pa050400

Act No. 504

Public Acts of 2000

Approved by the Governor

January 10, 2001

Filed with the Secretary of State

January 11, 2001

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 11, 2001

STATE OF MICHIGAN

90TH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2000

Introduced by Senators Sikkema, McManus and Shugars

ENROLLED SENATE BILL No. 651

AN ACT to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "An act to protect the environment and natural resources of the state; to codify, revise, consolidate, and classify laws relating to the environment and natural resources of the state; to regulate the discharge of certain substances into the environment; to regulate the use of certain lands, waters, and other natural resources of the state; to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state and local agencies and officials; to provide for certain charges, fees, and assessments; to provide certain appropriations; to prescribe penalties and provide remedies; to repeal certain parts of this act on a specific date; and to repeal certain acts and parts of acts," by amending sections 9101, 9104, 9105, 9106, 9107, 9108, 9109, 9110, 9112, 9113, 9115, 9117, 9118, 9119, 9120, 9121, and 9123 (MCL 324.9101, 324.9104, 324.9105, 324.9106, 324.9107, 324.9108, 324.9109, 324.9110, 324.9112, 324.9113, 324.9115, 324.9117, 324.9118, 324.9119, 324.9120, 324.9121, and 324.9123), sections 9101, 9104, 9105, 9106, 9107, 9108, 9109, 9110, 9112, 9113, 9115, 9117, 9118, 9119, 9120, and 9123 as added by 1995 PA 60 and section 9121 as amended by 1996 PA 173, and by adding section 9123a; and to repeal acts and parts of acts.

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

Sec. 9101. (1) "Agricultural practices" means all land farming operations except the plowing or tilling of land for the purpose of crop production or the harvesting of crops.

(2) "Authorized public agency" means a state agency or an agency of a local unit of government authorized under section 9110 to implement soil erosion and sedimentation control procedures with regard to earth changes undertaken by it.

(3) "Conservation district" means a conservation district authorized under part 93.

(4) "Consultant" means either of the following:

(a) An individual who has a current certificate of training under section 9123.

(b) A person who employs 1 or more individuals who have current certificates of training under section 9123.

(5) "County agency" means an officer, board, commission, department, or other entity of county government.

(6) "County enforcing agency" means a county agency or a conservation district designated by a county board of commissioners under section 9105.

(7) "County program" or "county's program" means a soil erosion and sedimentation control program established under section 9105.

(8) "Department" means the department of environmental quality.

(9) "Earth change" means a human-made change in the natural cover or topography of land, including cut and fill activities, which may result in or contribute to soil erosion or sedimentation of the waters of the state. Earth change does not include the practice of plowing and tilling soil for the purpose of crop production.

(10) "Local ordinance" means an ordinance enacted by a local unit of government under this part providing for soil erosion and sedimentation control.

(11) "Municipal enforcing agency" means an agency designated by a municipality under section 9106 to enforce a local ordinance.

(12) "Municipality" means any of the following:

(a) A city.

(b) A village.

(d) A general law township that is located in a county with a population of 200,000 or more.

(13) "Rules" means the rules promulgated pursuant to the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328.

(14) "Sediment" means solid particulate matter, including both mineral and organic matter, that is in suspension in water, is being transported, or has been removed from its site of origin by the actions of wind, water, or gravity and has been deposited elsewhere.

(15) "Soil erosion" means the wearing away of land by the action of wind, water, gravity, or a combination of wind, water, or gravity.

(16) "State agency" means a principal state department.

(17) "Violation of this part" or "violates this part" means a violation of this part, the rules promulgated under this part, a permit issued under this part, or a local ordinance enacted under this part.

(18) "Waters of the state" means the Great Lakes and their connecting waters, inland lakes and streams as defined in rules promulgated under this part, and wetlands regulated under part 303.

