July 30, 2004

On July 30, the Department of Environmental Quality released for public comment a draft General Permit to authorize limited removal of vegetation on specified areas of Great Lakes bottomlands. Part 303, Wetlands Protection, and Part 325, Great Lakes Submerged Lands, of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, were amended in June of 2003 to streamline the approval process for control of vegetation on exposed Great Lakes bottomlands. Among other provisions, these amendments reflect the Legislature’s expectation that the DEQ develop a General Permit for removal of vegetation in the area between the ordinary high water mark and the water’s edge.

This General Permit includes exposed Great Lakes bottomlands in two pilot areas previously designated by the Director of the DEQ: Saginaw Bay and Grand Traverse Bay. If the General Permit is issued, an application for authorization under this General Permit may be submitted to the DEQ by a local unit of government on behalf of property owners within its jurisdiction, or by one or more adjacent property owners for riparian property located within the same county. No additional public notice is required prior to approval of such a request by the department.

Issuance of authorization for these activities pursuant to this General Permit will not eliminate the need for other applicable local, state, or federal permits. A separate permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is required for removal of vegetation from Great Lakes Bottomlands.

The public notice and draft permit are available for review at www.michigan.gov/deqgreatlakes. Comments regarding the proposed General Permit may be submitted in writing to: Mr. Martin Jannereth, Department of Environmental Quality, Geological and Land Management Division, P.O. Box 30458, Lansing, MI 48909-7958 for by fax at 517-335-3451, or e-mail at jannerem@michigan.gov.

All comments must be received no later than the close of business, September 13, 2004.

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