SUBMERGED LOG RECOVERY S.B. 1181: COMMITTEE SUMMARY
Senate Bill 1181 (as introduced 5-4-04)
Sponsor: Senator Patricia L. Birkholz
Committee: Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
Date Completed: 9-28-04
CONTENT
The bill would amend Part 326 (Great Lakes Submerged Logs Recovery) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to allow the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to issue submerged log removal permits that would be effective beyond 2006; and revise the term of a permit.
Part 326 requires a person to obtain a permit from the DEQ before removing submerged logs from the Great Lakes bottomlands. The DEQ may not issue a permit that would be effective beyond December 31, 2006. The bill would delete that limitation.
Presently, the term of a submerged log removal permit may not be more than five years. Under the bill, the term of a permit would be five years from the date all necessary approvals had been granted by the State and Federal government.
MCL 324.32607 Legislative Analyst: Suzanne Lowe
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government. The bill would allow the permitted activity to continue for a few more years; however, funding for this program has been removed from the FY 2004-05 budget for the Department of Environmental Quality since all permits have been issued and revenue collected.
Fiscal Analyst: Jessica Runnels
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. sb1181/0304