Sec. 9104. (1) The department, with the assistance of the department of agriculture, shall promulgate rules for a unified soil erosion and sedimentation control program, including provisions for the review and approval of site plans, land use plans, or permits relating to soil erosion control and sedimentation control. The department shall notify and make copies of proposed rules available to county enforcing agencies, municipal enforcing agencies, and authorized public agencies for review and comment before promulgation.

(2) The department shall make available to county enforcing agencies, municipal enforcing agencies, and authorized public agencies educational information on soil erosion and sedimentation control techniques and the benefits of implementing soil erosion and sedimentation control measures. County enforcing agencies and municipal enforcing agencies shall distribute this information to persons receiving permits under a county program or a local ordinance and to other interested persons.

Sec. 9105. (1) Subject to subsection (6), a county is responsible for the administration and enforcement of this part and the rules promulgated under this part throughout the county except as follows:

(a) Within a municipality that has assumed the responsibility for soil erosion and sedimentation control under section 9106.

(b) With regard to earth changes of authorized public agencies.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), the county board of commissioners of each county, by resolution, shall designate a county agency, or a conservation district upon the concurrence of the conservation district, as the county enforcing agency responsible for administration and enforcement of this part and the rules promulgated under this part in the name of the county. The resolution may set forth a schedule of fees for inspections, plan reviews, and permits and may set forth other matters relating to the administration and enforcement of the county program and this part and the rules promulgated under this part.

(3) In lieu of or in addition to a resolution provided for in subsection (2), the county board of commissioners of a county may provide by ordinance for soil erosion and sedimentation control in the county. An ordinance adopted under this subsection may be more restrictive than, but shall not make lawful that which is unlawful under, this part and the rules promulgated under this part. If an ordinance adopted under this subsection is more restrictive than this part and the rules promulgated under this part, the county enforcing agency shall notify a person receiving a permit under the ordinance that the ordinance is more restrictive than this part and the rules promulgated under this part. The ordinance shall incorporate by reference the rules promulgated under this part that do not conflict with a more restrictive ordinance and may set forth such other matters as the county board of commissioners considers necessary or desirable. The ordinance may provide penalties for a violation of the ordinance that are consistent with section 9121.

(4) A copy of a resolution or ordinance adopted under this section and all subsequent amendments to the resolution or ordinance shall be forwarded to the department for the department's review and approval. The department shall forward a copy to the conservation district for that county for review and comment. Not later than December 31, 2001, the department shall prepare and submit a report to the standing committees of the senate and the house of representatives with jurisdiction over issues primarily related to natural resources and the environment. This report shall detail the number and the substance of complaints that have been received by the department related to county ordinances that have been adopted under subsection (3) that are more restrictive than this part and the rules promulgated under this part.

(5) Two or more counties may provide for joint enforcement and administration of this part and the rules promulgated under this part by entering into an interlocal agreement pursuant to the urban cooperation act of 1967, 1967 (Ex Sess) PA 7, MCL 124.501 to 124.512.

(6) Within 3 years after the effective date of the amendatory act that added this subsection, the department shall conduct an initial review of each county's soil erosion and sedimentation control program in accordance with a schedule established by the department. If the department approves a county program, its approval is valid for a 5-year period. After the initial review, the department shall conduct a review of a county's program every 5 years. The review shall be conducted at least 6 months before the expiration of each succeeding 5-year period. The department shall approve a county's program if all of the following conditions are met:

(a) The county has passed a resolution or enacted an ordinance as provided in this section.

(b) The individuals with decision-making authority who are responsible for administering the county program have current certificates of training under section 9123.

(c) The county has effectively administered and enforced the county program in the past 5 years or has implemented changes in its administration or enforcement procedures that the department determines will result in the county effectively administering and enforcing the county program. In determining whether the county has met the requirement of this subdivision, the department shall consider all of the following:

(i) Whether a mechanism is in place to provide funding to administer the county's program.

(ii) Whether the county has conducted adequate inspections to assure minimization of soil erosion and off-site sedimentation.

