Thought everyone would really enjoy this one.Cheryl Fredericks
>
> > This was an actual letter from and a reply to the Michigan
> > Department of Environmental Quality, State of Michigan:
> >
> > Mr. Ryan De Vries
> > 2088 Dagget
> > Pierson, MI 49339
> >
> > Dear Mr. DeVries:
> >
> > SUBJECT: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023-1 T11N, R10W,
> > Sec. 20, Montcalm County
> >
> > It has come to the attention of the Department of
> > Environmental Quality that there has been recent unauthorized
> > activity on the above-referenced parcel of property. You have
> > been certified as the legal landowner and/or contractor who did
> > the following unauthorized activity: Construction and
> > maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet stream
> > of Spring Pond. A permit must be issued prior to the start of this
> > type of activity. A review of the Department's files shows that no
> > permits have been issued.
> >
> > Therefore, the Department has determined that this activity is in
> > violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural
> > Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public
> > Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan
> > Compiled Laws, annotated.
> >
> > The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams
> > partially failed during a recent rain event, causing debris and
> > flooding at downstream locations. We find that dams of this nature
> > are inherently hazardous and cannot be permitted.
> >
> > The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all
> > unauthorized activities at this location, and to restore the stream to
> >
> > a free-flow condition by removing all wood and brush forming the
> > dams from the stream channel. All restoration work shall be
> > completed no later than January 31,1998.
> >
> > Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed
> > so that a follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff.
> > Failure to comply with this request or any further unauthorized
> > activity on the site may result in this case being referred for
> > elevated
> >
> > enforcement action.
> >
> > We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this
> > matter. Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have
> > any questions.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> >
> > David L. Price
> > District Representative
> > Land and Water Management Division
> >
> > RESPONSE
> >
> > Dear Mr. Price:
> >
> > Re: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N, R10W, Sec 20;
> > Montcalm County
> >
> > Your certified letter dated 12/17/97 has been handed to me
> > to respond to. You sent out a great deal of carbon copies to
> > a lot of people, but you neglected to include their addresses.
> > You will, therefore, have to send them a copy of my response.
> >
> > First of all, Mr. Ryan De Vries is not the legal landowner and/or
> > contractor at 2088 Dagget, Pierson, Michigan - I am the legal
> > owner and a couple of beavers are in the (State unauthorized)
> > process of constructing and maintaining two wood "debris"
> > dams across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond. While I
> > did not pay for, authorize, nor supervised their dam project,
> > I think they would be highly offended that you call their skillful
> > use of natural building materials "debris." I would like to
> > challenge your department to attempt to emulate their dam
> > project any time and/or any place you choose. I believe I
> > can safely state there is no way you could ever match their
> > dam skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam ingenuity,
> > their dam persistence, their dam determination and/or their
> > dam work ethic.
> >
> > As to your request, I do not think the beavers are aware that
> > they first must fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this
> > type of dam activity.
> >
> > My first dam question to you is: (1) are you trying to discriminate
> > against my Spring Pond Beavers or (2) do you require all
> > beavers throughout this State to conform to said dam request?
> > If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers,
> > through the Freedom of Information Act I request completed
> > copies of all those other applicable beaver dam permits that
> > have been issued. Perhaps we will see if there really is a dam
> > violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the
> > Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act,
> > Act 451of the Public Acts of 1994,being sections 324.30101
> > to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, annotated.
> >
> > I have several concerns. My first concern is - aren't the
> > beavers entitled to legal representation? The Spring Pond
> > Beavers are financially destitute and are unable to pay for
> > said representation - so the State will have to provide them
> > with a dam lawyer. The Department's dam concern that either
> > one or both of the dams failed during a recent rain event
> > causing flooding is proof that this is a natural occurrence
> > which the department is required to protect. In other words,
> > we should leave the Spring Pond Beavers alone rather than
> > harassing them and calling their dam names.
> >
> > If you want the stream "restored" to a dam free-flow condition
> > - please contact the beavers - but if you are going to arrest
> > them (they obviously did not pay any attention to your dam
> > letter -- being unable to read English) -- be sure they are read
> > the Miranda rights first. As for me, I am not going to cause
> > more flooding or dam debris jams by interfering with these
> > dam builders. If you want to hurt these dam beavers -- be
> > aware I am sending a copy of your dam letter and this
> > response to PETA. If your dam Department seriously finds
> > all dams of this nature inherently hazardous and truly will
> > not permit their existence in this State -- I seriously hope
> > you are not selectively enforcing this dam policy - or once
> > again both I and the Spring Pond Beavers will scream prejudice!
> >
> > In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right
> > to build their unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue,
> > the grass is green and water flows downstream. They have
> > more dam right than I do to live and enjoy Spring Pond.
> > If the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental
> > Protection lives to its name, it should protect the natural
> > resources (Beavers) and the environment (Beavers' Dams).
> >
> > So, as far as the beavers and I are concerned, this dam case
> > can be referred for more elevated enforcement action right
> > now. Why wait until 1/31/98? The Spring Pond Beavers
> > may be under the dam ice then and there will be no way
> > for you or your dam staff to contact/harass them then.
> >
> > In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention a real
> > environmental quality (health) problem in the area. It is the
> > bears. Bears are actually defecating in our woods. I definitely
> > believe you should be persecuting the defecating bears and
> > leave the beavers alone. If you are going to investigate the
> > beaver dam, watch your step! (The bears are not careful
> > where they dump!)
> >
> > Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being
> > unable to contact you on your dam answering machine,
> > I am sending this response to your dam office via another
> > government organization - the dam USPS. Maybe, someday,
> > it will get there.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> >
> > Stephen L. Tvedten
> >
> > cc: PETA
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