Consumers Energy Reminds Hunters that Utility Land is Private Property
September 07 2007 - 6:30AM
PR Newswire (US)
JACKSON, Mich., Sept. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- With hunting season gearing
up in Michigan, Consumers Energy is reminding people that hunting
is not allowed on the utility's property. The ban protects the
safety of neighbors, utility workers and others. It also addresses
the concerns of neighboring landowners that irresponsible hunters
will use Consumers Energy property to trespass. "We are asking
hunters to remember that Consumers Energy property is private land,
not public property," said James Feahr, Consumers Energy's land
management field representative. "Responsible hunters do not hunt
on the private property of others. We ask that Consumers Energy
land be treated the same as other private property, and we
appreciate the vast majority of hunters who follow these
guidelines." In particular, Feahr noted problems with people
attaching deer blinds to electric poles and towers, digging holes
on utility property and larger number of reported general shooting
and baiting incidents. Anyone observing hunting on utility land is
asked to contact their local law enforcement agency, or Consumers
Energy's corporate security office at 1-800-760-3295. Special
hunting provisions apply to Consumers Energy-owned lands bordering
its AuSable, Manistee and Muskegon river hydroelectric plant
reservoirs, where hunting is permitted. However, construction of
hunting blinds, target shooting, baiting, burning and fire pits are
strictly prohibited on all Consumers Energy lands. In addition, use
of dirt bikes, ATVs or other off- road vehicles are not allowed on
utility property due to resource damage, the potential danger to
drivers and passengers and possible damage to utility equipment.
Consumers Energy is one of the largest private landowners in
Michigan's Lower Peninsula. The utility owns more than 12,000 miles
of electric and natural gas rights-of-way, and maintains easement
rights on another 86,000 miles of natural gas and electric
rights-of-way. Consumers Energy has prepared a brochure, "To Our
Michigan Neighbors," which provides guidelines for landowners,
developers and others on use of utility property. The brochure
covers how to secure and use easements, leases and licenses on
Consumers Energy property, and information on who to contact before
digging on utility land. A copy of the brochure is available on the
utility's website at http://www.consumersenergy.com/, and then
typing, "land brochure" in the search function. Consumers Energy,
the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, provides natural gas and
electricity to nearly 6.5 million of Michigan's 10 million
residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. For more information
about Consumers Energy, visit our Website at
http://www.consumersenergy.com/ DATASOURCE: Consumers Energy
CONTACT: Jeff Holyfield, +1-517-788-2394, or Dan Bishop,
+1-517-788-2395, or Terry DeDoes, +1-517-374-2159, all of Consumers
Energy Web site: http://www.consumersenergy.com/ Company News
On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/203850.html
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