(iii) The effectiveness of the county's past compliance and enforcement efforts.

(iv) The adequacy and effectiveness of the applications and soil erosion and sedimentation control plans being accepted by the county.

(v) The adequacy and effectiveness of the permits issued by the county and the inspections being performed by the county.

(vi) The conditions at construction sites under the jurisdiction of the county as documented by departmental inspections.

(7) Following a review under subsection (6), the department shall notify the county of the results of its review and whether the department proposes to approve or disapprove the county's program. Within 30 days of receipt of the notice under this subsection, a county may request and the department shall hold an informal meeting to discuss the review and the proposed action by the department.

(8) Following the meeting under subsection (7), if requested, and consideration of the review under subsection (6), if the department does not approve a county's program, the department shall enter an order, stipulation, or consent agreement under section 9112(2) placing the county on probation. In addition, at any time that the department determines that a county that was previously approved by the department under subsection (6) is not satisfactorily administering and enforcing the county's program, the department shall enter into an order, stipulation, or consent agreement under section 9112(2) placing the county on probation. During the 6-month period after a county is placed on probation, the department shall consult with the county on how the county could change its administration of the county program in a manner that would result in its approval.

(9) Within 6 months after a county has been placed on probation under subsection (8), the county may notify the department that it intends to hire a consultant to administer the county's program. If, within 60 days after notifying the department, the county hires a consultant that is acceptable to the department, then within 1 year after the county hires the consultant, the department shall conduct a review of the county's program to determine whether or not the county program can be approved.

(10) If any of the following occur, the department shall hire a consultant to administer the county's program:

(a) The county does not notify the department of its intent to hire a consultant under subsection (9).

(b) The county does not hire a consultant that is acceptable to the department within 60 days after notifying the department of its intent to hire a consultant under subsection (9).

(11) Upon hiring a consultant under subsection (10), the department may establish a schedule of fees for inspections, review of soil erosion and sedimentation control plans, and permits for the county's program that will provide sufficient revenues to pay for the cost of the contract with the consultant, or the department may bill the county for the cost of the contract with the consultant. As used in this subsection, "cost of the contract" means the actual cost of a contract with a consultant plus the documented costs to the department in administering the contract, but not to exceed 10% of the actual cost of the contract.

(12) At any time that a county is on probation as provided for in this section, the county may request the department to conduct a review of the county's program. If, upon such review, the county has implemented appropriate changes to the county's program, the department shall approve the county's program. If the department approves a county's program under this subsection, the department shall rescind its order, stipulation, or consent agreement that placed the county on probation.

Sec. 9106. (1) Subject to subsection (3), a municipality by ordinance may provide for soil erosion and sedimentation control on public and private earth changes within its boundaries except that a township ordinance shall not be applicable within a village that has in effect such an ordinance. An ordinance may be more restrictive than, but shall not make lawful that which is unlawful under, this part and the rules promulgated under this part. If an ordinance adopted under this section is more restrictive than this part and the rules promulgated under this part, the municipal enforcing agency shall notify a person receiving a permit under the ordinance that the ordinance is more restrictive than this part and the rules promulgated under this part. The ordinance shall incorporate by reference the rules promulgated under this part that do not conflict with a more restrictive ordinance, shall designate a municipal enforcing agency responsible for administration and enforcement of the ordinance, and may set forth such other matters as the legislative body considers necessary or desirable. The ordinance shall be applicable and shall be enforced with regard to all private and public earth changes within the municipality except earth changes by an authorized public agency. The municipality may consult with a conservation district for assistance or advice in the preparation of the ordinance. The ordinance may provide penalties for a violation of the ordinance that are consistent with section 9121.

