Natural Resources Commission to meet Thursday in Lansing

Press Release

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 9, 2014

Contact: Ed Golder, 517-284-5815


Natural Resources Commission to meet Thursday in Lansing

The Michigan Natural Resources Commission will hold its regular monthly meeting Thursday, Dec. 11, at the Lansing Center (rooms 101-103), 333 E. Michigan Ave., in Lansing.

The day begins at 9 a.m. with a meeting of the Michigan State Parks Advisory Committee. The committee will hear presentations on the Department of Natural Resources’ new Outdoor Adventure Center (set to open in 2015 in downtown Detroit); progress on the General Management Plan for Brighton Recreation Area; and youth programs, including Stepping Stones and state parks’ interpretive programs. The committee will round out the morning with updates on DNR parks and recreation activities and the Summer Youth Employment Program.

At 1 p.m. the Policy Committee on Wildlife and Fisheries will receive updates from DNR Fisheries and Wildlife divisions on topics including the preliminary 2014 deer hunting report; emergency deer feeding in areas of the Upper Peninsula with heavy snow accumulation; and results of the snowshoe hare research project and the Plum Creek deer yard research project.

The Committee of the Whole follows at 2:30 p.m. with DNR Director Keith Creagh’s report and a legislative update.

At 3:30 p.m., William Rustem, former director of strategy for Gov. Rick Snyder, will receive the Thomas L. Washington Lifetime Commitment to Conservation Award for his long history of working to improve and protect Michigan’s natural resources and environment.

Immediately following the awards presentations, the commission will hear comments from the public. Those wishing to make public comments before the Natural Resources Commission should contact Cheryl Nelson, executive assistant to the NRC, at 517-284-6237 or nelsonc@michigan.gov to register.

Following public comments, the commission will consider new salvage regulations for game killed in motor vehicle collisions, as well as an updated definition of Elk Management Unit X in the northern Lower Peninsula.

DNR Director Creagh is scheduled to announce decisions on:

• A proposed reservation voucher system at the Silver Lake State Park off-road-vehicle scramble area.
• The October 2014 oil and gas lease auction.
• Several land transactions.

For more information about the Natural Resources Commission, including full agendas and meeting minutes, visit www.michigan.gov/nrc.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. Learn more at www.michigan.gov/dnr.