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DNR Policies

Terms of use

The DNR website and applications are provided as a public service and are owned and operated by the State of Michigan (the State).

If you visit DNR websites or applications, you agree to these terms and policies.

All content on DNR websites or applications is the property of the State or its content suppliers and is protected by intellectual property laws.

DNR websites and applications are for personal and non-commercial use only. You may not modify, copy, distribute, display, reproduce, publish, license, create derivative works from, sell, or transfer information, products, or services obtained from these or any state websites unless the law otherwise provides or the State gives you prior written permission.

Use of content, images, designs, or logos from Michigan.gov, DNR websites and applications on another website or on a networked computer environment is prohibited, except as permitted under the Linking Policy, or if the State gives you prior written permission.

You may not use Michigan.gov, DNR websites or applications or any content from those sites for any purpose that is unlawful or to solicit the performance of any illegal activity or other activity that infringes upon the rights of the State or others.

The State does not promise that Michigan.gov, DNR websites and applications or any content, service, or feature of those sites will be error-free or uninterrupted. Information is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis.

We may amend these terms and policies from time to time.

Accessibility policy

Michigan recognizes the importance of making its digital government services available to the largest possible audience and has attempted to design the Michigan.gov website to be accessible by everyone.  This website was coded to comply with both the Americans With Disabilities Act and conformance level AA of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0.  Users who wish to view these specifications can do so at: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0.

Along with conformance level AA compliance, efforts have been made to ensure compatibility with common technologies utilized by the adaptive community. This site has been tested for compliance with screen magnification software, screen-reading software, and text-only browsers.

Michigan will continue to test future releases of this site and remains committed to maintaining its compliance and serving the widest possible audience for Michigan's digital government services.

To help ensure usability and accessibility, Michigan has adopted formal Look and Feel Standards. All Michigan.gov websites are required to be built within the guidelines of these standards.

If you cannot fully access the information on any web page of this site, please contact us and let us know the accessibility issue you are having.  We will try to provide the information to you in an alternate format or make the necessary improvements to make the information accessible.

Privacy policy

When you access DNR websites and applications, we may gather information in the following ways:

  • Information collected automatically. Michigan.gov uses Google Analytics to collect and process some of your information. This information is aggregated and is used to improve the website. For more information, please visit Google's website to learn how Google uses data when you use our websites or applications. Click here to opt-out of Google Analytics.
    Michigan.gov also uses the following Google Analytics Advertising Features: Demographics and Interests. Google Analytics cookies and Google advertising cookies are used to improve the website, agencies' services, and to generate statistics.
  • Information voluntarily submitted. The State (or our third party vendors) may collect additional information if you voluntarily provide it (e.g., in connection with an online transaction). The type of information varies by transaction and may include: your name, address, phone number, email address, social security or federal identification number, credit card number, driver license number, username, and password.

Emails from us

If you provide us with your email address, we may use it to email you newsletters and announcements.

You may unsubscribe to these services by following the instructions contained in the email.

Information on third party provided by user

If you provide us with information about a third party, we may retain that information to provide the service requested. For example, users may share articles on Michigan.gov with a third party through the "mail to a friend" option.

Cookies

DNR websites and applications use "cookies" to customize your browsing experience. A cookie is a small text file that is saved on your computer when you visit a website.

Session cookies allow you to move through many pages of a website quickly and easily without having to authenticate or reprocess each new area you visit. Session cookies are destroyed after successful completion of a transaction, after a few minutes of inactivity, or when the browser is closed.

Persistent cookies help websites remember your information and settings when you visit them in the future. They continue to exist after a few minutes of inactivity, after the browser is closed, or after a user completes a single session. Persistent cookies generated by Michigan.gov expire within five years.

Our website and applications use cookies in the following ways:

  • To help you to conduct online transactions.
  • To perform statistical analyses on website usage to understand how people are using the website and how we can improve it.
  • If you choose to do so, you can configure your browser to notify you when a new cookie is received. You can also view and delete existing cookies, prevent your browser from accepting new cookies, and disable cookies altogether. If you disable cookies, you can still use our sites, but your ability to use some areas or functions may be limited.

Sharing information

We will only share personal information about you with others if:

  • We have your consent to share the information, or
  • We need to share your information to provide the product or service you have requested, or
  • For DNR specific marketing purposes, or
  • For research about participation, trends and preferences, or
  • We are authorized to do so by law. E.g., to respond to subpoenas, court orders, legal process, or to requests pursuant to a statute requiring or permitting disclosure such as the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, MCL 15.231, et seq.

We limit access to personally identifiable information gathered through the DNR website and applications to employees, contractors and partners who need access to perform a specific job. Security measures have been integrated into the design, implementation, and day-to-day operations as part of our continuing commitment to the security of electronic content as well as the electronic transmission of information.

The State of Michigan uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology to encrypt and protect your personal financial information during Internet transmissions.

Outside links

We provide links to other organizations through DNR websites and applications. These links provide are for informational purposes only. In providing these links, we do not endorse the content, products, services, or viewpoints of these external websites. Once you leave our sites and link to an external website, the DNR and State of Michigan terms and policies no longer apply.

Children's Online Privacy Protection Act

Individuals under the age of 13 are not eligible to use services that require submission of personal information and should not submit any personal information to Michigan.gov. This includes submitting personal information to Michigan.gov as part of a user profile or personalization profile. If you are an individual under the age of 13, you may use these services only if used with your parent or legal guardian.

Security policy

The State of Michigan, as developer and manager of the Michigan portal has taken a number of steps to safeguard the integrity of its data and prevent unauthorized access to information that is maintained in agency computer systems. These measures are designed and intended to prevent corruption of data, block unknown or unauthorized access to our systems and information, ensure the integrity of information that is transmitted between users of e-government applications and the State, and to provide reasonable protection of private information that is in our possession.

For security purposes and to make sure this service remains available to all users, the State of Michigan uses special software programs for monitoring and auditing network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise to cause damage to this government computer system. The State of Michigan also uses industry-standard software tools to control access to specific applications and services and to protect data that is transmitted electronically between users and the State. These programs help us identify someone attempting to tamper with this Web site.

WARNING -- If security monitoring reveals possible evidence of criminal activity, information pertaining to such activity may be provided to law enforcement officials.

Unauthorized attempts to upload information and/or change information on the Michigan portal or its composite web sites are strictly prohibited and are subject to prosecution under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 and Title 18 U.S.C. Sec.1001 and 1030.

The information contained in this policy statement should not be construed in any way as giving business, legal, or other advice, or warranting as fail proof, the security of information provided via the Michigan portal or the web sites of individual state agencies.

Link policy

Linking to DNR websites and applications is permitted under specific conditions.

If you link to a DNR site, you must not: (1) portray any person, entity, or subject in a false or misleading light; (2) visually alter site pages being linked to; or (3) imply that the State endorses your products or services.

You may also link to individual State of Michigan department or agency websites by creating a text link to a specific State department or agency. You are not, however, permitted to use the individual State department or agency logo for linking purposes.

Mobile application and additional state of Michigan policies

Please see the State of Michigan policies for mobile application terms and conditions and additional State of Michigan policies.