GRAYLING, Mich. (Michigan News Source)-After more than six months of consideration, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has rejected the request for a lease of 162,000 acres of state forest land to the Department of Military and Veteran Affairs (DMVA); designated for additional land to train the National Guard stationed at Camp Grayling.
“We appreciate the many comments we received on this proposal and the commitment people have to public lands,” said Acting DNR Director Shannon Lott. “Public concerns and feedback from Tribal governments, coupled with our own review of the proposal, led us to decide against a 20-year lease on such a significant portion of state-managed land.”
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Michigan military leaders last winter proposed a lease of up to 162,000 acres of state forest land around Camp Grayling to conduct periodic, low-impact activities such as cyber and electronic warfare, and operation of space and communication systems according to the DNR.
However, under a Memorandum of Understanding, the DNR and DMVA have settled on an agreement in which the DMVA may apply for limited land use permits to conduct exercises on up to 52,000 acres of eligible land. Some of the key takeaways from the DNR include:
- No lease approved; the DMVA may annually apply for land use permits
- DMVA training could occur on up to 52,000 acres of state managed forest land
- Recreational access to remain at all times
- The size of buffer zones around inland lakes and designated trout streams – where no military activity could take place – was doubled by DNR from 1,500 feet in the initial proposal to 3,000 feet in the Memorandum of Understanding
- No live fire or use of tanks on these lands; no permanent fencing or structures
On Friday, Reps. Ken Borton (R-Gaylord), Cam Cavitt (R-Cheboygan), and John Roth (R-Interlochen) issued a statement about the decision.
“We applaud the decision made today by the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to reject the expansion of Camp Grayling,” the statement said, “We carry a tremendous amount of respect for the military, and understand the need for continued development and training – but this simply wasn’t the right location. The proposal, a 20-year lease of about 250 square miles of state-owned forest to the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, was disliked among locals for many reasons.”
Just two months ago, a number of Michigan lawmakers submitted a letter to Governor Gretchen Whitmer advocating against the expansion of the camp, the letter’s signatories included Representatives Borton, Roth, Cavitt, and Sen. John Damoose (R-Harbor Springs).
“We are proud to represent a large area containing many of Michigan’s finest natural resources. These natural resources are very important to the well-being of Michiganders and the longevity of the environmental health of Michigan. Many of the constituents we share are deeply concerned about the ramifications of the proposed expansion of Camp Grayling. We, as elected representatives of the people, have a voice in these considerations, on behalf of our constituents.”
Previously, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy’s Remediation and Redevelopment Division cautioned the agency to think carefully regarding the leasing of land.
“EGLE Gaylord RRD does not support the expansion of Camp Grayling based upon the inability to take timely action to investigate, mitigate, and remediate significant areas of contamination at Camp Grayling,” District Supervisor of Remediation and Redevelopment Division Randall Rothe said in a letter, “It is EGLE Gaylord RRD’s recommendation to the Michigan DNR not to accept an expansion of Camp Grayling until significant progress and timely action is taken.”
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