Page 10-Thursday, May 7, 1981-The Michigan Daily

4

DNR head under fire

LANSING (UPI) - An ardent depar-
tment critic called yesterday for
criminal charges against state Natural
Resources Director Howard Tanner for
his failure to bill industries for required
air and water pollution checks.
Sen. Joseph Mach (D-Ironwood)
requested in a resolution that the
Senate's legal staff seek charges again-
st Tanner of "malfeasance and
misfeasance" for his delay of pollution
scan billings.
MEANWHILE, THE Senate began
debate on a pair of bills increasing the
charges to Michigan industries which
are checked by the state to insure their
compliance with air and water pollution
regulations. The long delayed fee hikes
must be approved quickly to prevent
the layoff of 250 DNR employees May
11.

In his resolution, which was sent to
the Senate Administration and Rules
Committee for further consideration,
the long-time DNR critic charged Tan-
ner had violated state law by delaying
the annual Feb. 1 pollution fee bills.
"The Senate has in its possession
proof the billings were not made,"
Mack said.
DNR OFFICIALS said they delayed
the billing to avoid a second costly
mailing if the legislature approves a
new fee schedule. Mack charged the
state is losing $1,000 per day in interest
because the $2 million in fees was not
collected.
Tanner could not immediately be
reached for comment.
Mack's charges further complicated
efforts to approve higher fees for the


pollution program. It now appears Committee. "I'm not going to support
unlikely legislative action on the two any fee increases."
bills can be completed before the May During discussion of the bills, the
11 layoffs. Senate approved 15-12 an amendment
"THIS MAN HAS flat out violated the which would exempt from the fees all
statute," said Sen. Bill Huffman (D- firms meeting state air and water stan-
Madison Heights) now serving as dards. One lawmaker terms the move
chairman of the Senate Appropriations an attempt to "gut" the program.
Lawyer iles suit
to save Poletown
LANSING (UPI) - An attorney The attorr.ey, Thomas Gagne, con-
arguing a last ditch lawsuit against the ceded there have been many suits over
Poletown auto plant project told the the General Motors Corp. project, but
Michigan Supreme Court yesterday the said "a drowning man will grab even
city of Detroit failed to adequately the tip of a sword."
notify affected homeowners of their AFTER WEATHERING A series of
rights. legal challenges, GM and the city broke
ground last week on the $600 million
plant which is expected to employ up to
6,000 when completed in 1983.
Many residents of the Detroit-
Hamtramck ethnic enclave, where the
plant is being built, have fought it tooth
and nail, claiming it will destroy homes
and historic buildings in one of the
area's last stable neighborhoods.
A divided Michigan Supreme Court
earlier this year upheld the city's use of
8 scondemnation powers to clear land for
a private industry project. A federal
court suit was similarly unsuccessful.
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