SNOWMOBILES: DEMONSTRATION TRAIL S.B. 204 (S-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS
Senate Bill 204 (Substitute S-1 as reported) Sponsor: Senator George A. McManus, Jr.
Committee: Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
The bill would amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to remove the date restrictions on the use, by snowmobilers, of a demonstration snowmobile trail, located on a State- owned right-of-way operated by the Lake State Railway Company, or on a railroad right-of-way owned by the company connecting to a State-owned railroad right-of-way operated by the company, between Gaylord and Frederic; and to require a biennial report on the trail and potential establishment of trails on other rights-of-way.
The Act currently prohibits the use of snowmobiles on a railroad or railroad right-of-way, but allows snowmobilers to use the demonstration trail between December 1, 1992, and March 31, 1993, between December 1, 1993, and March 31, 1994, and between December 1, 1994, and March 31, 1995. The bill would remove the date restrictions, and specify instead that the Act’s prohibition against the use of snowmobiles on railroads or railroad rights-of-way would not apply to persons using the demonstration snowmobile trail.
The Act also requires the Department of Transportation, in cooperation with the railway company and the trail operator, to conduct an annual study during development, construction, and operation of the trail to evaluate the project and to examine the feasibility and desirability of establishing snowmobile trails on functional railroad rights-of-way in the State. The study must be summarized in a report submitted to the Legislature by September 1, 1993, 1994, and 1995. The bill would require instead the study to be conducted every two years during the operation of the demonstration trail and that the report be submitted by the September 1 following the previous snowmobile season.
MCL 324.82126 Legislative Analyst: L. Burghardt
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Date Completed: 10-2-95 Fiscal Analyst: G. Cutler
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.