Friday, October 9, 2009

Mark Hornbeck / Detroit News Lansing Bureau

Lansing — Gov. Jennifer Granholm today issued an order to combine the departments of Natural Resources and Environmental Quality to create a Department of Natural Resources and Environment starting in January.

The department will be responsible for protecting, conserving and managing the state’s water, air and other natural resources.

The order would stand unless both the House and Senate disapprove of the changes.

The Department of Agriculture would stand alone under the directive, but the governor will appoint the director. Environmental groups supported Granholm’s move. “This is a chance for Michigan to reclaim our lost leadership role in managing our truly spectacular natural resources,” said a statement by the Sierra Club — Michigan Chapter, Clean Water Action, Michigan Environmental Council and League of Conservation Voters.

The Michigan Farm Bureau and other agriculture groups slammed Granholm for gutting the Agriculture Commission. The move politicizes the department, the Farm Bureau said.