February 3, 2005, Introduced by Senators McMANUS, LELAND, JELINEK, GARCIA, GOSCHKA, ALLEN, TOY, JOHNSON, VAN WOERKOM, BISHOP, KUIPERS and BIRKHOLZ and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs.
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled
"Natural resources and environmental protection act,"
(MCL 324.101 to 324.90106) by adding part 360.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
PART 360
ADOPT-A-FOREST PROGRAM
Sec. 36001. As used in this part:
(a) "Participant" means a volunteer group or individual
participating in the adopt-a-forest program.
(b) "Wastes" includes solid waste as defined in part 115,
hazardous waste as defined in part 111, and other recyclable
materials.
Sec. 36002. (1) The department shall administer a program
entitled the adopt-a-forest program, which shall be designed to
remove illegally dumped waste from public forestlands. The program
shall include public informational activities but shall be directed
primarily toward encouraging the participation of volunteers in
cleaning up public forestlands in the state.
(2) The department may enter into agreements with participants
to implement the adopt-a-forest program. The term of the agreement
shall be not more than 3 years, after which the department may
enter into a new agreement with the participants. The agreements
with participants shall include, but need not be limited to, both
of the following:
(a) Identification of a parcel of public forestland. A
participant may request a specific parcel of forestland it wishes
to adopt. In assisting participants in selecting a parcel of
forestland, the department shall cooperate with affected federal,
state, and local management agencies and nonprofit organizations.
(b) Specification of the responsibilities of the participant
as follows:
(i) The responsibilities shall include the removal of wastes
from the designated parcel at least once per year. The participant
shall cooperate with the department to promote recycling or proper
disposal of recovered recyclable materials, scrap tires, and
hazardous waste.
(ii) The responsibilities shall include the participant's
agreement to abide by guidelines related to the program that are
adopted by the department under section 36003.
(iii) The responsibilities may include other activities approved
by the department that are environmentally sound.
Sec. 36003. In implementing this part and the adopt-a-forest
program, the department shall do all of the following:
(a) Adopt guidelines related to the operation of the adopt-a-
forest program.
(b) Create a recognition program that acknowledges the efforts
of participants. Any recognition that includes signage shall comply
with the following:
(i) Not more than 1 sign shall be placed to recognize a
participant adopting a particular forest.
(ii) The sign shall not be larger than 3 feet by 3 feet in
area.
(iii) The sign shall be located only at a parking lot,
trailhead, or roadside.
(c) Provide safety information and assistance to participants.
(d) Provide participants with natural resource information and
educational materials.
(e) Assist in coordinating cleanups and identifying locations
of wastes on public forestlands for recovery by participants.
(f) Develop, as part of the guidelines under subdivision (a),
a data tracking system related to cleanup activities.
Sec. 36004. (1) The department may provide up to 100% of
preapproved waste disposal fees upon request by a participant in
any fiscal year as long as funds are available and the participant
provides in-kind services equaling or exceeding 25% of the amount
of the fees.
(2) The department shall compile information gathered from the
data tracking system under section 36003(f) for inclusion in the
annual report prepared under section 36005.
(3) Any money received by a participant from the sale of
recyclable materials may be retained by the participant to be used
for miscellaneous expenses related to the cleanup activities.
Sec. 36005. The department shall prepare and submit an annual
report to the standing committees of the legislature that primarily
consider issues pertaining to the protection of natural resources
and the environment and to the senate and house appropriations
subcommittees on natural resources. This annual report shall
include the number of acres from which wastes were removed, the
number of tons of wastes removed, and the amount of wastes that
were recycled.