PEER in Michigan

PEER's environmental work is solely directed by the needs of its members. As a consequence, we have the distinct honor of serving resource professionals who daily cast profiles in courage in cubicles across the country.

Find out about Michigan’s whistleblower law

Following are PEER news releases, white papers, surveys and other activities for Michigan:


News Releases for Michigan
April 3, 2009  MICHIGAN GIVE FEDS NOTICE OF SURRENDERING WETLANDS PROGRAM — U.S. EPA and Army Corps to Begin Take-Over of State Permits and Enforcement
March 16, 2009  FORMER GOVERNOR MILLIKEN SPEAKS UP TO SAVE WETLANDS PROGRAM — Iconic Republican Says Repeal of Wetlands Law “Not in the Interests of Michigan”
March 10, 2009  MICHIGAN TORPEDOES ITS OWN GREAT LAKES RESTORATION PLAN — Small Savings from Wetlands Repeal Would Be Swamped by Higher Flood Damages
March 3, 2009  MICHIGAN THREATENS TO FUMBLE OBAMA GREAT LAKES INITIATIVE — State Plan to Abandon Wetlands Protection Undercuts New Great Lakes Effort
August 31, 2004  WHISTLEBLOWER CLAIM REVIVED IN FISH KILL POLLUTION CASE — Unanimous Court of Appeal Panel Sends Case to Trial
April 29, 2002  EPA IGNORES WARNING OF PHONY POLLUTION CREDITS — US TO APPROVE MICHIGAN AS FIRST "OPEN MARKET" AIR TRADING PROGRAM
March 11, 2002  EMPLOYEE FILES WHISTLEBLOWER LAWSUIT IN FISH KILL CASE — After Being Fired for Reporting Pollution & Financial Irregularities
November 1, 2001  ASTHMA EPIDEMIC AMONG YOUNG BLACKS IN INGHAM COUNTY — Suppressed Report Shows Disturbing Trends
October 2, 2001  DEQ CENSORED WETLANDS REPORT — Key Findings & Recommendations Removed
September 26, 2001  SUPPRESSED REPORT SHOWS NEARLY A THIRD OF LANSING AREA RESTAURANTS FAIL INSPECTIONS — Unprecedented Failure Rate
September 19, 2001  SUPPRESSED WATER QUALITY REPORT RELEASED — Data on Emerging Health and Environmental Dangers Removed
October 20, 2000  STATE AND FEDERAL WORKERS SEE THREATS FROM MICHIGAN ENVIRONMENTAL CHIEF — Tightening the Screws at DEQ
White Papers for Michigan
See No Evil — The Gutting of Michigan's Wetlands Protections (September 1998)
Long touted for one of the best wetland regulatory programs in the country, in recent years Michigan's Department of Environmental Quality has deliberately and systematically aided in the illegal destruction of the state's diminishing wetlands, primarily by undermining essential enforcement functions. DEQ staff report that political influence has reduced the wetlands protection program to a shadow of its former self -- a "paper tiger." more >>
Surveys for Michigan
1998  Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality Survey

PEER does not have a Michigan chapter, but if you would like to start one, let us know.

As a service organization, PEER relies on current or former agency employees to point out issues to work on. If you work for a resource management agency, and you struggle with:

  • political interference with science-based decisions,
  • undue influence of industry into permitting decisions,
  • a management hostile to the conservation views of staff,
  • censorship of job-related opinions, or
    • anti-government threats from your community

PEER can help!
Our job is to deliver the problem to your agency decision-makers and the public while protecting the anonymitiy of the messanger. This may be as simple as a letter from PEER to your supervisor that says, "we're watching," or as complex as a legal challenge to your administration. To see examples of common tactics we've used in other states, check out our agency surveys, white papers and news releases.

As with all of our work, every project is employee directed. That means you call the shots.

For more information, contact PEER at info@peer.org or (202) 265-7337.