December 11, 2003, Introduced by Reps. Farhat, Palsrok, Pastor, Walker, Shackleton, Huizenga, Casperson, Meyer, Ehardt, Brown, Adamini, Sheen, Richardville, Brandenburg, Acciavatti, Moolenaar, Nitz and Bradstreet and referred to the Committee on Great Lakes and Tourism.
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled
"Natural resources and environmental protection act,"
(MCL 324.101 to 324.90106) by adding section 76111a.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
1 Sec. 76111a. (1) The department of environmental quality
2 shall establish Great Lakes recreational diving preserves within
3 the Great Lakes to provide recreational scuba diving
4 opportunities for members of the general public.
5 (2) The department of environmental quality shall not
6 establish a Great Lakes recreational diving preserve at the same
7 location as a Great Lakes bottomland preserve.
8 (3) A nonprofit organization or other person may nominate 1
9 or more locations for the establishment of a Great Lakes
10 recreational diving preserve by submitting a proposal in writing
11 to the department of environmental quality.
1 (4) Upon establishing a Great Lakes recreational diving
2 preserve, the department of environmental quality shall authorize
3 the sinking of 1 or more vessels within the preserve that will
4 enhance the recreational scuba diving experience for individuals
5 visiting the preserve. However, the department of environmental
6 quality shall only authorize the sinking of a vessel within a
7 Great Lakes recreational diving preserve if the vessel has been
8 decommissioned in such a manner that it will not cause adverse
9 environmental impacts. The person or persons sinking a vessel
10 within a Great Lakes recreational diving preserve shall comply
11 with the "Intentional Vessel Sinking Guidelines, Final Report"
12 prepared by maritime research associates, inc. for the Michigan
13 underwater preserve council, inc.
14 (5) In establishing Great Lakes recreational diving
15 preserves, the department of environmental quality shall consider
16 both of the following:
17 (a) The extent of local public and private support for the
18 creation of the preserve.
19 (b) The interest of nonprofit organizations or other persons
20 in obtaining, decommissioning, and sinking 1 or more vessels
21 within the preserve.