the 124-year history of the national parks. * Had Congress approved the Homestead swap, it would have whittled away land and resources from the National Park System, and undermined the credibility of the National Park Service. Public Trust Alliance Responds To Radical Property Rights Agenda Michigan is undergoing a steady erosion of its once-commendable stewardship of public health, natural resources, and the land.An extremist property rights movement is persuading state and local officials, with increasing success, that environmental laws and regulations jeopardize Constitutional protections and personal freedoms. The Institute is managing a new statewide project, known as the Public Trust Alliance, that will address this issue. The project articulates a new environmental vision to recapture the public imagination by stressing fairness, sound economic goals, and shared civic responsibility. Joining the Institute in the Public Trust Alliance are the Mackinac Chapter of the Sierra Club, the Michigan Environmental Council, the East Michigan Environmental Action Council, and the Michigan United Conservation Clubs. The Public Trust Alliance will: * Develop an effective research and public education program. * Build a broad base of support for reversing state government decisions that are harming the public interest for the benefit of a few. * Coordinate a network of citizen advocates to defend existing laws, and promote enlightened public policy through administrative, legislative, and judicial action. * Establish a quick response team to assist local leaders, organize news conferences, and mobilize citizens at the grass roots when radical property rights initiatives threaten to undermine the public good.u For more information about the Public Trust Alliance and how you can participate, contact the Institute at 616-882-4723.