NEWS LETTER ... MARCH 5, 1970 GRAND MERE ASSOCIATION _ Box 140 Stevensville, Michigan 49127 Legislative Report On January 21st several members of the Grand Mere Board attend the Public Hearing in Lansing, on a new piece of proposed legislation, HB 3055, initiated to control water and air pollution. This House Bill was prepared by Dr. Joseph L. Sax, Professor of Law, University of Michigan, and is being sponsored by Thomas J. Anderson, Chairman, Committee on Conservation and Recreation, and Warren Goemere, Vice-Chairman, House of Representatives. House Bill 3055 is known as the "Natural Resources Conservation and En- vironmental Protection Act." The author of the Bill states "the statute simply authorizes the Attorney General, local government entities, and private citizens to bring suit when they believe any public or private program, or product is having an unnecessarily adverse impact upon the qualtity of our environment. The group is authorized to take evidence on this claim, and if it finds it justified to enter an order prohibiting such destructive conduct or limiting it to minimize or prohibit its destructive aspects. The main thrust of the act would permit private citizens (or groups such as ours) to sue to protect the public interest. The Bill has been carefully drawn to protect the rights and authority of regulatory agencies to carry out their duties. Of the 500 people at the Hearing, more than 35 people spoke in favor of the Bill including very eloquent speeches by ecologists, biologists, professors, lawyers, and heads of organizations such as the Michigan PTA, Michigan Jaycees, the AUW, the Sierra Club, the President of MUCC to name only a few. Members of the Department of Natural Resources spoke and were very much in favor of the Bill. In conversation with both Mr. Anderson and Mr. Goemere, after the Hearing, jt was learned that hundreds of letters had reached them before the Public Hearing, and many had been sent from the St. Joe/Benton Harbor area. They have urged all of us to write our Senator and Representatives requesting support of this Bill. Ray Mittan and Don Pears, House of Representatives, State Capital Building, Lansing, Michigan. We must thank The West Michigan Environmental Action Council of Grand Rapids for alerting us to this legislation. SAND REMOVAL A mineral removal ordinance for Lincoln Township will be brought up at the Township meeting on March 10, 1970. This ordinance will stipulate the conditions under which sand may be removed from Grand Mere. We feel that the ordinance, as it is written, does not prohibit sand mining of the dunes. Therefore, we have requested what we feel are necessary changes. If you are interested in saving the dunes, please attend this meeting. Resignations -- Due to the pressing need for time relative to their employment both Frank Bevilaque and Janet Wach (our very efficient secretary for two years) has found it necessary to submit their resignations as members of the Board of Directors. It is with deep regret we have accepted their resignations. Ralph Williams, our very able Natural Preserve Chairman has had to relinquish this post to devote full time to his new job as director of the Lew Sarrett Audubon Sanctuary. He will always be available for consultation on the plans he had for our Preserve. His post has been filled by Robert Kerns. Bob and his wife and four youngsters live near Glendora. He is employed at the Gast Manufacturing Company and has 2-1/2 years at the American School of Conservation. Peter Roe and Robert Kerns have been appointed to fill vacancies on the Board and Mrs. Evert Holm and Mrs. Walker Benning will serve as alternates. Local News - Dunes Preservation It was gratifying to note that when the Berrien County Planning Commission and Park Commissioners met in January to hear Planning Consultant Jacob Driker of Birmingham, Michigan, point out very grafically that, among other things, the Dunes in Lincoln and Lake Township should be preserved. He said, "These natural resources could be preserved through a combined effort of private, local municipality, county and state agencies." He recommended an emphasized preservation of natural scenery, because the more formal parks designed for group activity can be built or bought almost anywhere. We of the Grand Mere Association agree wholeheartedly with Mr. Driker. We hope the County Commissioners take his valuable advice. Local News - Ice Skating Some of the old timers in the area became very nostalgic recently when they learned that North Grand Mere Lake was now being revived as the community skating arena. Mrs. Robert Richardson is teaching those "fancy figures" on Saturday mornings. Mrs. Richardson is President of the Lakeshore Women's Club and a member of the Grand Mere Association. Our thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Hollman, Joe Ray, and Al Braga for flooding the rink and to Harry Gast for his cooperation in plowing off the snow so that the ice would be in good condition. We hope this is the beginning of another successful recreation program for our local youngsters on beautiful North Lake.