Rivers At Risk

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Contents

Call To Action... 3
Executive Summary
The Pigeon River Plan... 4
Today's Need for Hydrocarbon Development Planning... 4, 5
Opportunity for Action... 5
Inclusive Approach for Public and Private Land... 5
Coordinating State Agencies... 5
Public Participation... 5
Planning and Regulatory Improvements... 6
Introduction
A Workable Compromise... 6
Model Overlooked During Gas Drilling Rush... 6, 7
Why The Model Was Abandoned... 7
Michigan Energy Reform Coalition Initiative... 7
Case Study of the Pigeon River Hydrocarbon Development Plan
Historical Context... 8
AMomentous Lease Sale... 8
Drilling Begins, Protest Builds... 9
Governor Brings AHalt To Drilling... 9
Core of the Energy Development Plan: Four Historic Documents... 10, 11
Debate, Disagreement, Litigation... 11
The Natural Resources Commission: Independent Arbiter... 11, 12
Michigan Oil vs. Natural Resources Commission... 12
WMEAC et al. vs. Natural Resources Commission... 13
Shell Oil Seeks To Weaken The Law... 13
ANew Compromise Emerges... 13, 14
Assessing The Energy Development Plan... 14
Lessons From The Pigeon River Struggle... 14
A Summary of the Pigeon River Plan... 15
Rationale for Reviving the Hydrocarbon Development Plan Approach
The 1990s and Energy... 16
Environmental Problems With Antrim Shale Development... 16, 17
ADifferent Political Era... 17, 18
By the Mid-1990s, ANew Story... 19
Rivers at Risk
Economic Value of Resource Protection... 20
The Au Sable River... 20
The Betsie River... 21
The Black River,The Pigeon River,The Sturgeon River... 21
The Boardman River... 21, 22
The Jordan River... 22
The Manistee River... 22
The Thunder Bay River... 22
MAP: Natural Gas Development in the Jordan River Watershed and Antrim County... 23
MAP: Natural Gas Development in Northwest Michigan... 24
MAP: Natural Gas Development in Northeast Michigan... 25
Proposed Action Plan
Reaching AGoal... 26
A Workable Model for Today... 26
Coordinated Planning and Oversight... 26, 27
More Effective Regulations... 27
The 10-Point Plan... 27, 28
Conclusion... 29
Definitions... 4
Active Oil and Gas Bearing Formations in Michigan... 30
State Regulatory Structure... 30
Key Terms... 31
State Laws That Affect Oil and Gas Development... 31
Timeline of the Pigeon River Hydrocarbon Development Plan... 32-36
Sources... 37-39
Contacts... 40
Commentary on Michigan's Recent Oil and Gas Development... 41



			Contents
		Call To Action... 3 Executive Summary The Pigeon River Plan... 4 Today's Need for Hydrocarbon Development Planning... 4, 5 Opportunity for Action... 5 Inclusive Approach for Public and Private Land... 5 Coordinating State Agencies... 5 Public Participation... 5 Planning and Regulatory Improvements... 6 Introduction A Workable Compromise... 6 Model Overlooked During Gas Drilling Rush... 6, 7 Why The Model Was Abandoned... 7 Michigan Energy Reform Coalition Initiative... 7 Case Study of the Pigeon River Hydrocarbon Development Plan Historical Context... 8 AMomentous Lease Sale... 8 Drilling Begins, Protest Builds... 9 Governor Brings AHalt To Drilling... 9 Core of the Energy Development Plan: Four Historic Documents... 10, 11 Debate, Disagreement, Litigation... 11 The Natural Resources Commission: Independent Arbiter... 11, 12 Michigan Oil vs. Natural Resources Commission... 12 WMEAC et al. vs. Natural Resources Commission... 13 Shell Oil Seeks To Weaken The Law... 13 ANew Compromise Emerges... 13, 14 Assessing The Energy Development Plan... 14 Lessons From The Pigeon River Struggle... 14 A Summary of the Pigeon River Plan... 15 Rationale for Reviving the Hydrocarbon Development Plan Approach The 1990s and Energy... 16 Environmental Problems With Antrim Shale Development... 16, 17 ADifferent Political Era... 17, 18 By the Mid-1990s, ANew Story... 19 Rivers at Risk Economic Value of Resource Protection... 20 The Au Sable River... 20 The Betsie River... 21 The Black River,The Pigeon River,The Sturgeon River... 21 The Boardman River... 21, 22 The Jordan River... 22 The Manistee River... 22 The Thunder Bay River... 22 MAP: Natural Gas Development in the Jordan River Watershed and Antrim County... 23 MAP: Natural Gas Development in Northwest Michigan... 24 MAP: Natural Gas Development in Northeast Michigan... 25 Proposed Action Plan Reaching AGoal... 26 A Workable Model for Today... 26 Coordinated Planning and Oversight... 26, 27 More Effective Regulations... 27 The 10-Point Plan... 27, 28 Conclusion... 29 Definitions... 4 Active Oil and Gas Bearing Formations in Michigan... 30 State Regulatory Structure... 30 Key Terms... 31 State Laws That Affect Oil and Gas Development... 31 Timeline of the Pigeon River Hydrocarbon Development Plan... 32-36 Sources... 37-39 Contacts... 40 Commentary on Michigan's Recent Oil and Gas Development... 41