A group of Michigan businesses released a letter Monday calling on Governor Snyder to veto a package of bills that would set up an industry-led panel to review and approve DEQ regulations.
Members of the Great Lakes Business Network, a group of environmentally minded state business, are warning the state about the dangers an industry-led panel might pose to the environment.
Larry Bell is the President of Bell's Brewery and a member of the Great Lakes Business Network.
“For a company like ours, a brewery, water is really important. One thing Michigan does better than any other state is water, right? If you contaminate the water in the state of Michigan I can’t make beer.”
Bell said it’s not a good idea to let the industry have veto power over proposed regulations.
“As a business person, we’re polluters. You know corporations, especially public corporations, their job is to return as much profit to their shareholders and their board as possible. Their concern is not necessarily going to be for the environment.”
Bell said it’s especially concerning that industry members on governor-appointed oversight panel might not even be Michigan residents. He said it’s important to have regulations that are written and enforced without industry oversight.
“Basically what these bills are doing is setting up a shadow government that basically circumvents the regulatory process in Michigan that’s been put in place to protect the environment.”
The bill package passed out of the Senate and was referred to the House Natural Resources committee. Supporters of the bill did not immediately respond to our request for comment.
In the interest of disclosure, Bell's Brewery is a financial supporter of WCMU.
You can read the full letter here: