gr8ful wes
Deity
Unauthorized Activity
This one is a genuine hoot. It was an actual letter sent to a man
named Ryan DeVries by the Michigan Department of Environmental
Quality, State of Michigan.
Wait till you read this guy's response.......but read the letter
before you get to the response........
> > >Mr. Ryan DeVries
> > >2088 Dagget Pierson, MI 49339
> > >
> > >SUBJECT: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20;
> > >Montcalm County
> > >
> > >Dear Mr. DeVries:
> > >
> > >It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental
> > >Quality that there has been recent unauthorized activity on the
> > >above referenced parcel of property. You have been certified as
> > >the legal landowner and/or contractor who did the following
> > >unauthorized activity:
> > >
> > >Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the
> > >outlet stream of Spring Pond. A permit must be issued prior to
> > >the start of this type of activity. A review of the Department's
> > >files shows that no permits have been issued. Therefore, the
> > >Department has determined that this activity is in violation of
> > >Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and
> > >Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994,
> > >being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled
> > >Laws, annotated.
> > >
> > >The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams
> > >partially failed during a recent rain event, causing debris and
> > >flooding at downstream locations. We find that dams of this
> > >nature are inherently hazardous and cannot be permitted. The
> > >Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all activities
> > >at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow
> > >condition by removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the
> > >stream channel. All restoration work shall be completed no later
> > >than January 31, 2002.
> > >
> > >Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed
> > >so that a follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our
> > >staff. Failure to comply with this request or any further
> > >unauthorized activity on the site may result in this case being
> > >referred for elevated enforcement action.
> > >
> > >We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this
> > >matter. Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have
> > >any questions.
> > >
> > >
> > >Sincerely, David L. Price
> > >
> > >District Representative Land and Water Management Division
> > >
> > >
> > >*******************
> > >
> > >This is the actual response sent back........
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >Dear Mr. Price,
> > >
> > >Re: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20;
> > >Montcalm County.
> > >
> > >Your certified letter dated 12/17/01 has been handed to me to
> > >respond to.
> > >
> > >First of all, Mr. Ryan DeVries is not the legal Landowner and/or
> > >Contractor at 2088 Dagget, Pierson, Michigan. I am the legal
> > >owner and a couple of beavers are in the (State unauthorized)
> > >process of constructing and maintaining two wood "debris" dams
> > >across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond.
> > >
> > >While I did not pay for, authorize, nor supervise their dam
> > >project, I think they would be highly offended that you call their
> > >skillful use of natures building materials "debris."
> > >
> > >I would like to challenge your department to attempt to emulate
> > >their dam project any time and/or any place you choose. I believe
> > >I can safely state there is no way you could ever match their dam
> > >skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam ingenuity, their dam
> > >persistence, their dam determination and/or their dam work ethic.
> > >
> > >As to your request, I do not think the beavers are aware that they
> > >must first fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type
> > >of dam activity.
> > >
> > >My first dam question to you is: (1) Are you trying to
> > >discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers or (2) do you require
> > >all beavers throughout this State to conform to said dam request?
> > >
> > >If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers,
> > >through the Freedom of Information Act, I request completed copies
> > >of all those other applicable beaver dam permits that have been
> > >issued. Perhaps we will see if there really is a dam violation of
> > >Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and
> > >Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994,
> > >being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled
> > >Laws, annotated.
> > >
> > >I have several concerns. My first concern is - aren't the beavers
> > >entitled to legal representation? The Spring Pond Beavers are
> > >financially destitute and are unable to pay for said
> > >representation - so the State will have to provide them with a dam
> > >lawyer. The Department's dam concern that either one or both of
> > >the dams failed during a recent rain event causing flooding is
> > >proof that this is a natural occurrence, which the Department is
> > >required to protect.
> > >
> > >In other words, we should leave the Spring Pond Beavers alone
> > >rather than harassing them and calling their dam names. If you
> > >want the stream "restored" to a dam free-flow condition please
> > >contact the beavers - but if you are going to arrest them, they
> > >obviously did not pay any attention to your dam letter, they being
> > >unable to read English.
> > >
> > >In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to
> > >build their unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the
> > >grass is green and water flows downstream. They have more dam
> > >rights than I do to live and enjoy Spring Pond. If the Department
> > >of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection lives up to its
> > >name, it should protect the natural resources (Beavers) and the
> > >environment (Beavers' Dams.).
> > >
> > >So, as far as the beavers and I are concerned, this dam case can
> > >be referred for more elevated enforcement action right now. Why
> > >wait until 1/31/2002? The Spring Pond Beavers may be under the
> > >dam ice then and there will be no way for you or your dam staff to
> > >contact/harass them then.
> > >
> > >In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention to a real
> > >environmental quality (health) problem in the area. It is the
> > >bears! Bears are actually defecating in our woods. I definitely
> > >believe you should be persecuting the defecating bears and leave
> > >the beavers alone. If you are going to investigate the beaver
> > >dam, watch your step! (The bears are not careful where they
> > >dump!)
> > >
> > >Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to
> > >contact you on your dam answering machine, I am sending this
> > >response to your dam office.
