Huizenga Introduces Bill Preserving Access to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Press Release

To preserve and maintain access to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore as outlined by the General Management Plan and Wilderness Study, U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, MI-02, and U.S. Rep. Dave Camp, MI-04, today introduced the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Conservation and Recreation Act. An identical measure was introduced in the Senate by Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, D-MI.

"This bipartisan, bicameral agreement is the result of years of hard work at the grassroots level that reflects compromises agreed to by the stakeholders and the National Park Service. It will enable the same level of access for recreation and enjoyment of the lakeshore that we have benefited from for years and preserve the natural features of the area for generations to come," Huizenga said.

The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is currently managed under a controversial 1981 Wilderness Study whose boundaries require the National Park Service to remove county roads and historical structures. The bill takes extraordinary steps to preserve public access by incorporating into the legislative language specific aspects of the compromises including ensuring that the beaches of Lake Michigan will not be considered wilderness; that the existing roads are outside the wilderness area and can be improved and maintained; hunting and fishing rights will be preserved and private property rights are protected.

The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Conservation and Recreation Act will now be referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources where it will await further consideration.

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