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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2004.03.17 - 27564REPORT (MISC. 104069) March 18, 2004 BY: General Government Committee, William R. Patterson, Chairperson IN RE: MR #04069 — BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — OPPOSITION TO NEW GAS PIPELINE ROUTE IN NORTHWEST OAKLAND COUNTY To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen: The General Government Committee, having reviewed Miscellaneous Resolution #04069 on March 8, 2004, reports with a recommendation that the resolution be adopted. Chairperson, on behalf of the General Government Committee, I move acceptance of the foregoing report. GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE General Government Committee Vote: Motion carried on a roll call vote with Potter, Scott and Hatchett absent. Miscellaneous Resolution #04 069_ BY: Commissioners Bill Bullard, Jr., District #2, David Coulter, District #25, Thomas F. Middleton, District #4, Eric Wilson, District #3, William R. Patterson, District #1 RE: Board of Commissioners - Opposition to New Gas Pipeline Route in Northwest Oakland County TO: Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen: WHEREAS in Oakland County, we recognize that one of our greatest and most valuable assets are our natural resources. Exceptional environmental jewels abound in the communities of Springfield Township, Rose Township, Independence Township and Orion Township; and WHEREAS northwest Oakland County boasts outstanding recreational opportunities, scenic opens spaces, lakes and vast expanses of environmentally sensitive wetlands. The local communities are strongly committed to the preservation of these natural resources and conservation of open space; and WHEREAS Consumers Energy, a CMS Energy Company, informed the Townships of Rose and Springfield of its intention to file an application with the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) to construct a 36-inch natural gas pipeline along a 23.4 mile route that crosses miles of sensitive wetlands and rare natural resource complexes located within these communities; and WHEREAS Consumers Energy has indicated that the pipe is intended to serve approximately 300,000 customers in southeast Michigan; and WHEREAS it is apparent that future population trends and future projections of increased natural gas usage will require increased transmission capacity to serve the region; and WHEREAS the route of the proposed pipeline traverses miles of sensitive wetlands and exceptionally rare natural resource complexes located in northwestern Oakland County, including: the 1,800 acre Great Huron Swamp and 740 acre Buckhorn Lake complex, which have been inventoried and studied by the Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI), through a project supported and funded in part by Oakland County, and which provide habitat for many rare and threatened plants and animals; and WHEREAS pipeline construction through these exceptionally rare natural resource complexes will require clear cutting areas, trench building and directional drilling; and WHEREAS these natural resource treasures in Oakland County should be preserved and protected for the enjoyment of future generations; and WHEREAS the Townships of Rose and Springfield have adopted resolutions opposing plans by Consumers Energy to construct a 36-inch natural gas pipeline along a route that traverses miles of sensitive wetlands and exceptionally rare natural resource complexes; and Jz Commissioner William R. Patterson District #1 1-1 WHEREAS despite efforts of the local communities to get Consumers Energy to pursue, in a meaningful manner, alternative routes that would have a far less devastating impact on the environment -- Consumers Energy has filed with the Michigan Public Service Commission an application to construct the 36 inch pipeline through the Buckhorn Lake and Huron Swamp complexes. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners express our grave concern that the proposed pipeline route will decimate environmentally sensitive areas in Oakland County and hereby join with the Oakland County communities, particularly Rose Township and Springfield Township, in voicing our strong opposition to Consumers Energy's proposed pipeline route through Oakland County. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners urges the Michigan Public Service Commission to reject the proposed pipeline route through the communities of Rose Township and Springfield Township and require that Consumers Energy work with the local communities to identify an alternative route. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board pf Commissioners requests the Oakland County Clerk to forward copies of this adopted resolution to Springfield Township, Rose Township Independence Township and Orion Township Governor Granholm, Michigan Public Service Commission, Consumers Energy, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Michigan Nature Association, Huron-Clinton Metroparks, the Michigan Delegation to the State Legislature, the Michigan Association of Counties, the Michigan Townships Association and Oakland County's Legislative Lobbyists. Chairperson, we move the adoption of the foregoing Resolution. Commissioner Bill Bullard Jr. District ;714-).-‘4,v7 r vasta/ Oommissioner Thomas F. Middleton District #4 Commissioner David Coulter District #25 ; Commissioner Eric Wilson District #3 Commission District AZO Corrimissioner District # rfe. zr Commissioner District C0âcbè DistFict mmissioner District # /7"-. Commissioner District # Cal-mission District # Commissioner Dis 772 ( gfe Distr. örrimissioner Distriat # /9 ComTriNsicfner District # / 6" 71 1-. ti-t s Commis4ner District # C V\AsAire, Commissioner Distr)ct # Commissioner District # Commissioner District # Commissionei= District # Commissioner District # Resolution #04069 March 4, 2004 The Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government Committee. There were no objections. G. William Caddell, County Clerk Resolution #04069 March 18, 2004 Moved by Crawford supported by Hatchett the resolutions on the Consent Agenda, be adopted (with accompanying reports being accepted). Discussion followed. Vote on resolutions on the Consent Agenda: AYES: Coleman, Coulter, Crawford, Douglas, Gregory, Hatchett, Jamian, Knollenberg, Kowell, Law, Long, McMillin, Middleton, Moffitt, Moss, Palmer, Patterson, Potter, Rogers, Scott, Suarez, Webster, Wilson, Zack, Bullard. (25) NAYS: None. (0) A sufficient majority having voted therefore, the resolutions on the Consent Agenda were adopted (with accompanying reports being accepted). DOES NOT ROME cow EOM AVM STATE OF MICHIGAN) COUNTY OF OAKLAND) I, G. William Caddell, Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is a true and accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on March 18, 2004 with the original record thereof now remaining in my office. In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the County of Oakland at Pontiac, Michigan this 18th day of March, 2004.