(2) An ordinance related to soil erosion and sedimentation control that is not approved by the department as conforming to the minimum requirements of this part and the rules promulgated under this part has no force or effect. A municipality shall submit a copy of its proposed ordinance or of a proposed amendment to its ordinance to the department for approval before adoption. The department shall forward a copy to the county enforcing agency of the county in which the municipality is located and the appropriate conservation district for review and comment. Within 90 days after the department receives an existing ordinance, proposed ordinance, or amendment, the department shall notify the clerk of the municipality of its approval or disapproval along with recommendations for revision if the ordinance, proposed ordinance, or amendment does not conform to the minimum requirements of this part or the rules promulgated under this part. If the department does not notify the clerk of the local unit within the 90-day period, the ordinance, proposed ordinance, or amendment shall be considered to have been approved by the department.

(3) After a date determined by a schedule established by the department, but not later than 3 years after the effective date of the amendatory act that added this subsection, a municipality shall not administer and enforce this part or the rules promulgated under this part or a local ordinance unless the department has approved the municipality. An approval under this section is valid for 5 years, after which the department shall review the municipality for reapproval. At least 6 months before the expiration of each succeeding 5-year approval period, the department shall complete a review of the municipality for reapproval. The department shall approve a municipality if all of the following conditions are met:

(a) The municipality has enacted an ordinance as provided in this section that is at least as restrictive as this part and the rules promulgated under this part.

(b) The individuals with decision-making authority who are responsible for administering the soil erosion and sedimentation control program for the municipality have current certificates of training under section 9123.

(c) The municipality has submitted evidence of its ability to effectively administer and enforce a soil erosion and sedimentation control program. In determining whether the municipality has met the requirements of this subdivision, the department shall consider all of the following:

(i) Whether a mechanism is in place to provide funding to administer the municipality's soil erosion and sedimentation control program.

(ii) The adequacy of the documents proposed for use by the municipality including, but not limited to, application forms, soil erosion and sedimentation control plan requirements, permit forms, and inspection reports.

(iii) If the municipality has previously administered a soil erosion and sedimentation control program, whether the municipality effectively administered and enforced the program in the past or has implemented changes in its administration or enforcement procedures that the department determines will result in the municipality effectively administering and enforcing a soil erosion and sedimentation control program in compliance with this part and the rules promulgated under this part. In determining whether the municipality has met the requirement of this subparagraph, the department shall consider all of the following:

(A) Whether the municipality has had adequate funding to administer the municipality's soil erosion and sedimentation control program.

(B) Whether the municipality has conducted adequate inspections to assure minimization of soil erosion and off-site sedimentation.

(D) The adequacy and effectiveness of the applications and soil erosion and sedimentation control plans being accepted by the municipality.

(E) The adequacy and effectiveness of the permits issued by the municipality and the inspections being performed by the municipality.

(F) The conditions at construction sites under the jurisdiction of the municipality as documented by departmental inspections.

(4) If the department determines that a municipality is not approved under subsection (3) or that a municipality that was previously approved under subsection (3) is not satisfactorily administering and enforcing this part and the rules promulgated under this part, the department shall enter an order, stipulation, or consent agreement under section 9112(2) denying the municipality authority or revoking the municipality's authority to administer a soil erosion and sedimentation control program. Upon entry of this order, stipulation, or consent agreement, the county program for the county in which the municipality is located becomes operative within the municipality.

(5) A municipality that elects to rescind its ordinance shall notify the department. Upon rescission of its ordinance, the county program for the county in which the municipality is located becomes operative within the municipality.

(6) A municipality that rescinds its ordinance or is not approved by the department to administer the program shall retain jurisdiction over projects under permit at that time. The municipality shall retain jurisdiction until the projects are completed and stabilized or the county agrees to assume jurisdiction over the permitted earth changes.

Sec. 9107. If a local unit of government has notice that a violation of this part has occurred within the boundaries of that local unit of government, including but not limited to a violation attributable to an earth change by an authorized public agency, the local unit of government shall notify the appropriate county enforcing agency and municipal enforcing agency and the department of the violation.

