"Even scarier is the prospect of creeping nationalization by the voracious state. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality recently asserted control over newly uncovered bottom land left by lower lake levels. This was a massive uncompensated taking of private property by regulation."
Even scarier is the ignorance of this statement in a Detroit News op-ed. DEQ didn't "assert control," it exercised authority on behalf of all of the people of the state, who own the bottom of the Lakes and their waters. Michigan has had this power since joining the Union. It's the property owners who now want to claim they own the bottom of the Great Lakes. Just like Nestle wants to claim it owns the waters of the Great Lakes Basin.
http://www.detnews.com/2005/editorial/0504/10/A15-145098.htm
Posted by Dave at April 10, 2005 09:55 PM