CONSTITUTIONAL BAN ON OIL & GAS

DRILLING IN THE GREAT LAKES

House Joint Resolution GGG

Sponsor:  Rep. Dan Scripps

Committee:  Great Lakes and Environment

Complete to 6-23-10

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION GGG AS INTRODUCED 6-16-10

House Joint Resolution GGG would add a new Section 31 to Article V (Executive Branch) of the State Constitution of 1963 to prohibit oil and gas drilling in the Great Lakes. 

As of the resolution's effective date (45 days after being approved by voters), no person could drill a well ─ and the State of Michigan could not authorize the drilling of a well ─ within the Great Lakes or beneath the bottomlands of the Great Lakes for the exploration or production of oil or natural gas.  "Great Lakes" would include "the connecting waterways of the Great Lakes and the connected bays and harbors of the Great Lakes." 

This joint resolution would be submitted to the voters at the next general election (November 2, 2010), provided that it was agreed to by a two-thirds majority of the members elected and serving of both the House and the Senate at least 60 days before then. 

FISCAL IMPACT:

Under current law, the DNRE may not enter into a contract that allows drilling operations beneath the Great Lakes, the connected bays or harbors of the Great lakes, or the connecting waterways (MCL 324.502).  There is an exception to this prohibition if the drilling lease was in effect prior to April of 2002 (MCL 324.61505a).

 

House Joint Resolution GGG, if approved by Michigan voters, would add this prohibition to the Michigan Constitution.  Because this drilling prohibition is already authorized in statute, this resolution would have no significant fiscal impact to the State of Michigan.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Shannan Kane

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Viola Bay Wild

■ 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.