As part of the new Department of Natural Resources and the Environment's (DNRE) consolidation effort, one of the concepts from the old DNR is being updated and promoted statewide to provide an opportunity for ongoing dialogue between the department and the public. The DNRE has recently announced that it will be creating four new, regional Citizen Advisory Councils in the Lower Peninsula. These councils will be similar to the existing Upper Peninsula Advisory Council and will be organized based upon the Lake Michigan and Lake Huron watershed regions.
Details of this new effort can be found on the DNRE website . The department plans on using these councils, of up to 20 Michigan residents, to take input from the public and to educate the residents in each of those regions on the policies and programs being implemented by the department. Also on this web site, interested residents can access an application and information on the councils and regions. Please note that applications are due by next Monday, 10/25. I have a call in to the DNRE Director’s office for further guidance on their selection process and to express to them the importance of including a municipal voice within each council. I encourage those of you with an interest in environmental or natural resource regulation to consider submitting an application if one of the councils are being set up in your region. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Chris Hackbarth handles environmental issues for the Michigan Municipal League. Chris can be reached at 517-908-0303, or by email at chackbarth@mml.org.
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