Michigan Oil Co. v. Natural Resources Commission

The issue is whether the Natural Resources Commission, the governing body of the Department of Natural Resources, properly denied Michigan Oil, the holder of an oil and gas lease granted by the state, a permit to drill for oil and gas.

We would hold that

1) The present controversy is not moot. The DNR’s management plan for the Pigeon River Country State Forest (PRCSF), developed by agreement with other lessees, to which Michigan Oil is not a party, after denial of Michigan Oil’s applica*35tion for a permit, does not resolve impropriety in the denial of its application in 1972. Since no oil or gas…