MCWC
Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation
Volume 5, Issue 1
UPDATE ON EVART
The recent decision by the City of Evart to dedicate one of its public drinking water wells to Nestle, which intends to pipe, truck, bottle, and sell the water, could be the fatal leak in the legal dam
protecting the Great Lakes. The city's water giveaway at $.88 per 1,000 gallons is not only bad business, it is a dangerous precedent that will undermine Michigan's
legal case for preventing additional long-range exports, - _het_r in-bmtlBs;-pipelines or freighters. _
While Evart residents pay $1.39 per 1,000 gallons for water (including sewer charges), Nestle will pay $.88 for 1,000 gallons. Wat_r used by Evart residents will be 60% more expensive per unit of water used. Whil_ other business users in Evart may also pay a lower rate, the water used by Evart residents and businesses is returned directly to the watershed, not piped, bottled and sold/diverted out ofthe watershed. If Nestle sells the water at $1 per gallon and its costs are even as high as $.20 per gallon to get the water to market, the profit would exceed $210 million per year. Nestle is paying a reported one-time establishment fee of $200,000 to the city ofEvart. At $.80 profit per gallon, Nestle could payoff the $200,000 in just over 8 hours of pumping. It is outrageous that the largest food corporation in the world is proposing to make huge profits on a public resource owned by all citizens of Michigan.
Nestle's pumping could lower the local water table and Nestle and the City have either not performed or not disclosed the required hydrogeological and environmental studies to demonstrate no short term or . long term diminishment of the flow or level of wetlands or streams.
- 0- . _ In any event the water may not be II spring _ water" as learned through a document received through Freedom ofInformation Act (FOIA). Will Nestle renege on its deal if it is determined that the water source isn't "spring water"?
While Nestle is making unenforceable promises about a bottling plant and jobs in Evart, this is highly unlikely. Nestle has two water bottling plants in. only three other states - Maine, California (400 mIles apart) and Texas (240 miles apart). Evart and Nestle's bottling plant in Stanwood are only 39 miles apart.
The time to take action is now. Write Gov. Granholm and your state senator or representative. Ask them to:
. STOP the Nestle project now!
. Submit the proj ect to regional review by all
Great Lakes governors as required by federal law (as then-Attorney General Granholm recommended to Governor Engler in 2001 following review of the Mecosta County diversion)
.Pass a state law requiring legislative approv: of any water-for-sale projects.
Addresses:
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm P.O. Box 30013
Lansing, Michigan 48909
The Honorable (full name), State Senator
State C:mitol - - -
P.O. Box 30036 Lansing, 1'v1I 48909-7536
The Honorable (full name), State Representative State Capitol
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, 1'v1I 48909-7514
For more information visit MCWC's web site at www.save1.v1Iwater. org.
ANOTHER DAY IN COURT: The Michigan Court of Appeals
Oral arguments will be heard on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. in Michigan Citizensfor Water Conservation v Nestle Waters North America, Inc. 1 hearing will be in the Lansing Office, Hall of Justict
Courtroom, 925 W. Ottawa, Second Floor, Lansing, MI. MCWC will offer bus transportation to the COUJ of Appeals. To make reservations call 989-644-226] loishartzl er@power-net.net.
The three cases to be heard in front of the Court of Appeals are:
- __ - Water-Rights: Nestle's motion for-a-neWrnl and to overturn Judge Root's opinion to stop Nestle's "spring water" pumping, diversion, and sale from the sanctuary site in Mecosta,MI' ,
- Public TI'ust: Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation's motion to reverse the dismiss by the Circuit Court of the public trust claim and find that Nestles diminishment of flow and level of the waters of the Dead Stream violates the public trust in these waters; and Expert Costs of $122,000 awarded to MCWC: Separate from the above claims wi be oral arguments heard on costs and fees in the amount of $122,212.47 awarded by the Circuit Court to Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation.
.Decisions by the 3-judge panel could take approximately up to 6 months.
MCWC BECOMES AN ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION
- Terry Swier, President
You will find in this newsletter a letter from me explaining a change in membership policy for the 1,800+ members ofMCWC.
MCWC will continue as a volunteer-run organization, as it has been for the past four years. However, to ensure that funds are available for the lengthy ongoing court battle with Nestle/Ice Mountain. and for its future work protecting Michigan's lakes, streams and wetlands, the Board of Directors ofMCWC finds it necessary to ask membe.rs to pay nominal annual membership dues. Dues will be tax-deductible, as
'MCWC is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. The - membershi_wiH-bcgin July_ F_'
Please take the time to read the enclosed letter and complete the enclosed membership form. Share in the responsibility, pride and victory in being or becoming a member of MCWC. An envelope has been provided for you to mail your contribution to MCWC.
MCWC Fund Raisers
Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation has planned many fund raisers for 2005. If you have suggestions for future fund raisers or would like to hold an event in your area, please get in touch with Terry Swier at 231972-8556 or e-mail tswier@centuryte1.net. Volunteers are needed for the following events:
v' May 21,2005 - MCWC's first 2005 Ga.'age Sale/Bake Sale to be held at the Wheatland Trading Post at 298 W. Wheatland Ave., Remus. MIfrom 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. SAVE YOUR TREASURES for MCWC's Garage Sale! Bring your items to the
. Wheatland Trading Post on Friday May 20lh.after 1 :00 p.m.or call 989-3.82-7489 (Sanfords@rural-net.net) or 231-972-8856 (tswier@centuryte1.net) for early
lJickup. ------------------------- -- - -
' June 14.2005 - Oral arguments will be held in the Michigan Court of Appeals at 10:00 a.m. in the Lansing Office, Hall of Justice Courtroom. 925 W. Ottawa, Second Floor, Lansing. MI. MCWC will offer a bus to the Court of Appeals. Pick-up will be in the Meijer's lot in Mt. Pleasant. To make reservations call 989-644-2261 or loishartzler@power-net.net.
' June 15, 2005 a Water and Art Motor coach Tdp is planned to Newaygo. The trip includes a stop at Dead Stream to view the mud flats that have resulted from Nestle's pumping at the sanctuary site, a drive by the Nestle plant and pumping area, late breakfast at Linda's HIT THE ROAD JOE COFFEE SHOP, walk the Hardy Dam Rustic Nature Trail, and free time in downtown Newaygo. The trip price is $40 per person. Those who went last year had a great time! The bus will depart from Mt. Pleasant at 8:00 a.m. and return at 6:30..£}ll. with stops in Remus and Mecosta to pick up
.. _ .._.................................... _ -" -_-_-
others. .......
'Save a date in early August - MCWC's Annual Party on the Beach at the Round Lake Resort, 11133 11 Mile (M-20) in Mecosta. Bring a dish to pass.
'Late August or early September - MCWC's Second Garage Sale/Bake Sale. CONTINUE TO SAVE YOUR TREASURES.
'December 10. 2005 MCWC's Annual Meeting and Silent Auction
'MCWC's Gle:fma Maneke is taking orders for pasties. $3.00 each ot 12 for $33.00. For orders, e-mail Glenna at manekegl@hotmai1.com.
'Save your returnable bottle and cans and leave them at the Round Lake Resort on M-20 before 8:00 p.m. on Sundays beginning Memorial Day weekend and throughout the Summer or send a check from your own bottle and can returns to MCWC - P.O. Box 1 Mecosta, MI 49332.
PLAN YOUR OWN FUNDRAISER IN YOUR AREA!