Sec. 9108. As a condition for the issuance of a permit, the county enforcing agency or municipal enforcing agency may require the applicant to deposit with the clerk of the county or municipality in the form of cash, a certified check, or an irrevocable bank letter of credit, whichever the applicant selects, or a surety bond acceptable to the legislative body of the county or municipality or to the county enforcing agency or municipal enforcing agency, in an amount sufficient to assure the installation and completion of such protective or corrective measures as may be required by the county enforcing agency or municipal enforcing agency.

Sec. 9109. (1) An authorized public agency, county enforcing agency, or municipal enforcing agency may enter into an agreement with a conservation district for assistance and advice in overseeing and reviewing compliance with soil erosion and sedimentation control procedures and in reviewing existing or proposed earth changes, earth change plans, or site plans with regard to technical matters pertaining to soil erosion and sedimentation control. In addition to or in the absence of such agreements, conservation districts may perform periodic reviews and evaluations of the authorized public agency's, county enforcing agency's, or municipal enforcing agency's programs or procedures pursuant to standards and specifications developed in cooperation with the respective districts and as approved by the department. These reviews and evaluations shall be submitted to the department for appropriate action.

(2) A person engaged in agricultural practices may enter into an agreement with the appropriate conservation district to pursue agricultural practices in accordance with and subject to this part, the rules promulgated under this part, and any applicable local ordinance. If a person enters into an agreement with a conservation district, the conservation district shall notify the county enforcing agency or municipal enforcing agency or the department in writing of the agreement. Upon entering into the agreement under this subsection, a person is not subject to permits required under this part, but is required to develop project specific soil erosion and sedimentation control plans and is subject to the remedies provided for in this part for violations of this part.

Sec. 9110. (1) Subject to subsection (4), a state agency or an agency of a local unit of government may apply to the department for designation as an authorized public agency by submitting to the department the soil erosion and sedimentation control procedures governing all earth changes normally undertaken by the agency. If the applicant is an agency of a local unit of government, the department shall submit the procedures to the county enforcing agency and the appropriate conservation district for review. The county enforcing agency and the conservation district shall submit their comments on the procedures to the department within 60 days. If the applicant is a state agency, the department shall submit the procedures to the department of agriculture for review, and the department of agriculture shall submit its comments on the procedures to the department within 60 days.

(2) Subject to subsection (4), if the department finds that the soil erosion and sedimentation control procedures of the state agency or the agency of the local unit of government meet the requirements of this part and rules promulgated under this part, the department shall designate the agency as an authorized public agency.

(3) Subject to subsection (4), after approval of the procedures and designation as an authorized public agency pursuant to subsection (1) or (2), all earth changes maintained or undertaken by the authorized public agency shall be undertaken pursuant to the approved procedures. If determined necessary by the department and upon request of an authorized public agency, the department may grant a variance from the provisions of this subsection.

(4) After a date determined by a schedule established by the department, but not later than 3 years after the effective date of the amendatory act that added this subsection, a state agency or an agency of a local unit of government shall not administer and enforce this part and the rules promulgated under this part as an authorized public agency unless the department has approved the agency under this section. An approval under this section is valid for 5 years, after which the department shall review the agency for reapproval. At least 6 months before the expiration of each succeeding 5-year period, the department shall complete a review of the authorized public agency for reapproval. The department shall approve a state agency or an agency of a local unit of government if all of the following conditions are met:

(a) The agency has adopted soil erosion and sedimentation control procedures that are at least as restrictive as this part and the rules promulgated under this part.

(b) The individuals with decision-making authority who are responsible for administering the soil erosion and sedimentation control procedures have current certificates of training under section 9123.

(c) The agency has submitted evidence of its ability to effectively administer soil erosion and sedimentation control procedures. In determining whether the agency has met the requirement of this subdivision, the department shall consider all of the following:

(i) Funding to administer the agency's soil erosion and sedimentation control program.

