Annual Report

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Michigan Land Use Institute
1997Annual Report

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Special Reports
Green Scissors Michigan.
In May the Institute joined with the Washington-based Taxpayers
for Common Sense to publish this study, which documented $2.8 billion
in wasteful taxpayer-funded projects that harm Michigan's environment.
TheDetroit Free Presscommended the Institute and said in an editorial,
"Such studies help counter the claim that environmentalists stand in the
way of progress; by showing how much this "progress"costs taxpayers,
it helps clarify the tradeoffs to the public, not just to developers."
A Comprehensive Proposal to Protect the Public from Dangerous Exposures to Hydrogen Sulfide.
This special report was prepared in July with the assistance of
Manistee County's Filer Township, the citizen-led Human Health and
Safety (H₂S) Committee, and citizens in Mason County. It made a credible scientific case for state regulators to develop a public safety program for hydrogen sulfide and to establish a new public exposure limit to protect citizens. In response, Russell Harding, Director of the Department of Environmental Quality, announced in December that he would establish a hydrogen sulfide safety program to prevent accidents and improve industry practices.

BenzieCounty Wetlands:A Resource Worth Protecting.
Published in August, this report helps educate residents about a
prime natural resource that is integral to the county's economy, environment, and water quality. The Institute released the report at a public
meeting in Honor that attracted local governments officials, citizen
advocates, realtors, and developers. The report initiated a community-
wide effort to learn about local wetlands and support officials in their
land management efforts.

Rivers at Risk.
The most ambitious research and publishing project in the Institute's
history, this report calls for reviving the model energy development
planning principles devised in 1980 for the Pigeon River Country State
Forest.Rivers at Risksets out a plan of action for convincing state
government to employ this model to protect natural resources in nine
northern Michigan watersheds threatened by haphazard oil and gas
drilling.
The recommendations inRivers at Riskbecame the basis of new
legislation introduced in the state House of Representatives. TheDetroit
Free Presscalled the Institute's recommendations "sensible and far-
seeing."Glen Sheppard, editor of the North Woods Call, praised the
report, calling it "vividly documented,"and adding that the Institute
"has done more to focus public awareness, and bring about change, than
all the rest of us since the Antrim sprawl started."

Supporting Citizens at the Grass Roots

Protecting People From the Hazards of Poisonous Hydrogen Sulfide. In August 1996 a release of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) from a natural
gas well near Manistee, along the northern coast of Lake Michigan,
injured 11 people. H₂S is as toxic as cyanide and is a known hazard of
oil and gas drilling. The Institute joined with citizens in Manistee and
Mason counties, and with the Filer Township board. The goal is to
protect citizens by gaining a new H₂S public health exposure standard.
• The plan of action attracted support from U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, Congressman Pete Hoekstra, and State Representatives Karen Willard and
Tom Alley.
• The Department of Environmental Quality and the Michigan Public
Service Commission held two public meetings in northern Michigan to
explore the safety issues.
• Dana Schindler, a Filer Township resident, documented dozens of H₂S-
related accidents in Manistee and Mason counties. Ms. Schindler's
exceptional work, first published in theGreat Lakes Bulletin, refuted the
industry's contention that "there is no problem."
• The DEQ issued a new regulation banning the industrial activity that
led to the Manistee Township accident, and later announced a much
broader policy to protect public health.

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			Michigan Land Use Institute 1997Annual Report (continued from previous page)
			Special Reports Green Scissors Michigan. In May the Institute joined with the Washington-based Taxpayers for Common Sense to publish this study, which documented $2.8 billion in wasteful taxpayer-funded projects that harm Michigan's environment. TheDetroit Free Presscommended the Institute and said in an editorial, "Such studies help counter the claim that environmentalists stand in the way of progress; by showing how much this "progress"costs taxpayers, it helps clarify the tradeoffs to the public, not just to developers." A Comprehensive Proposal to Protect the Public from Dangerous Exposures to Hydrogen Sulfide. This special report was prepared in July with the assistance of Manistee County's Filer Township, the citizen-led Human Health and Safety (H₂S) Committee, and citizens in Mason County. It made a credible scientific case for state regulators to develop a public safety program for hydrogen sulfide and to establish a new public exposure limit to protect citizens. In response, Russell Harding, Director of the Department of Environmental Quality, announced in December that he would establish a hydrogen sulfide safety program to prevent accidents and improve industry practices. BenzieCounty Wetlands:A Resource Worth Protecting. Published in August, this report helps educate residents about a prime natural resource that is integral to the county's economy, environment, and water quality. The Institute released the report at a public meeting in Honor that attracted local governments officials, citizen advocates, realtors, and developers. The report initiated a community- wide effort to learn about local wetlands and support officials in their land management efforts. Rivers at Risk. The most ambitious research and publishing project in the Institute's history, this report calls for reviving the model energy development planning principles devised in 1980 for the Pigeon River Country State Forest.Rivers at Risksets out a plan of action for convincing state government to employ this model to protect natural resources in nine northern Michigan watersheds threatened by haphazard oil and gas drilling. The recommendations inRivers at Riskbecame the basis of new legislation introduced in the state House of Representatives. TheDetroit Free Presscalled the Institute's recommendations "sensible and far- seeing."Glen Sheppard, editor of the North Woods Call, praised the report, calling it "vividly documented,"and adding that the Institute "has done more to focus public awareness, and bring about change, than all the rest of us since the Antrim sprawl started." Supporting Citizens at the Grass Roots Protecting People From the Hazards of Poisonous Hydrogen Sulfide. In August 1996 a release of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) from a natural gas well near Manistee, along the northern coast of Lake Michigan, injured 11 people. H₂S is as toxic as cyanide and is a known hazard of oil and gas drilling. The Institute joined with citizens in Manistee and Mason counties, and with the Filer Township board. The goal is to protect citizens by gaining a new H₂S public health exposure standard. • The plan of action attracted support from U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, Congressman Pete Hoekstra, and State Representatives Karen Willard and Tom Alley. • The Department of Environmental Quality and the Michigan Public Service Commission held two public meetings in northern Michigan to explore the safety issues. • Dana Schindler, a Filer Township resident, documented dozens of H₂S- related accidents in Manistee and Mason counties. Ms. Schindler's exceptional work, first published in theGreat Lakes Bulletin, refuted the industry's contention that "there is no problem." • The DEQ issued a new regulation banning the industrial activity that led to the Manistee Township accident, and later announced a much broader policy to protect public health. (continuedon next page)