Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 20 JANUARY 2011

Michigan DNRE Abolished

Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Explore more from Barnes & Thornburg LLP

By Executive Order, New Michigan Governor Rick Snyder on Jan. 4, 2011, abolished the Department of Natural Resources & Environment (MDNRE).

United StatesEnvironment
Charles Denton
Charles Denton
Author LinkedIn connections

By Executive Order, New Michigan Governor Rick Snyder on Jan. 4, 2011, abolished the Department of Natural Resources & Environment (MDNRE). Executive Order No. 2011-1 recreates the former Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) as principal Departments in the Executive Branch. In effect, the Governor's first Executive Order unwinds former Governor Granholm's Executive Order No. 2009-45 which consolidated the MDNR and MDEQ into the MDNRE one year ago.

This re-establishment of the MDNR and MDEQ was not unexpected. In fact, Governor Snyder had previously announced the Directors he would appoint for each of these Departments. Dan Wyant, former Director of the Department of Agriculture under Governor Engler, is the new MDEQ Director and Rodney Stokes is the new DNR Director. Furthermore, directors of DEQ, DNR and Department of Agriculture (now headed by Director Keith Creagh) all serve on the Natural Resources Commission within the Executive Branch. Director Wyant will be the newly appointed chairperson of the Natural Resources Commission.

The Executive Order will become effective unless the Michigan legislature overrides it, which is not expected

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

Related Articles

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

California Legislature Enrolls Bill To Permit The Issuance Of Take Authorization For Species Proposed For Listing Under CESA

California's Assembly Bill 550 proposes to expand the state's endangered species permitting framework by allowing incidental take permits for species merely proposed for listing, rather than requiring full candidate status. While technically available to all developers, the bill's provisions primarily benefit renewable energy projects by providing regulatory continuity and reducing species-related disruptions during the lengthy development process required to meet California's aggressive clean energy target
United StatesEnvironment
Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP
Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP
Article

Fifth Circuit Vacates EPA's Methylene Chloride Risk Management Rule Under TSCA

The Fifth Circuit's landmark decision in East Fork Enterprises v. EPA vacates the agency's methylene chloride risk management rule, establishing new precedents for how TSCA requires condition-specific risk determinations, treatment of workplace protective equipment, and evidentiary standards. This ruling could fundamentally reshape EPA's approach to chemical regulation and influence pending litigation involving asbestos, trichloroethylene, and other substances.
United StatesEnvironment
Holland & Knight
Holland & Knight
Article

WOTUS Proposed Rule Second Comment Period Ends October 9, 2026

The EPA and Army Corps of Engineers have issued a second proposed rule refining the definition of "waters of the United States" (WOTUS), addressing ambiguities raised in over 220,000 public comments. The updated proposal clarifies three critical terms—"relatively permanent," "continuous surface connection," and "perennial"—that determine which water bodies fall under federal jurisdiction.
United StatesEnvironment
Stites & Harbison PLLC
Stites & Harbison PLLC
Article

Federal Court Enjoins Sweeping New Mexico PFAS Labeling Obligations

The world’s broadest PFAS labeling obligation has been put on hold. On September 16, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico granted an industry motion for a preliminary injunction against labeling requirements New Mexico enacted earlier this year. The court concluded that industry’s challenge to the labeling requirements was likely to succeed on the merits. The requirements were set to go into effect for products manufactured after January 1, 2027. Although further legal battles may remain, the program appears unlikely to take effect as scheduled.
United StatesEnvironment
Beveridge & Diamond, P.C.
Beveridge & Diamond, P.C.
Article

U.S. House Of Representatives Passes Three Bipartisan Bills To Promote Recovery And Recycling Of Critical Minerals From Lithium-Ion Batteries And Other Wastes

Three bipartisan bills passed by the U.S. House of Representatives aim to revolutionize domestic recovery and recycling of critical minerals from waste streams, particularly lithium-ion batteries. The legislation addresses regulatory barriers under RCRA that currently complicate battery recycling operations and establishes new federal programs to coordinate critical mineral recovery efforts. Will these measures successfully position America to compete in the global race for critical mineral independence?
United StatesEnvironment
Beveridge & Diamond, P.C.
Beveridge & Diamond, P.C.
Article