(ii) The agency's plans for inspections to assure minimization of soil erosion and off-site sedimentation.

(iii) The adequacy of the agency's soil erosion and sedimentation control procedures.

(iv) If the agency has previously administered soil erosion and sedimentation control procedures, the agency has effectively administered these procedures or has implemented changes in their administration that the department determines will result in the agency effectively administering the soil erosion and sedimentation control procedures. In determining whether the agency has met the requirement of this subparagraph, the department shall consider all of the following:

(A) Whether the agency has had adequate funding to administer the agency's soil erosion and sedimentation control program.

(B) Whether the agency has conducted adequate inspections to assure minimization of soil erosion and off-site sedimentation.

(D) The adequacy of the agency's soil erosion and sedimentation control plans and procedures as required by rule.

(E) The conditions at construction sites under the jurisdiction of the agency as documented by departmental inspections.

(5) If the department determines that a state agency or an agency of a local unit of government is not approved under subsection (4) or that a state agency or an agency of a local unit of government that was previously approved under subsection (4) is not satisfactorily administering and enforcing this part and the rules promulgated under this part, the department shall enter an order, stipulation, or consent agreement under section 9112(2) denying or revoking the designation of the state agency or agency of a local unit of government as an authorized public agency.

Sec. 9112. (1) A person shall not maintain or undertake an earth change governed by this part, the rules promulgated under this part, or an applicable local ordinance, except in accordance with this part and the rules promulgated under this part or with the applicable local ordinance, and pursuant to a permit approved by the appropriate county enforcing agency or municipal enforcing agency. A county enforcing agency or municipal enforcing agency shall approve or deny an application for a permit within 30 days after the filing of a complete application for a permit.

(2) If in the opinion of the department a person, including an authorized public agency, violates this part, the rules promulgated under this part, or an applicable local ordinance, or a county enforcing agency or municipal enforcing agency fails to enforce this part, the rules promulgated under this part, or an applicable local ordinance, the department may notify the alleged offender in writing of its determination. If the department places a county on probation under section 9105, a municipality is not approved under section 9106, or a state agency or agency of a local unit of government is not approved under section 9110, or if the department determines that a municipal enforcing agency or authorized public agency is not satisfactorily administering and enforcing this part and rules promulgated under this part, the department shall notify the county, municipality, state agency, or agency of a local unit of government in writing of its determination or action. The notice shall contain, in addition to a statement of the specific violation or failure that the department believes to exist, a proposed order, stipulation for agreement, or other action that the department considers appropriate to assure timely correction of the violation or failure. The notice shall set a date for a hearing not less than 4 nor more than 8 weeks from the date of the notice of determination. Extensions of the date of the hearing may be granted by the department or on request. At the hearing, any interested party may appear, present witnesses, and submit evidence. A person who has been served with a notice of determination may file a written answer to the notice of determination before the date set for hearing or at the hearing may appear and present oral or written testimony and evidence on the charges and proposed requirements of the department to assure correction of the violation or failure. If a person served with the notice of determination agrees with the proposed requirements of the department and notifies the department of that agreement before the date set for the hearing, disposition of the case may be made with the approval of the department by stipulation or consent agreement without further hearing. The final order of determination following the hearing, or the stipulation or consent order as authorized by this section and approved by the department, is conclusive unless reviewed in accordance with the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328, in the circuit court of Ingham county, or of the county in which the violation occurred, upon petition filed within 15 days after the service upon the person of the final order of determination.

Sec. 9113. (1) Notwithstanding the existence or pursuit of any other remedy, the department or a county enforcing agency or municipal enforcing agency may maintain an action in its own name in a court of competent jurisdiction for an injunction or other process against a person to restrain or prevent violations of this part.

(2) An agent appointed by the department, a county enforcing agency, or a municipal enforcing agency may enter at all reasonable times in or upon any private or public property for the purpose of inspecting and investigating conditions or practices that may be in violation of this part.

