The Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) will meet on Thursday, March 5, in Lansing for its regular monthly meeting. The commission will meet at the Lansing Center, located at 333 E. Michigan in downtown Lansing.

Prior to the regular business meeting, several of the NRC's policy committees will hold public meetings.

In a departure from its normal setting, the NRC Policy Committee on Finance and Administration will meet at 8:45 a.m. in Rooms 402 and 403 of the State Capitol Building. The committee will hear reports on the Fiscal Year 2010 proposed budget, the Game and Fish Protection Fund, the State Park Improvement Fund and the Forest Development Fund.

At 10:15 a.m., the NRC Policy Committee on Parks and Recreation will meet in Room 202 of the Lansing Center. The committee will hear reports on the State Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan, parks funding proposals, the Urban Outreach Initiative, and receive updates on outdoor recreation programs and recruitment activities and camping in state parks and state forest campgrounds.

At 12:30 p.m., the NRC Policy Committee on Wildlife and Fisheries will meet in Room 202 of the Lansing Center. The committee will hear a presentation on the statewide bear management plan, and review proposed wildlife regulation changes for bear, elk, field trial areas and taxidermy. The committee also will receive the final report on bovine tuberculosis surveillance for 2008.

The Committee of the Whole will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 201 of the Lansing Center. The committee will discuss the director's action items, receive a legislative update and Washington D.C. report, review the monthly spend plan and the Michigan Recreation and Park Association Awards.

Public appearances before the NRC start at 4:30 p.m. Persons wishing to give public comment to the commission should contact Teresa Gloden, NRC executive assistant, at (517) 373-2352 at glodent@michigan.gov. Persons can also contact Gloden at the meeting site to sign up for the public comment period.

The NRC will take action on regulation changes for crossbow use in Michigan. Changes being considered include: making crossbows legal during any hunting season in which a firearm is legal to use; making crossbows legal in Zone 3 during the Dec. 1 to Jan. 1 bow and arrow deer season; and making crossbows legal for seniors, 65 and older, during any deer hunting season.

Department of Natural Resources Director Rebecca Humphries also will consider authorizing several land transactions during the meeting.

For more information on the NRC, including the meeting agenda and related documents, as well as past meeting minutes, go to www.michigan.gov/nrc.