Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition
About UPEC
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We invite you to Issues & Events in 2010
Proposed Kennecott Mine Eagle Project Update
+++ EPA Releases
Great Lakes Restoration Action Plan +++ In early December, 2005, U.P. residents were startled to hear 7,300 acres of recreational lands currently open to public use were being put on the block by their owner, the Upper Peninsula Power Company (UPPCO). According to a website set up by UPPCO to inform the public about the proposed sales, 2,300 of those acres are in Alger County, 2,800 in Ontonagon Co., 500 in Marquette/Delta Counties, and 1,700 acres of land in Baraga Co. The acreage in question abuts the company’s hydroelectric plants at Au Train, Boney Falls, Bond Falls, Cataract, Prickett Dam, and the Victoria Flowage. By the end of December, 2,720 acres had already been sold to a private developer. A group of people concerned about the sale of this land has been formed. The Upper Peninsula Public Access Coalition (UPPAC) has created an on-line petition drive requesting legislators call for a new environmental impact study of those areas. To sign the petition or learn more about this issue, go to UPPAC’s new website at www.uppac.com. UPEC will continue to stay on top of this issue and report what is going on as we learn more about the sale of these unique public lands. FROM DEQ & DNR:
Public involvement is a vital part of many programs administers by
the Departments of Natural Resources (DNR) and Environmental Quality
(DEQ). A successful public involvement process ensures that those
who are most likely affected by a decision are notified, understand
the proposed decision, and have an opportunity to provide meaningful
input prior to a DNR or DEQ action. Staff from the DNR and DEQ has
put together a survey to better understand how the public
participation process is currently working and where improvements
can be made. Please take a moment to answer a short survey on public
participation located at the following link: The Peter Wolfe Chapter of the North Country Trail Offers Volunteer Adventure!The NCTA is looking for volunteers to help build and maintain the trail in Baraga County. Work will begin June and run thru the summer. For more information, go to their website at www.northcountrytrail.org/pwf 2010 January 2010:**Saturday January 16, 2010: UPEC Board Meeting, Baraga, for more info, contact us.
Sunday Jan 31 at 9pm, & Feb 1st at 1pm
on WNMU TV channel 13:
Film Celebrating Wolf Moose Exploration on Isle
Royale to Air on WNMU TV
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Friday-Saturday with a number of key speakers and group booths in 3 different locations at 3 corners, Marquette. |
Friday-Saturday, March 19-20, 2010 Celebrate the U.P.! Join the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition in a FREE celebration of what’s great about the U.P. A full day of speakers at the three corners where Ridge and Front Streets intersect in downtown Marquette, MI.
Click here for a brochure with details of this event and
presenter's bio's.
For more info,
contact us, see
below for details:
U.P. Celebration
at the Three Corners in Marquette:
Schedule of Presentations
Friday, March 19, 2010
Kick-off
Federated Women’s Clubhouse
7:00 p.m. “The
Wolves of Isle Royale” – Rolf Peterson, Michigan Tech
Wildlife Biology research professor;
followed by Winter Study – filmed on Isle
Royale in 2010 by George Desort
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Individual Presentations
Peter White Public Library – Community Room
10:15 – 11:15 a.m. “Nine-day Moose River Snowshoe Expedition: Moose River Crossing to James Bay on the Arctic Ocean, February ‘09” – Michael Neiger, wilderness guide
11:30 – 12:30 p.m. Discussion: “Climate Change, Spirituality, and Citizen Campaigns” –Eric Hansen, author, hiker, activist
1:00 – 2:45 p.m. Manoomin (Wild Rice): Ojibwe Spirit Food – a film by Michael Loukinen, NMU professor of sociology and documentary filmmaker; with Roger LaBine, Ojibwe wild rice harvester
The Landmark Inn – Sky Room
