Legislative PositionsEnvironment 

Guidance for participation on Michigan Climate Action Council
As a member of the Michigan Climate Action Council, SEMCOG recommends the Council, Governor Granholm, and the Michigan Legislature consider the following points when deciding on its final climate change strategy:
• All sectors (industry, services, consumers, government, agriculture, etc.) must be involved and do their part.
• Actions should be determined based on practicality for our region. They should not be too heavily influenced by what other regions may or may not be doing. However, they should be viewed in the context of what the federal government is doing or is likely to do.
• Preference should be given to actions that have multiple benefits (e.g., reduce energy consumption or emissions of air pollutants as well as GHGs).
• It must include both short-term actions that can realize emission reductions in a relatively short period of time, as well as longer-term actions that will require more lead time (and possibly more cost) but will eventually provide significant emission reductions.
[Resolution passed at May 8, 2008 Executive Committee meeting.]

Support for federal legislation on invasive species and ballust water regulation
Recognizing its impact on the Great Lakes watershed, SEMCOG supports federal legislative action to regulate invasive species and the ballast water of all oceangoing commercial vessels entering the Great Lakes. [Resolution passed at September 28, 2007 Executive Committee meeting.]

Assure sewer use permits are consistent with local planning
SEMCOG's 2007-2008 Legislative Policy Platform supports sewer-use permits that are consistent with local planning. [Resolution passed at January 19, 2007 Executive Committee meeting.]