Success Stories

WMEAC has a long, proud history of environmental action.

The first decade

• 1969 WMEAC files and wins first Federal lawsuit to ban the use of DDT.
• 1970 WMEAC leads in passage of Michigan Environmental Protection Act.
• 1972 WMEAC leads in passage of Inland Lakes and Streams Act.
• 1976 WMEAC leads in passage of Sand Dune Protection and Management Act.
• 1976 WMEAC fights successfully for the Michigan Bottle Bill.
• 1979 WMEAC originates the Michigan Used Oil Recycling Program.
• 1979 WMEAC calls for higher state oil royalties, which leads to the doubling of oil income from state lands.

Key accomplishments of the 1980s

• 1980 WMEAC negotiates the Pigeon River Country State Forest Oil Drilling Protections.
• 1982 WMEAC leads Michigan in the Great Lakes Oil Drilling Ban.
• 1988 WMEAC leads in the development of the statewide Combined Sewer Overflow Policy.
• 1989 WMEAC steers Critical Dune Amendments to victory.

Milestones of the 1990s

• 1994 WMEAC inaugurates the West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum.
• 1997 WMEAC inaugurates the Religion, Ecology and Spirituality Working Group.
• 1998 WMEAC leads opposition to US-31 bypass and in formation of the Coalition for Sensible Transportation Solutions.
• 1999 WMEAC inaugurates Project Lakewatch and Project Stream Search 2000
• 1999 WMEAC cited by Congressman Vernon Ehlers as “one of the primary grassroots environmental organizations in the country.”
• 1999 WMEAC joined with many other community groups and agencies to support passage of a transit millage request bringing significant improvements to Grand Rapids area bus service.

2000 to the present

• 2001 WMEAC inaugurates the Hispanic Lead Initiative.
• 2002 WMEAC worked to convince Michigan lawmakers of the importance in banning slant drilling under the Great Lakes until it became law.
• 2002 WMEAC along with other citizens and organizations, forms the Greater Grand Rapids Food Systems Council.
• 2002 WMEAC says NO! to the Yucca Mountain Plan.
• 2002 WMEAC Rain Gardens project begins as an effort to control stormwater and educate about stormwater pollution.
• 2005 WMEAC launches Local First! A local chapter of the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies
• 2006 Double-Gold LEED Certification awarded to WMEAC’s new office building.
• 2007 WMEAC participates in the development of the Greater Grand Rapids Children’s Environmental Health Initiative.
• 2008 WMEAC starts Project Light Change in West Michigan, replacing incandescent bulbs with CFL bulbs.
• 2008 WMEAC begins Save Your Ash!, a program to protect insect-threatened ash trees in Grand Rapids.