AQUATIC NUISANCE SPECIES

House Bill 4603

Sponsor:  Rep. David Palsrok

Committee:  Natural Resources, Great Lakes, Land Use, and Environment

Complete to 4-13-05

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4603 AS INTRODUCED 4-13-05

The bill would amend Part 31 (Water Resources Protection) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (MCL 324.3104 and 3109) to do the following:

** Require the DEQ to promulgate rules regulating the discharge of substances containing biological pollutants from oceangoing vessels and, beginning January 1, 2007, require all oceangoing vessels engaging in port operations in Michigan to obtain a discharge permit from the DEQ.  The permit would be issued only if the applicant demonstrates that the discharge meets acceptable levels of biological pollutants.  Methods used to achieve acceptable levels of biological pollutants would have to be environmentally sound.  The DEQ would have to cooperate to the fullest extent practical with other Great Lakes Basin states and Canadian provinces, the Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, the International Joint Commission, and the Great Lakes Commission to ensure development of standards broadly protective of the state's waters and other natural resources.

** Require the DEQ to facilitate the formation of a Great Lakes Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Coalition with other states in the Great Lakes Basin to enforce water pollution laws prohibiting the discharge of harmful organisms into the Great Lakes.  The department would have to seek to enter an agreement effective not later than January 1, 2007, and would be required to consult with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) before entering the agreement.  To implement forming the ANS coalition, the DEQ would seek funding from the Great Lakes Protection Fund authorized under Part 331 of NREPA. 

FISCAL IMPACT:

This bill would not have a significant fiscal impact on the Department of Environmental Quality and no fiscal impact on local governmental units.  The Great Lakes Aquatic Nuisance Species Coalition required in Subsection 2 can be supported within the department's existing budget, and the rule requirements added in section 3109 (4) can be implemented with existing fiscal resources.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Mark Wolf

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Kirk Lindquist

■ 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.