ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

The complex array of statutes, regulations, and administrative rulings that form Michigan's environmental law are in constant flux. The legal team at Carey & Jaskowski remains abreast of these changes by reviewing a wide variety of legal and technical publications. Our attorneys maintain an active practice in environmental law.

Our environmental law practice focuses upon:

• Wetlands permitting

• Clean-up of contaminated sites.

• Litigating under the Michigan Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Act.

• Timber production and forestry matters.

Our Firm is one of the leading law firm in Michigan when it comes to water law. We have more published appellate cases in the area of water law than any other firm in the state - we don't just know the law, we are making the law. Water law is derived from English common law, and is the culmination of hundreds of years of judicial decisions. Michigan has recognized the rights of landowners to the “reasonable” use of the subacqueous and surface waters adjacent to their property. These “riparian” rights ( “ripa,” Latin meaning the bank of a watercourse) are not absolute; a riparians use cannot excessively diminish the quality or quantity of water to adjacent landowners, and must be balanced against the public's interest.

• Disputes between the public & private ownership of riparian lands.

• Riparian interest area delineation.

• Dockage and mooring rights.

• Zoning and funneling matters.

• Road end disputes.