MEC opposes fox guarding the henhouse bills

Michigan Environmental Council opposes Senate Bills (SB) 652 and 653—widely known as the “fox guarding the henhouse” environmental measures—which passed the State House today.

While Governor Snyder and lawmakers negotiated some of the sting out of the bills—by making the new unelected DEQ rules committee more advisory in nature—this legislative package still gives polluters and other corporate interests who are unaccountable to Michigan voters and taxpayers an oversized voice in crafting environmental protections. In particular, it vests too much power in the permit appeals panel, giving members of that newly appointed body final say over the contested case process as the last decision maker before the court system.

The bills would also establish convoluted decision-making procedures and greatly slow down approval of environmental rules that are designed to protect the health and well-being of Michigan residents.