ISHPEMING, MI-- A public interest legal foundation is joining the Marquette County Road Commission in its fight to construct County Road 595.
The Pacific Legal Foundation says it advocates for limited government, property rights, individual rights, and a balanced approach to environmental protection. Its Atlantic Center in Florida is assisting the Road Commission in its lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency and its decision to deny the road plan.
The road would connect County Road AAA in Michigamme Township with US-41 in Humboldt Township to create a faster route for trucks hauling material from the Eagle mine to the Humboldt Mill.
Federal Judge Robert Holmes Bell originally dismissed the lawsuit, saying Marquette County doesn’t have a viable claim against the EPA. He now says he’ll reconsider hearing the case.
Pacific Legal Managing Attorney Mark Miller says if the judge does not reverse himself Pacific Legal will function as co-counsel in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and, if necessary, the Supreme Court.
“EPA’s inflexible position is putting public safety and sensible local planning at risk, and the federal regulators cannot be allowed to escape judicial review of their overreaching actions,” Miller says.
The Marquette County Road Commission held a press conference to announce its partnership with Pacific Legal Tuesday in Ishpeming.
