PSC: PRIVATE WASTEWATER TREATMENT S.B. 419 (S-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS
Senate Bill 419 (Substitute S-1 as reported by the Committee of the Whole)
Sponsor: Senator Jason E. Allen
Committee: Economic Development, Small Business and Regulatory Reform
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Public Service Commission (PSC) law to give the PSC jurisdiction over private wastewater treatment facilities.
Under the law, the PSC has the power and jurisdiction to hear and pass upon all matters pertaining to the regulation of public utilities, including electric light and power companies; water, telegraph, oil, gas, and pipeline companies; motor carriers; and transportation and communication agencies. The bill would add private wastewater treatment facilities to those entities.
The bill also states that the PSC "...is vested with the specific grant of jurisdictional authority to regulate the activities of private, investor-owned wastewater utilities as provided for under section 5309a of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act...". That section is proposed by Senate Bill 356, which (as Substitute S-3) would require the activities of such utilities to comply with applicable provisions of the Act, local zoning and other ordinances, and the construction and operation rquirements the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and the Natural Environmental Policy Act.
MCL 460.6 Legislative Analyst: Suzanne Lowe
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would increase the responsibilities of the Public Service Commission. The increased costs would be funded by utility assessments on the industry. The amount of costs and revenue would depend on the number of wastewater utilities regulated.
Date Completed: 5-5-05 Fiscal Analyst: Elizabeth Pratt
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. sb419/0506