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. “Winging it U.P. and Green Birding” – Scot Stewart, educator, birder, photographer
11:30 – 12:30 p.m. “The Pictured Rocks Journal: New Media in National Parks” – Craig Rademacher, NMU professor of outdoor education and leadership management, publisher
1:30 -- 2:30 p.m. “Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park: A Perspective on the Origin of Michigan’s Largest State Park” – Bob Sprague, park manager, PMWSP
The Landmark Inn – Board Room
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Walking Paths and Protected Areas of the Keweenaw (Michigan Nature Association, 2009) – Joan Chadde, environmental educator, author
11:30 – 12:30 p.m. “Making a Birch Bark Canoe” – John and Victoria Jungwirth, woodwright and herbalist (view a Jungwirth birch bark canoe in the Landmark Inn lobby)
1:30 -- 2:30 p.m. “Integrating Solar Energy into your Life” – Sue Robishaw and Steve Schmeck, homesteaders, artists, solar electric system consultants
Federated Women’s Clubhouse
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. “A Not-Too-Serious Look at Landscape
Painting” – Patrick St. Germain, artist
11:30 – 12:30 p.m. “Mother Tongues/Other Tongues” Open Mike Session for UP Celebration Poems and Writings: – Mary Kinnunen and Jeff Eaton, writers
1:30 -- 2:30 p.m. ““Bremner River Journal: A Vignette in Film and Words about Seeking Solitude” –Steve Pence and Chris Ozminski, wilderness canoeists
Panel Discussion with the Public
Peter White Public Library – Community Room
3:00 -- 4:45 p.m. “Protecting the U.P. Landscape: A How-to Guide for Landowners Large and Small”
Panelists:
Bill Davis, Upper Peninsula Land Conservancy
Kim Herman, Forest Ecologist, MI DNRE
Justin Miller, Forestry Consultant
Jessica Mistak, Fisheries Biologist, MI DNRE
Moderator: Mary Martin
Public Reception
Federated Women’s Clubhouse
5:00 -- 7:00 p.m. Join Current and Past UPEC Board members for wine and hors d’oeuvres.
Click here for a brochure with details of this event and
presenter's bio's.
For more info,
contact us.
+++
Saginaw/Bay City on March 25, Escanaba on April 14, and Muskegon on May 4: The Michigan Great Lakes Wind Council, a 29-member advisory body appointed by Governor Granholm to recommend policies related to offshore wind energy development in the state, is hosting a series of public meetings this spring to get input on its recommendations. The meetings will be held Saginaw/Bay City on March 25, Escanaba on April 14, and Muskegon on May 4. The council issued a report in September 2009 with criteria for identifying the least and most favorable areas for offshore wind energy development. For example, the most favorable areas must be at least six miles offshore and avoid shipping lanes, sensitive fish and wildlife habitats, etc. The five largest most favorable areas are located in southern Lake Michigan near Berrien County, northern Lake Michigan near Delta and Mackinac Counties, outer Saginaw Bay, and Lake Huron near Sanilac County. In addition, the council has provided input on a proposed legislative framework for the siting and regulation of offshore wind energy systems on the state’s Great Lakes bottomlands. For more information on the meetings and the council’s recommendations, visit www.michiganglowcouncil.org
April 2010:
Monday, April 12, 2010 Marquette Peter While Library at 7pm: video "Blue Gold: World Water Wars" shown by the The Marquette Citizens for Peace and Justice, who suggest all groups view this video. This award winning documentary directed by Sam Bozzo is based on the book "Blue Gold: The Fight to Stop the Corporate Theft of the World's Water" by Maude Barlow and Tony Clark. The film examines the problems created by the privatization and commoditization of water. Water is a basic human right, the right to survive. "Blue Gold" reports on various powers trying to take control of the public's water for profit and control.
April 14 in Escanaba and May 4 in Muskegon: see above about The Michigan Great Lakes Wind Council public meetings.
Click here to see
Past Issues & Events in
2009
Get Involved
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