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Preserve the Dunes Newsletter                                                                July 29, 2010

Greetings!
   Here are several brief updates.
In This Issue
Permit Extension in Hagar
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PTD needs your financial support. We are filing a friend of the court brief with the Michigan Supreme Court - described in the April and June newsletters.

We are approaching the time for a renewal of the sand dune mining permit at the Nadeau Site.


Donations can be sent to PTD, P.O. Box 164, Riverside, MI 49084 or made with credit card or PayPal by selecting the Donate button below.

 

Remember we are a 501(c)3 organization and all donations are tax deductible.
Hagar Grants Permit Extension
TechniSand Gets Two More Years

In response to a request from Technisand (see last month's SOS Dunes News email), the Hagar Township Board extended the mining permit for the Nadeau Site sand dune mine by a vote of 4 to 1. Mining will continue for an additional 24 months until June 30, 2012. Restoration is supposed to be completed to the acceptance of the DNRE by December 31, 2013.

The remaining mining will be located primarily in cell unit 7, which is about 9-acres located in the critical dune area. This area and the previously mined high dune in the critical dunes stored (or rather, did store) water which was gradually released into Rogers Creek during subsequent dry periods. The excavation has further decreased flow in the creek during dry periods.

When the mining company applied for the permit, two lakes were planned, which represented bonus amenities for the township. In response to queries, the Technisand representative confirmed that the lakes will not be constructed.

Only a few citizens spoke. Several persons complained about the continuing problems with noise on the haul route were brought up - especially along the Blue Star Highway. It was suggested that the trucking company, Harris Trucking, could reduce the noise level with simple maintenance of their trucks. No response was offered by Technisand.
Nadeau Site - Hagar Township - March 2010
fennvalley
At the meeting, Technisand claimed that they were delayed for 28 months due to the injunction issued by the Court of Appeals in 2002. However, our records and those of the DNRE show that the delay was only 24 months.
Tenative Date for Nature Walk
Save the Date

PTD has tentatively scheduled a walk through portions of the Ross Preserve for September 11.

A portion of the walk will be across the wetland to Mud Lake. The other segment will be in a totally different type of area, the back dunes in Ross Preserve. On PTD walk through this area in 1999, arrowheads were found by several participants.

These dunes were among the earliest dunes to be formed. We are hoping that John Legge of The Nature Conservancy will be our guide. John led the walk last fall and is the Conservation Director of Michigan TNC.
PTD Board Elects Officers

After 12 1/2 years, Charles Davis has stepped down as president. He will continue on the board and serve as vice-president. The newly elected president is Marcy Colclough, Senior Planner with the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission. Georgia Boerma will be secretary/treasurer. Sally Botkin, Steve Brickman, Hub Erickson, Marshall Eisenberg, Butch Kelley and Susan Pritzker will continue as board members.

Stuart Nathan, Larry Snider, Mary Stephenson, and Bob Swaney have agreed to serve on the Advisory Boar.

Gerry Thomas is an emeritus member of the board and a life-time trustee.
"These dunes are to the Midwest what the Grand Canyon is to Arizona . . .
once lost, the loss would be irrevocable." Carl Sandburg
 
Sincerely,
Preserve the Dunes