House Bill 6013

Complete to 9-27-00

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 6013 AS INTRODUCED 9-27-00

The bill would add a new part, Part 360, to the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA) to require that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) administer an Adopt-a-Forest program, designed to remove illegally dumped waste from public forestlands. The program would also be designed to provide public information. However, it would primarily be directed toward encouraging and retaining the participation of volunteers to clean up public forestlands in the state. To implement the program, the DNR could enter into an agreement with a participant for a three-year period. The DNR would also be required to promulgate rules to implement the provisions of the bill. The following is a brief summary of the program:

Agreement to Participate. Provisions in an agreement with a participant in the program would have to include, but would not be limited to, both of the following:

Identification of a parcel of public forestland. A participant could request a specific parcel of forestland it wished to adopt. In assisting participants in selecting a parcel of forestland, the DNR would have to cooperate with affected federal, state, and local management agencies, and nonprofit organizations.

Specification of the responsibilities fo the participant. These would include both the removal of wastes from the designated parcel, with the participant cooperating in the promotion of their recycling or proper disposal; and the participant's agreement to abide by all rules related to the program that were promulgated by the DNR.

Implementation. In implementing the provisions of the bill, the DNR would be required to do all of the following:

Create a recognition program to acknowledge participants' efforts.

Provide participants with safety information and assistance.

Provide natural resource information and educational materials to participants.

Assist in coordinating cleanups and identifying locations of wastes on public forestlands for recovery by participants.

Data Collection. The DNR would be required to provide participants with data collection sheets and to require that they be returned upon completion of any cleanup, along with any receipts from waste disposal fees paid by the participant. The DNR could also provide up to 100 percent of preapproved waste disposal fees upon request by a participant in any fiscal year, as long as funds are available and the participant provided in-kind services equaling or exceeding 25 percent of the amount of the fees. The DNR would also be required to compile information gathered from the data sheets for inclusion in its annual report, prepared under the provisions of the bill, and to forward money received by a participant from selling recyclable materials to the state treasurer, for deposit into the general fund.

Annual Report. The DNR would have to prepare and submit an annual report to the standing committees of the legislature that primarily consider issues pertaining to the protection of natural resources and the environment, and to the Senate and House Appropriations subcommittees on natural resources. This report would have to include the number of acres from which wastes were removed, the number of tons of wastes removed, and the amount of wastes that were recycled.

MCL 324.36001 et al.

Analyst: R. Young

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.