NATURAL RESOURCE
COMMISSION

KEITH J. CHARTERS, Chair
JERRY C. BARTNIK
NANCY A. DOUGLAS
PAUL EISELE
BOB GARNER
WILLIAM U. PARFET
FRANK WHEATLAKE

JOHN ENGLER, Governor
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
STEVENS T MASON BUILDING, PO BOX 30028, LANSING MI 48909-7528
WEBSITE: www.dnr.state.mi.us
K.L. KOOL, Director

March 23, 2001
REPLY TO:

LAND AND MINERAL SERVICES DIVISION
LANSING MI
                 48909-7948
Mr. Albert J. Meshkin
Township Manager
Laketown Township
4338 Beeline Road
Holland, MI 49423-9719

Dear Mr. Meshkin:

Thank you for submitting the attached exchange application for a water intake pipeline and purification plant at Saugatuck Dunes State Park. The purpose of this letter is to update you on the progress of your request and outline specific information that is needed for the application. Please provide a cover letter explaining the project, including an explanation of future plans for the site. We also ask that you provide a signed copy of the application with the other materials that are being requested.

Your formal request has begun a Department review which includes input from Wildlife, Parks and Recreation, Fisheries, and Forest Management Division as it relates to the impacts of the proposed transaction. Final field comments on the proposed exchange will be reviewed by the Department's Land Exchange Review Committee (LERC). This committee consists of the Division Chiefs or their designated representative from the land managing Divisions. If approved by LERC, it is customary to arrange for appraisals of the properties in the exchange, enter into an exchange agreement, arrange for public notice, and request Director action.

Because of your time needs and potential for additional time needed to seek legislation authorizing the transfer, we plan to initiate the appraisal process as soon as possible. The transaction will be acted on as one request; however, the exchange of acreage includes different review elements than the easement portion of the request. To assist with the appraisal and Departmental review of the entire package the following information is requested:

1) A single project map of the transaction for staff overview and public information purposes. The map should clearly show existing State and Township ownership, identify lands for exchange and depict the location of the water intake easement.
R 1026E (Rev. 02/08/2001)
Mr. Albert Meshkin
Page 2
March 23, 2001
2) Explanation of water intake project and location of all structures, including;

a) Data regarding the width of the easement at the Lake Michigan shore and identification of the extent and location of surface structures and road improvements in the easement right of way.

b) Legal description and drawing of easement request on Great Lakes Bottomlands.

c) Identification of temporary easements needed for installation of the pipeline.

d) Identification of State land that will be required for future pipeline maintenance.

3) Necessary permits from the Department of Environmental Quality regarding use of Great Lakes bottom lands, critical dune areas, and high-risk erosion areas.

4) Provide documentation that there is no contamination of the prison site.

Mr. Paul Yauk of our Department advises that you have asked that we meet during the next several weeks. If there are specific questions that you have please let us know in advance so that we can do the appropriate research prior to the meeting.

Again thank you for your application. I will look forward to hearing from you regarding the upcoming meeting.

Sincerely,

David A. Yankee, Section Manager
Aquisition Section
Land and Mineral Services Division
517-373-1240

cc: Ms. Mindy Koch, DNR
Mr. Rodney Stokes, DNR
Mr. Paul Yauk, DNR
Mr. Ed Meadows, DNR

Return to Concerned Citizens for Saugatuck Dunes State Park Water Treatment Plant Proposals page.