UPPER PENINSULA ENVIRONMENTAL COALITION
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Mission Statement
Protecting and maintaining the unique environmental qualities of Michigan's Upper Peninsula by educating the public and acting as a watchdog to industry and government.
About This Cause
UPEC's education, advocacy, and environmental protection efforts focus on the Upper Peninsula landmass and the surrounding Great Lakes that impact residents' health and well-being in the entire state of Michigan. UPEC's mission statement is “Protecting and maintaining the unique environmental qualities of Michigan's Upper Peninsula by educating the public and acting as a watchdog to industry and government.” UPEC's membership comes from the entire state as and neighboring states, particularly Wisconsin. To some degree, UPEC's work impacts all Michigan residents insofar as UPEC addresses issues of water & air quality, ecosystemic diversity, public land management and access, persistent toxic chemicals and invasive species. 1. During each month of 2013, UPEC provided a front line of scrutiny of proposed metallic sulfide mining in the U.P. based on the likely environmental and human health impacts. UPEC board members and general members attended numerous government hearing, wrote letters to public officials, and waged a public campaign in the newspapers, and though UPEC's website (www.upenvironment.org) and quarterly (March, June, Sepember, and December) newsletter (The UP Environment) which came out in March, June, October, and December with a circulation of 1,100 copies. UPEC centrally contributed to successful efforts to prevent a mine haul road through critical wetland and habitat areas in western Marquette County. 2. UPEC continuously worked on wildlife and habitat issues involving critical and endangered species such as the Eastern Timber Wolf and reintroduced species such as Moose UPEC also provided advocacy and educational resources for the public on invasive species such as earthworms. purple loosestrife, and exotic species threatening forest health in the region. UPEC also publicized regional wild rice restoration efforts and the initiative to protect the Trap Hills Region in Ontonagon and Gogebic Counties 3. UPEC provided on-going input into national forest land management and resource allocation decisions. The organization advocated for sustainable watershed management, a diversity of habitat types, and for protection/expansion (as appropriate) of public land holdings. The organization also supported land acquisition efforts by numerous allied organizations (financially and through consultation). UPEC's advocacy on behalf of public lands resulted in this being designated a statewide priority issue by the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. UPEC also sponsored a public educational forum on the advisability of large-scale forest biomass utilization in energy production; UPEC's newsletter also featured articles about alleged public health and environmental impacts of the Warden biomass electric generation plant in L'Anse. 4. UPEC continued to structure its annual meeting in March as a two-day public presentation called “Celebrate the U.P.” UPEC brought in more than a dozen expert speakers to give free presentations to the public (approximately 200 attendees) on the things we all value here in the U.P. – the land, the people and the lakes – in the hope that there would be more public support for the protection of those things. 5. UPEC also awarded $2,700 in annual environmental education grants to regional K-12 programs in January, 2013. These six grants help engage youth in environmental projects that provide learning opportunities, generate environmental data, and prepare the next generation of environmental leaders. Hundreds of young people benefited from this support. 6. As is its custom, UPEC held four public board meetings in 2013: Jan. 18 at the Covington Multipurpose Building; March 8 at the Womens' Federated Clubhouse in Marquette; and June 25 and Sept. 20 at the Ford Forestry Center in Alberta. These meeting lasted an average of four hours. In addition, there have been many small committee meetings, email discussions, and conference calls to discuss pertinent environmental issues. The board has in place a process to discuss and make decisions through email conversations; this enables UPEC to constantly and consistently engage the public policy process. 7. And, of course, UPEC has done its best to keep the public up to date on important U.P. environmental issues through newspaper articles, radio reports, television shows, its quarterly newsletters and website.