REPEAL: AQUIFER PROTECTION PROGRAM

House Bill 5222  

Sponsor:  Rep. Doug Bennett

Committee:  Appropriations

Complete to 8-26-09

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5222 AS INTRODUCED 8-04-09

House Bill 5222 would repeal authorization for the Aquifer Protection Program.  Responsibility for this program is shared with the Michigan Department of Agriculture, and is intended to resolve well failure complaints made by small quantity well owners (caused by large quantity water well withdrawals).  Current law provides that the MDA has 14 days to resolve complaints before referral to the DEQ.  Funding for the MDA program was not included in the enacted budget for FY 2008-09.

No funding is available for this program, and existing legal remedies are available to protect small water well owners from the effects of groundwater withdrawals from neighboring large quantity wells.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

This legislation is consistent with the Governor’s FY 2009-10 budget recommendation for the Department of Environmental Quality.

                                                                                       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.