COMBINED SEWERS - H.B. 4047 (S-2): FLOOR ANALYSIS

House Bill 4047 (Substitute S-2 as reported)

Sponsor: Representative William Callahan

House Committee: Conservation, Environment and Recreation

Senate Committee: Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs

CONTENT

The bill would amend Part 31 (Water Resources Protection) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to require a discharge permit to prohibit certain eaves troughs and roof downspouts.

The bill specifies that when combined sewer system permits were issued or renewed under Part 31, the Department of Environemntal Quality (DEQ) would have to require that eaves troughs and roof downspouts for storm water collection throughout the tributary service area were not directly connected to the combined sewer system. The DEQ could allow the permittee one year to comply with this provision for residential property and five years for commercial and industrial properties. The bill would not apply, however, to permittees who demonstrated to the Department's satisfaction that disconnecting downspouts and eaves troughs was not a cost-effective means of reducing the frequency or duration of combined sewer overflows or of maintaining compliance with discharge requirements.

("Combined sewer system" means a sewer designed and used to convey both storm water runoff and sanitary sewage, and that contains lawfully installed regulators and control devices that allow for delivery of sanitary flow to treatment during dry weather periods and divert storm water and sanitary sewage to surface waters during storm flow periods.)

Proposed MCL 324.312b - Legislative Analyst: N. Nagata

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have minimal fiscal impact on State government and no fiscal impact on local government.

Date Completed: 11-14-97 - 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.