> > >
> > >Sincerely,
> > >
> > >Stephen L.Tvedten
This one is a genuine hoot. It was an actual letter sent to a man
named Ryan DeVries by the Michigan Department of Environmental
Quality, State of Michigan.
Wait till you read this guy's response.......but read the letter
before you get to the response........
> > >Mr. Ryan DeVries
> > >2088 Dagget Pierson, MI 49339
> > >
> > >SUBJECT: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20;
> > >Montcalm County
> > >
> > >Dear Mr. DeVries:
> > >
> > >It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental
> > >Quality that there has been recent unauthorized activity on the
> > >above referenced parcel of property. You have been certified as
> > >the legal landowner and/or contractor who did the following
> > >unauthorized activity:
> > >
> > >Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the
> > >outlet stream of Spring Pond. A permit must be issued prior to
> > >the start of this type of activity. A review of the Department's
> > >files shows that no permits have been issued. Therefore, the
> > >Department has determined that this activity is in violation of
> > >Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and
> > >Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994,
> > >being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled
> > >Laws, annotated.
> > >
> > >The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams
> > >partially failed during a recent rain event, causing debris and
> > >flooding at downstream locations. We find that dams of this
> > >nature are inherently hazardous and cannot be permitted. The
> > >Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all activities
> > >at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow
> > >condition by removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the
> > >stream channel. All restoration work shall be completed no later
> > >than January 31, 2002.
> > >
> > >Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed
> > >so that a follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our
> > >staff. Failure to comply with this request or any further
> > >unauthorized activity on the site may result in this case being
> > >referred for elevated enforcement action.
> > >
> > >We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this
> > >matter. Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have
> > >any questions.
> > >
> > >
> > >Sincerely, David L. Price
> > >
> > >District Representative Land and Water Management Division
> > >
> > >
> > >*******************
> > >
> > >This is the actual response sent back........
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >Dear Mr. Price,
> > >
> > >Re: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20;
> > >Montcalm County.
> > >
> > >Your certified letter dated 12/17/01 has been handed to me to
> > >respond to.
> > >
> > >First of all, Mr. Ryan DeVries is not the legal Landowner and/or
> > >Contractor at 2088 Dagget, Pierson, Michigan. I am the legal
> > >owner and a couple of beavers are in the (State unauthorized)
> > >process of constructing and maintaining two wood "debris" dams
> > >across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond.
> > >
> > >While I did not pay for, authorize, nor supervise their dam
> > >project, I think they would be highly offended that you call their
> > >skillful use of natures building materials "debris."
> > >
> > >I would like to challenge your department to attempt to emulate
> > >their dam project any time and/or any place you choose. I believe
> > >I can safely state there is no way you could ever match their dam
> > >skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam ingenuity, their dam
> > >persistence, their dam determination and/or their dam work ethic.
> > >
> > >As to your request, I do not think the beavers are aware that they
> > >must first fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type
> > >of dam activity.
> > >
> > >My first dam question to you is: (1) Are you trying to
> > >discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers or (2) do you require
> > >all beavers throughout this State to conform to said dam request?
> > >
> > >If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers,
> > >through the Freedom of Information Act, I request completed copies
> > >of all those other applicable beaver dam permits that have been
> > >issued. Perhaps we will see if there really is a dam violation of
> > >Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and
> > >Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994,
> > >being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled
> > >Laws, annotated.
> > >
> > >I have several concerns. My first concern is - aren't the beavers
> > >entitled to legal representation? The Spring Pond Beavers are
> > >financially destitute and are unable to pay for said
> > >representation - so the State will have to provide them with a dam
> > >lawyer. The Department's dam concern that either one or both of
> > >the dams failed during a recent rain event causing flooding is
> > >proof that this is a natural occurrence, which the Department is
> > >required to protect.
> > >
> > >In other words, we should leave the Spring Pond Beavers alone
> > >rather than harassing them and calling their dam names. If you
> > >want the stream "restored" to a dam free-flow condition please
> > >contact the beavers - but if you are going to arrest them, they
> > >obviously did not pay any attention to your dam letter, they being
> > >unable to read English.
> > >
> > >In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to
> > >build their unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the
> > >grass is green and water flows downstream. They have more dam
> > >rights than I do to live and enjoy Spring Pond. If the Department
> > >of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection lives up to its
> > >name, it should protect the natural resources (Beavers) and the
> > >environment (Beavers' Dams.).
> > >
> > >So, as far as the beavers and I are concerned, this dam case can
> > >be referred for more elevated enforcement action right now. Why
> > >wait until 1/31/2002? The Spring Pond Beavers may be under the
> > >dam ice then and there will be no way for you or your dam staff to
> > >contact/harass them then.
> > >
> > >In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention to a real
> > >environmental quality (health) problem in the area. It is the
> > >bears! Bears are actually defecating in our woods. I definitely
> > >believe you should be persecuting the defecating bears and leave
> > >the beavers alone. If you are going to investigate the beaver
> > >dam, watch your step! (The bears are not careful where they
> > >dump!)
> > >
> > >Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to
> > >contact you on your dam answering machine, I am sending this
> > >response to your dam office.
> > >
> > >Sincerely,
> > >
> > >Stephen L.Tvedten
