COPY OF LETTER ON LWV STATIONERY SENT TO THE FOLLOWING:
JIM TIMMERMANN, HOLLAND SENTINEL
BEN BEVERSLUIS, LAKSHORE PRESS
PUBLIC PULSE, GRAND RAPIDS PRESS
DAN OSBORN, COMMERCIAL RECORD
BILL BROWN, ALLEGAN COUNTY NEWS

DECEMBER 5, 2001

TO: EDITOR........
FROM: ARLENE B. SHERMAN, PRESIDENT,
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS HOLLAND AREA
CONTACT: (616) 857-1832

          THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF THE HOLLAND AREA HAS MAJOR CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPOSED WATER INTAKE AND TREATMENT PLANT TO BE BUILT IN THE SAUGATUCK DUNES STATE PARK.

          THE LEAGUE IS AN ORGANIZATION WHOSE GOAL IS THE INFORMED AND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF CITIZENS IN GOVERNMENT, IT SEEMS TO US THAT, UP TO THIS POINT, VERY LITTLE OPPORTUNITY HAS BEEN MADE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INPUT ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL ISSUE. WE URGE ALL PARTIES INVOLVED, FROM LOCAL UNITS OF GOVERNMENT TO STATE LEGISLATORS, TO ENSURE THAT CITIZEN'S VOICES BE HEARD EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

          IN ADDITION, THE LEAGUE ALSO TAKES POSITIONS ON ISSUES, BUT ONLY AFTER CAREFULLY STUDYING THEM AND COMING TO MEMBER CONSENSUS. OVER THE YEARS MANY ENVIRONMENTAL POSITIONS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED. BECAUSE OF THOSE POSITIONS WE ALSO HAVE MAJOR CONCERNS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSED WATER INTAKE AND TREATMENT PLANT.

THOSE CONCERNS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

  1. CONSTRUCTION IN A STATE PARK: THIS LAND WAS SET ASIDE AS A PROTECTED PARK BECAUSE OF ITS UNIQUE ECOSYSTEMS AND NATURAL BEAUTY. STATE LAW ALSO PROHIBITS BUILDING IN CRITICAL DUNES, AND THE PROPOSED PLAN DOES NOT APPEAR TO CONFORM TO THE PARK'S ORIGINAL MASTER PLAN.

  2. UNIQUE ECOSYSTEMS WOULD BE AFFECTED: WE FEAR THAT THE CONSTRUCTION REQUIRED, AS WELL AS ONGOING MAINTENANCE, WOULD AFFECT THE FRAGILE HABITAT, DUNES, TREES AND THE SERENITY OF THE PARK.

  3. PROXIMITY TO KALAMZOO RIVER: THE KALAMAZOO RIVER HAS BEEN DECLARED A TOXIC SUPERFUND SITE, AND CONTINUES TO BE A SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF CARCINOGENIC PCBS, THEREFORE, WE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF DRINKING WATER WITHDRAWN FROM THE PROPOSED SITE.

          WE URGE LOCAL CITIZENS TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS TO THEIR LEGISLATORS AND LOCAL UNITS OF GOVERNMENT. WE ALSO URGE THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR DECISION MAKING TO INCLUDE CITIZEN INPUT DURING EVERY PHASE OF DISCUSSION AND PLANNING.

          THE LEAGUE UNDERSTANDS THAT WATER IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE. WE URGE COOPERATION FROM ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT IN FINDING THE BEST SOLUTIONS TO PROTECT OUR DUNES, SHORELINE AND PARKLANDS.


ARLENE B. SHERMAN, PRESIDENT,
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS HOLLAND AREA
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