Tc bridge - Legal Comment of O

Feasible and Prudent Alternatives Analysis on the “Hartman-Hammond Road Connector, MDEQ Wetland and Stream Crossing Permit Application” Application Dated May 15, 2003; MDEQ File No. 03-28-0035-P; Grand Traverse County, Michigan A. Introduction The following are comments on behalf of the law firm of Olson, Bzdok and Howard, in regards to the May 15, 2003, “Hartman-Hammond Road Connector, MDEQ Wetland and Stream Crossing Permit Application”; MDEQ File No. 03-28-0035-P; filed by the applicant, the Grand Traverse County Road Commission. This comment provides a legal analysis of the failure of the applicant to properly conduct their analysis of alternatives to the proposed project, the Hartman-Hammond Road Connector. This comment is intended as a companion to the more extensive comment filed by and on behalf of the Michigan Land Use Institute, et al, with the assistance of Olson, Bzdok and Howard, which outlines a much broader range of reasons why the permit should also be denied. B. Summary The proposed project cuts through an area of high quality natural and recreational resources, and the impacts of the project could be avoided altogether by pursuing other feasible and prudent alternatives. Therefore, the permit application should be denied by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (“the department”) pursuant to their authority to administer the Wetland Protection Act (“WPA”), MCL 324.30301 et seq, and the Inland Lakes and Streams ...