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E-mail Your Letters!
The final letter is to Governor Jennifer M. Granholm. As the Governor of Michigan, Mrs. Granholm is the highest authority in the state, and able to exert influence at both the state and federal level. Part of her recent campaign was to protect Michigan's environment. Let's make sure she's fully aware of this situation and give her the opportunity to make good on her promise. |
As you can imagine, they just don't hand out the Governors e-mail address! They do however provide an on-line form you can use to contact her office. Please follow the link to the Constituent Assistance Request form and fill it out. A letter is provided below, which you can copy and paste into the form if you wish. NOTE: the "State Agency" field must be filled in and should say DEQ.
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Copy into the "Briefly describe the matter you wish to address" field:
Dear Governor Granholm,
I am well aware of your campaign promise to protect the states great natural resources, and your desire to promote the recreational opportunities that exist because of them. I am writing to you about a threat not only to our fragile northern Michigan environment, but also to the economic well being of the surrounding communities that cater to the tourists it attracts.
A request has been made to drill a 10,000' exploratory gas and oil well in the Huron-Manistee National Forest. The proposed well would be a mere 700' from the state-owned Mason Tract and less than 1/2 mile from the banks of the South Branch of the Au Sable River. The Mason Tract is a 1,200 acre pristine wilderness area that includes 14 miles of the Au Sable, which was donated to the people of the State of Michigan by George W. Mason in 1954. It was his desire that this beautiful parcel of land and the river it surrounds remain undeveloped, to be enjoyed by future generations.
The proposed drilling operation consists of slant-drilling underneath the Mason Tract to explore for fuel, from a location just a few hundred feet from it's boundary. The proposal also includes constructing a one mile access road, leveling a three acre site to situate the drill and waste pit, and a two mile long pipeline to transport the oil and gas to existing pipelines. While exploring for and extracting fuels are a modern day necessity, this particular well puts pristine forest and river in jeopardy. The Au Sable River is a world renowned fishing destination and provides a host of outdoor recreational opportunities. An accident at the drilling site or pipeline would not only destroy the fragile ecosystem, but the economy of the local communities that depend on the tourism this generates.
Copy into the "How would you like the Governor to assist you" field:
As a sportsman and outdoor enthusiast I am opposed to any drilling in this area. I am asking for your help in protecting this great natural resource and the families and businesses that depend on it, as well as honoring the spirit in which Mr. Mason generously donated the land to the people of the State of Michigan, by publicly opposing the drilling and doing whatever is within your power to stop it.
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