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State Reps. Rachel Hood (D-Grand Rapids) and Joey Andrews (D-St. Joseph) host a press conference at Saugatuck Oval Beach on Aug. 21, 2024.
Bills aim to curb risky construction, sand mining in critical area.
LANSING, Mich., Aug. 26, 2024 — State Reps. Rachel Hood (D-Grand Rapids) and Joey Andrews (D-St. Joseph) held a press conference on Wednesday, August 21, to announce new legislation, which they will introduce soon, aimed at restoring protections for Michigan’s coastal dunes, which are vital for local ecosystems, recreation and tourism, while creating a clear regulatory pathway for state and local governments to approve responsible development.
Michigan’s freshwater coastal dunes, the largest of their kind in the world, have faced increased threats due to laws that rolled back protections and opened fragile ecosystems to risky development and sand mining. The rollback of dune protections also puts buildings and people at risk when unsafe development plans are approved. Hood and Andrews’ bills aim to restore sensible safeguards, ensuring these natural treasures are preserved for generations to come, while maximizing the economic value of our globally unique dune ecosystems.
“The dunes tell us stories of Michigan’s heritage and resilience. By updating these laws, we’re putting an end to reckless practices that could degrade the fresh coast, and we’re clearly outlining how to deliver smart development that balances community needs, ecosystem and other sensitivities” Hood said. “This legislation gives local communities and the states Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy the tools and guidance they need to manage development responsibly while safeguarding one of the rarest natural treasures on Earth.”
Hood’s legislation will target development in “critical dunes,” a designation given to the most ecologically sensitive sand dunes. About 25% of Michigan’s coastal dunes fall under this category. Law changes made in 2012 made it easier to build in these areas while reducing public input in the approval process. Hood’s bill seeks to restore the balance between property rights and environmental preservation and clarifying the regulatory process between local and state governments.
“With these changes to protect public safety and our unique ecology, we’re putting an end to loopholes that have allowed reckless practices to degrade our coastline,” Andrews said. “By modernizing how we regulate sand dune mining, we’re ensuring that future generations inherit a lakeshore that’s not just beautiful but sustainable and thriving.”
Andrews’ bill will focus on tightening regulations around sand mining. Current laws allow pre-1989 mines to continue operating in critical dune areas and only require permits for mining activities within two miles of the shoreline. Andrews’ proposal would clarify permitting requirements and expand protections to cover more vulnerable dune systems.
“We all want to ensure lasting protections for Michigan’s dunes,” said Conan Smith, president and CEO of the Michigan Environmental Council. “They are uniquely beloved places, deserving of special attention in our development processes. Rep. Hood’s and Rep. Andrews’ legislation will bring us back to a system of consistency and clarity where everyone—governments, businesses and the public—knows where and where not to build. They’ll restore our shared commitment to ensuring future generations can enjoy the majesty of Michigan’s iconic shoreline just as we have.”
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