April 19, 2002 WMEAC PRAISES DNR CHIEF¹S DECISION DEFENDING SAUGATUCK DUNES STATE PARK West Michigan Environmental Action Council announced this morning a decision by Rodney Stokes, Chief of the Parks and Recreation Bureau of Michigan's Department of Natural Resources, denying the application of Laketown Township for easements and a land transfer to enable construction of drinking water pump facilities in Saugatuck Dunes State Park. Thomas Leonard, Executive Director of West Michigan Environmental Action Council, said the DNR was meeting its obligation to consider, first and foremost, the best interests of the park. " The decision by Mr. Stokes clearly documents the likelihood of damage to this significant wilderness area. We compliment the DNR on a job well done." " One clear impression that one gets from Laketown Township's Prudent and Feasible Alternative Study, is that the township effectively documents its own chronic inability to work successfully with other jurisdictions with respect to the water requirements of the region.  I really think they saw the State Park option as an easy fix,"  Leonard added. WMEAC also praised the work of Concerned Citizens for Saugatuck Dunes State Park in bringing the state park issue before the public. The popular Saugatuck Dunes State Park occupies designated and critical sand dune areas and is considered to have unique and fragile wilderness characteristics.  WMEAC supports the enlargement of the park as a way of further protecting the park wildlife and meeting the demand of the park¹s growing visitorship. Tom Leonard, Executive Director West Michigan Environmental Action Council 1514 Wealthy SE, Suite 280 Grand Rapids, MI 49506 Phone: 616-451-3051 Fax: 616-451-3054 Email: tleonard@wmeac.org Web: www.wmeac.org

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