Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven E. Chester today announced four appointments to the newly formed Water Resources Advisory Council. The WRAC was created as part of the recent package of legislation signed by Governor Jennifer M. Granholm that enacted the Great Lakes Compact agreement and created a new water withdrawal management framework to implement the Compact within Michigan.

The four appointments made by Director Chester are Craig Hoffman - representing nonagricultural irrigators; Mike Newman - representing the aggregate industry; James Clift - representing environmental organizations; and Jon Coleman - representing the general public. All four were previously members of the Groundwater Conservation Advisory Council.

The WRAC is charged with a variety of actions to further the development of Michigan's water withdrawal management framework.

Editor's note: DEQ news releases are available on the department's Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

"Protecting Michigan's Environment, Ensuring Michigan's Future"

Revised August 11, 2008 by Pat Watson