Title: A Private Charitable Trust
1- A Private Charitable Trust
- Manage and Distribute Assets from a Natural
Resource Damage Settlement
2HISTORY
- LARGE PUMPED STORAGE HYDROELECTRIC FACILITY
- FEDERAL LICENSE AND STATE LEASE REQUIRED MEASURES
TO PROTECT FISH
3LUDINGTON PUMP STORAGE FACILITY
4LEGAL ISSUES
- LARGE FISH KILLS
- NATIONAL/STATE CONSERVATION GROUPS - FERC AND IN
FEDERAL COURT ACTIONS - STATE FILED IN STATE COURT
- FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND INDIAN TRIBES CLAIMED
DAMAGES
5SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
- STATE COURT CONSENT AGREEMENT- CONTINGENT ON FERC
- SEASONAL NETS - REDUCE FISH LOSSES
- PAYMENTS FOR PAST AND FUTURE FISH LOSSES
- TRUST TO PROVIDE MITIGATION
6WHY A PRIVATE TRUST?
- NUMEROUS LITIGANTS/CLAIMANTS
- CASH COMPONENT LARGE
- NO PARTY TO ACTION WILLING TO VEST SOLE CONTROL
TO STATE OR FEDERAL AGENCY
7WHAT IS THE TRUST?
- PRIVATE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
- COURT SETTLEMENT
- GUIDED BY BOARD AND SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT / TRUST
INSTRUMENT - GRANTS TO MITIGATE FISH LOSSES
- MANAGED BY A PRIVATE FIRM
8Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians
9SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY TEAM
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
United States Fish and Wildlife Service Grand
Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians
Michigan United Conservation Clubs National
Wildlife Federation
AND
Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Little
Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians
Chippewa-Ottawa Treaty Fishery Management
Authority
10GREAT LAKES FISHERY TRUSTBasic Structure
11SOURCE OF GRANT DOLLARS
- PAST DAMAGES TO FISH - 10,000 ACRES OF LAND 10
MILLION DOLLARS - ANNUAL PAYMENTS FOR FISH LOSSES (APPROX. 2.5
MILLION/YR) - PAYMENTS UNTIL 2019 (FERC LICENSE PERIOD)
- CURRENT ASSETS 25 MILLION
12WHO CAN GET GRANTS?
- LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
- COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
- NON-PROFITS (501c3)
- STATE FEDERAL AGENCIES
- INDIAN TRIBES
13TYPES OF GRANT PROJECTS
- FISHERIES RESEARCH
- REHABILITATION OF FISH POPULATIONS
- GREAT LAKES EDUCATION
- FISHERIES HABITAT RESTORATION
- FISHING ACCESS - GREAT LAKES
- SPECIAL PROJECTS
14FISHERIES RESEARCH
15POPULATION RESTORATIONLake Sturgeon Prototype
Spiral Fish Ladder
16EDUCATION Curriculum, Interpretive Programs,
Displays
17Great Lakes Shore Fishing Access
18FISHING ACCESSShore Fishing Facilities
19SPECIAL PROJECTS
- SPECIAL PROJECTS
- Control of Exotic Species Introductions
- Sturgeon Research Conference
- Watershed Initiative
- Demonstration Dam Removal
20(No Transcript)
21SUMMARY
- 25 MILLION IN ASSETS
- 10 MILLION IN GRANTS (35 Projects)
- 4-8 MILLION GRANTS / YEAR
- INCOME 2.5 M/YR
22GREAT LAKES FISHERY TRUSTFunctional Organization
23RESPONSIBILITIES OF BOARD
- APPROVE SALE OF LANDS
- INVEST / MANAGE ASSETS
- MITIGATION GRANTS
- CONTRACT FOR MANAGEMENT SERVICES
- OTHER FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITIES
24RESPONSIBILITIES OF SAT
- ADVISE THE GLFT
- Grant requests
- Land matters (conservation easements)
- Strategic planning
- EXERCISE SEPARATE AUTHORITY
- Calculating annual fish damages
- Signing-off on FERC requirements
- Investigate technologies to minimize fish losses
25RESPONSIBILITIES OF MANAGER
- IMPLEMENT STRATEGIC PLAN
- MANAGE / SELL PROPERTIES
- SOLICIT / MANAGE GRANTS
- PROVIDE PUBLIC INFORMATION
- RECOMMEND POLICY / PROCEDURES
- RECOMMEND / IMPLEMENT MANAGEMENT CONTROLS
26WHY DOES THE TRUST WORK?
- FINANCIAL SECURITY
- CLEAR MISSION
- BENEFICIARY PARTICIPATION
- ENFORCEABLE MANDATE
- STABILITY
27FINANCIAL SECURITY
- INITIAL ASSETS HIGH
- ANNUAL PAYMENTS - SOURCE OF INCOME FOR 25 YEARS
- PRUDENT INVESTMENTS - OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE
ASSETS
28CLEAR MISSION
- SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT - PURPOSE
- TRUST INSTRUMENT - STRUCTURE / DECISION MAKING
- STRATEGIC PLAN SETS GOALS/OBJECTIVES
29BENEFICIARY PARTICIPATION
- BENEFICIARIES - PEOPLE OF THE STATE WHO USE THE
GREAT LAKES - STAKEHOLDER ORGANIZATIONS MEMBERS OF THE BOARD /
SAT - PUBLIC INFORMED OF GLFT ACTIVITIES / FUNDING
30LEGAL MANDATE
- ALL PLANTIFFS ON THE BOARD
- ALL PARTIES ON THE SAT
- SETTLEMENT ENFORCEABLE BY ANY PARTY
- INDEPENDENT OF STATE/FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
31STABILITY
- GLFT IN PERPETUITY - MANAGED TO BE LIQUIDATED BY
2020 - ASSETS MANAGED FOR LONG TERM
- STAFFING BASED UPON PROGRAM SIZE
32PRIVATE TRUST APPROPRIATE LTS OF CONTAMINATED
SITES?
- PRIVATE SITES WITH PRPs
- YES, PROVIDED
- Sufficient funding
- Clear purpose / legal mandate
- Local stakeholder involvement/participation
- YES, FOR PRIVATE SITES WITH CERCA FUNDING
- Same caveats
33PRIVATE TRUST APPROPRIATE LTS OF CONTAMINATED
SITES?
- FOR DOE OR DOD SITES?
- PERHAPS, IF ISSUES CAN BE RESOLVED
- Long Term Funding
- Public Accountability vs Political Independence
34CONCLUSIONS
- PRIVATE TRUSTS CAN PERFORM A VARIETY OF FUNCTIONS
- OFTEN MORE EFFICIENT THAN GOV.
- CAN BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO STAKEHOLDER CONCERNS
- LESS SUBJECT TO PARTISAN OR ECONOMIC CONSTRAINTS
- HAS LIMITATIONS