Sec. 9115. (1) Subject to subsection (2), a person engaged in the logging industry, the mining industry, or the plowing or tilling of land for the purpose of crop production or the harvesting of crops is not required to obtain a permit under this part. However, all earth changes associated with the activities listed in this section shall conform to the same standards as if they required a permit under this part. The exemption from obtaining a permit under this subsection does not include either of the following:

(a) Access roads to and from the site where active mining or logging is taking place.

(b) Ancillary activities associated with logging and mining.

(2) This part does not apply to a metallic mineral mining activity that is regulated under a mining and reclamation plan that contains soil erosion and sedimentation control provisions and that is approved by the department under part 631.

(3) A person is not required to obtain a permit from a county enforcing agency or a municipal enforcing agency for earth changes associated with well locations, surface facilities, flowlines, or access roads relating to oil or gas exploration and development activities regulated under part 615, if the application for a permit to drill and operate under part 615 contains a soil erosion and sedimentation control plan that is approved by the department under part 615. However, those earth changes shall conform to the same standards as required for a permit under this part. This subsection does not apply to a multisource commercial hazardous waste disposal well as defined in section 62506a.

(4) As used in this section, "mining" does not include the removal of clay, gravel, sand, peat, or topsoil.

Sec. 9117. If the county enforcing agency or municipal enforcing agency that is responsible for enforcing this part and the rules promulgated under this part determines that soil erosion or sedimentation of adjacent properties or the waters of the state has or will reasonably occur from land in violation of this part or the rules promulgated under this part or an applicable local ordinance, the county enforcing agency or municipal enforcing agency may seek to enforce a violation of this part by notifying the person who owns the land, by mail, with return receipt requested, of its determination. The notice shall contain a description of the violation and what must be done to remedy the violation and shall specify a time to comply with this part and the rules promulgated under this part or an applicable local ordinance.

Sec. 9118. Within 5 days after a notice of violation has been issued under section 9117, a person who owns land subject to this part and the rules promulgated under this part shall implement and maintain soil erosion and sedimentation control measures in conformance with this part, the rules promulgated under this part, or an applicable local ordinance.

Sec. 9119. Except as otherwise provided in this section, not sooner than 5 days after notice of violation of this part has been mailed under section 9117, if the condition of the land, in the opinion of the county enforcing agency or municipal enforcing agency, may result in or contribute to soil erosion or sedimentation of adjacent properties or to the waters of the state, and if soil erosion and sedimentation control measures in conformance with this part and the rules promulgated under this part or an applicable local ordinance are not in place, the county enforcing agency or municipal enforcing agency, or a designee of either of these agencies, may enter upon the land and construct, implement, and maintain soil erosion and sedimentation control measures in conformance with this part and the rules promulgated under this part or an applicable local ordinance. However, the enforcing agency shall not expend more than $10,000.00 for the cost of the work, materials, labor, and administration without prior written notice in the notice provided in section 9117 for the person who owns the land that the expenditure of more than $10,000.00 may be made. If more than $10,000.00 is to be expended under this section, then the work shall not begin until at least 10 days after the notice of violation has been mailed.

Sec. 9120. (1) All expenses incurred by a county enforcing agency or a municipal enforcing agency under section 9119 to construct, implement, and maintain soil erosion and sedimentation control measures to bring land into conformance with this part and the rules promulgated under this part or an applicable local ordinance shall be reimbursed to the county enforcing agency or municipal enforcing agency by the person who owns the land.

(2) The county enforcing agency or municipal enforcing agency shall have a lien for the expenses incurred under section 9119 of bringing the land into conformance with this part and the rules promulgated under this part or an applicable local ordinance. However, with respect to single-family or multifamily residential property, the lien for such expenses shall have priority over all liens and encumbrances filed or recorded after the date of such expenditure. With respect to all other property, the lien for such expenses shall be collected and treated in the same manner as provided for property tax liens under the general property tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.1 to 211.157.

