Gov. appointments extend commitment to environment, health

Seven pro-environment Michigander leaders were appointed or reappointed across three government groups by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Thursday. The Michigan Environmental Council gave a thumbs-up to each.

The advocates, educators and researchers will serve either on the Environmental Rules Review Commission, the Environmental Permit Review Commission or the Great Lakes Protection Fund.

“Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has committed herself to protecting the health of Michigan’s people and environment,” said Sean Hammond, policy director at the Environmental Council. “Her appointments were a reflection of it. We are thankful for that commitment to make these resident-led groups the best they can be for Michigan.”

Tim Eder and Laura Rubin were both appointed to the Great Lakes Protection Fund, a collaborative endowment between Great Lakes states meant to protect and restore the water they share.

• Eder, of Chelsea, is the environmental program director of the Mott Foundation. He previously served as director of the Great Lakes Commission.
• Rubin, of Ann Arbor, is the director of Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition. She previously served as Huron River Watershed Council’s director for 21 years.

Jeremy Orr was reappointed and Walker Modic and Mary Ellen Mika were appointed to the Environmental Rules Review Committee. The ERRC oversees all of the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy’s rulemaking.

• Mika, of Grand Haven, is the director of global compliance and sustainability at Steelcase. She previously was an environmental scientist.
• Modic, of Grand Rapids, is a sustainability specialist at Bell’s Brewery. He is also co-chair of the Brewers Association’s sustainability subcommittee.
• Orr, of Detroit, is an attorney for Natural Resources Defense Council, the environmental and climate justice chair of Michigan NAACP, and a board member for MEC.

Dana Kirk was reappointed and Murray Borello was appointed to the Environmental Permit Review Commission. It advises EGLE’s director on disputes related to permit applications and contested cases regarding permit decisions.

• Borello, of Alma, is a professor of environmental studies at Alma College. He is an expert in Superfund sites and the intersection of water quality and land in mid-Michigan.
• Kirk, of Dimondale, is a professor of biosystems and agricultural engineering at Michigan State University. He is also the manager of the Anaerobic Digester Research and Education Center and an expert in food waste utilization.