Michigan’s “state regulations [for wetlands] are more restrictive than those enforced by federal authorities,” but jurisdiction to regulate wetlands may be handed over to the federal government in order to save Michigan a few million dollars.  From the New York Times:

Michigan officials say it is a last-resort move that will save $2 million.

“This is a program that has been underfunded in Michigan for a number of years now, and without any new support to increase the funding for the program, we were really left in a position where we couldn’t afford to take any more cuts to the program and still be able to administer it,” said Bob McCann, spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Quality, or DEQ.

“Frankly, it’s not something that we’ve chosen to do for any reason other than we don’t feel we have any other options, unless someone wants to come to the table with a proposal to really restore funding for this program back to where it needs to be.”

.       .       .

Environmentalists also say the move could threaten the Great Lakes. Jeff Ruch, executive director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, called the bill a huge step backward, particularly after President Obama proposed a nearly $500 million task force aimed at restoring the Great Lakes in his fiscal 2010 budget plan.

:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::