December 2, 2008, Introduced by Senator VAN WOERKOM 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,"
by amending section 3106 (MCL 324.3106).
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 3106. (1) The department shall establish pollution
standards for lakes, rivers, streams, and other waters of the state
in relation to the public use to which they are or may be put, as
it
considers necessary. The Subject
to subsection (2), the
department shall issue permits that will assure compliance with
state standards to regulate municipal, industrial, and commercial
discharges or storage of any substance that may affect the quality
of the waters of the state. The department may set permit
restrictions that will assure compliance with applicable federal
law and regulations. The department may ascertain and determine for
record and in making its order what volume of water actually flows
in all streams, and the high- and low-water marks of lakes and
other waters of the state, affected by the waste disposal or
pollution of any persons. The department may promulgate rules and
issue orders restricting the polluting content of any waste
material or polluting substance discharged or sought to be
discharged into any lake, river, stream, or other waters of the
state. The department shall take all appropriate steps to prevent
any pollution the department considers to be unreasonable and
against the public interest in view of the existing conditions in
any lake, river, stream, or other waters of the state.
(2) If a permit applied for under this part requires a
determination as to whether the lowering of water quality is
necessary to support important social and economic development in
the area of the discharge, that determination shall be made by the
board of directors of the Michigan strategic fund as provided for
in section 7 of the Michigan strategic fund act, 1984 PA 270, MCL
125.2007.