Fifth Circuit Vacates EPA’s TSCA Risk Management Rule For Methylene Chloride

The Fifth Circuit's decision in East Fork Enterprises v. EPA vacates EPA's methylene chloride risk management rule and underlying unreasonable risk determination, fundamentally challenging the agency's approach to TSCA administration. The ruling addresses critical issues including the "whole chemical" versus "condition of use" methodology, EPA's treatment of personal protective equipment in risk assessments, and the interpretation of "unreasonable risk" under TSCA.
United StatesEnvironment
Arnold & Porter
Arnold & Porter
Article

Analysis Of Oregon EPR Litigation: Arguments And Conclusions

A federal judge has upheld Oregon's Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act against constitutional challenges, finding that the state's Extended Producer Responsibility program does not violate the Dormant Commerce Clause or Due Process Clause. The decision addresses critical questions about how much regulatory authority states may delegate to private producer responsibility organizations and what procedural protections producers must receive when mandatory fees are assessed.
United StatesEnvironment
Bergeson & Campbell
Bergeson & Campbell
Article

Massachusetts Conditions Large Data Center Permits On Community Agreements

Massachusetts imposed new requirements on data center projects with peak electricity demand exceeding 25 megawatts by Executive Order 658 on September 8, 2026. State permitting agencies cannot issue permits or authorizations for covered projects unless developers comply with the Healey-Driscoll administration’s June 2026 data center development and operations framework and submit a community benefits agreement (CBA) consistent with the Massachusetts Office of Environmental Justice and Equity (OEJE) March 2026 guidelines for community benefit plans (CBPs) and agreements.
United StatesEnvironment
Beveridge & Diamond, P.C.
Beveridge & Diamond, P.C.
Article

Walking To Lunch On Break? DOL Says That May Be The Employee’s Time, Not The Company’s

Last week, the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) issued Opinion Letter FLSA2026-11, addressing a question many employers with large or sprawling worksites have faced: does mandatory walk time to a designated break area turn an unpaid meal period into compensable work time? The short answer is no — so long as the remaining break time is still long enough for employees to eat a regular meal.
United StatesEmployment and HR
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Article

IEEPA Tariff Refunds: Critical Developments, Phase III Delays, And Action Steps For Importers

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has begun processing IEEPA tariff refunds through its CAPE system, but Phase III covering finally liquidated entries faces delays and requires court orders. With the Department of Justice appealing the universal refund order and class certification pending, importers with finally liquidated entries may need to file individual lawsuits at the Court of International Trade to preserve their claims before statutory deadlines expire.
United StatesInternational Law
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Article

Fifth Circuit Strikes Down Key Rules Governing The No Surprises Act

The Fifth Circuit's en banc ruling on the No Surprises Act challenges federal agencies' methodology for calculating provider reimbursement rates, specifically addressing the controversial inclusion of "ghost rates" and exclusion of bonus payments in determining the qualifying payment amount. This landmark decision will reshape how insurers calculate reimbursement rates for out-of-network claims and significantly impact negotiations between healthcare providers and insurance companies.
United StatesFood, Drugs, Healthcare, Life Sciences
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Article

Legislation Limits AI Use In California Workplace Decisions

California lawmakers have advanced legislation that would prohibit employers from using automated systems as the sole basis for terminating or disciplining workers. The bill, which awaits the governor's signature, represents one of the most comprehensive state-level attempts to regulate AI in workforce management, requiring human oversight of algorithmic decisions and mandating transparency about which digital tools influence employment outcomes.
United StatesEmployment and HR
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Article

SEC And FDA Sign Memorandum Of Understanding Formalizing Cross-Agency Information Sharing

The Securities and Exchange Commission and Food and Drug Administration have formalized a framework for sharing non-public information through a new memorandum of understanding, creating established contact points and secure channels between the agencies. This development signals heightened scrutiny for FDA-regulated companies, as disclosures made to one agency may now be systematically shared with the other, fundamentally altering the enforcement landscape for life sciences and pharmaceutical industries.
United StatesGovernment, Public Sector
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Article

The Villages Health System $541.5 Million Settlement: A New Frontier In Medicare Advantage Risk Adjustment Enforcement

The Villages Health System LLC agreed to pay $541.5 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations involving invalid Medicare Advantage diagnosis codes submitted between 2020 and 2024. This landmark settlement demonstrates the Department of Justice's commitment to holding both healthcare providers and Medicare Advantage Organizations accountable for risk adjustment overpayments, while highlighting the value of self-disclosure and cooperation in federal healthcare fraud investigations.
United StatesFood, Drugs, Healthcare, Life Sciences
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Barnes & Thornburg LLP