Sec. 9121. (1) A person who violates this part is responsible for either of the following:

(a) If the action is brought by a county enforcing agency or a municipal enforcing agency of a local unit of government that has enacted an ordinance under this part that provides a penalty for violations, the person is responsible for a municipal civil infraction and may be ordered to pay a civil fine of not more than $2,500.00.

(b) If the action is brought by the state or a county enforcing agency of a county that has not enacted an ordinance under this part, the person is responsible for a state civil infraction and may be ordered to pay a civil fine of not more than $2,500.00.

(2) A person who knowingly violates this part or knowingly makes a false statement in an application for a permit or in a soil erosion and sedimentation control plan is responsible for the payment of a civil fine of not more than $10,000.00 for each day of violation.

(3) A person who knowingly violates this part after receiving a notice of determination under section 9112 or 9117 is responsible for the payment of a civil fine of not less than $2,500.00 or more than $25,000.00 for each day of violation.

(4) Civil fines collected under subsections (2) and (3) shall be deposited as follows:

(a) If the state filed the action under this section, in the general fund of the state.

(b) If a county enforcing agency or municipal enforcing agency filed the action under this section, with the county or municipality that filed the action.

(c) If an action was filed jointly by the state and a county enforcing agency or municipal enforcing agency, the civil fines collected under this subsection shall be divided in proportion to each agency's involvement as mutually agreed upon by the agencies. All fines going to the department shall be deposited into the general fund of the state.

(5) A default in the payment of a civil fine or costs ordered under this section or an installment of the fine or costs may be remedied by any means authorized under the revised judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.101 to 600.9948.

(6) In addition to a fine assessed under this section, a person who violates this part is liable to the state for damages for injury to, destruction of, or loss of natural resources resulting from the violation. The court may order a person who violates this part to restore the area or areas affected by the violation to their condition as existing immediately prior to the violation.

(7) This section applies to an authorized public agency, in addition to other persons. This section does not apply to a county enforcing agency or a municipal enforcing agency with respect to its administration and enforcement of this part and rules promulgated under this part.

Sec. 9123. (1) Beginning 3 years after the effective date of the 2000 amendments to this section, each individual who is responsible for administering this part and the rules promulgated under this part or a local ordinance and who has decision-making authority for soil erosion and sedimentation control plan development or review, inspections, permit issuance, or enforcement shall be trained by the department. The department shall issue a certificate of training to individuals under this section if they do both of the following:

(a) Complete a soil erosion and sedimentation control training program sponsored by the department.

(b) Pass an examination on the subject matter covered in the training program under subdivision (a).

(2) A certificate of training under subsection (1) is valid for 5 years. For recertifications, the department may offer a refresher course or other update in lieu of the requirements of subsection (1)(a) and (b).

(3) The department may charge fees for administering the training program and the examination under this section that are not greater than the department's cost of administering the training program and the examination. All fees collected under this section shall be deposited into the soil erosion and sedimentation control training fund created in section 9123a.

Sec. 9123a. (1) The soil erosion and sedimentation control training fund is created within the state treasury.

(2) The state treasurer may receive money or other assets from any source for deposit into the soil erosion and sedimentation control training fund. The state treasurer shall direct the investment of the soil erosion and sedimentation control training fund. The state treasurer shall credit to the soil erosion and sedimentation control training fund interest and earnings from fund investments.

(3) Money in the soil erosion and sedimentation control training fund at the close of the fiscal year shall remain in the fund and shall not lapse to the general fund.

(4) The department shall expend money from the fund, upon appropriation, only to administer the soil erosion and sedimentation control training program and examination under section 9123.

Enacting section 1. Sections 9102, 9103, and 9111 of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.9102, 324.9103, and 324.9111, are repealed.

This act is ordered to take immediate effect.

Secretary of the Senate.

Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Approved

Governor.