SENATE BILL No. 807

 

 

September 15, 2009, Introduced by Senators McMANUS, BIRKHOLZ, STAMAS, VAN WOERKOM, CROPSEY, JELINEK, PATTERSON, PAPPAGEORGE, KAHN, RICHARDVILLE, GEORGE, KUIPERS, SANBORN, GILBERT, ALLEN, BARCIA and HARDIMAN and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

 

 

 

     A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled

 

"Natural resources and environmental protection act,"

 

by amending sections 301, 501, 503, 508, 510, 1101, 1301, 2521,

 

3101, 3131, 3132, 3133, 3301, 5201, 5402, 5703, 5705, 6306, 8307a,

 

8707, 8801, 9101, 11503, 11701, 11715d, 12101, 14301, 14501, 14701,

 

14721, 14802, 14804, 14810, 16901, 16903, 16903a, 16908a, 17203,

 

17301, 17327, 19601, 19701, 20101, 20104a, 20503, 21101, 21501,

 

21502, 21506, 21515, 21521, 21522, 21541, 21542, 21551, 21561,

 

21562, 30101, 30301, 30321, 31701, 32501, 32513, 32601, 32701,

 

32801, 32803, 33911, 33924, 33929, 35301, 40107c, 41303, 61501,

 

62501, 63101, 63201, 63502, 76111, 79501, 79504, 79505, and 79506

 

(MCL 324.301, 324.501, 324.503, 324.508, 324.510, 324.1101,

 

324.1301, 324.2521, 324.3101, 324.3131, 324.3132, 324.3133,

 

324.3301, 324.5201, 324.5402, 324.5703, 324.5705, 324.6306,

 


324.8307a, 324.8707, 324.8801, 324.9101, 324.11503, 324.11701,

 

324.11715d, 324.12101, 324.14301, 324.14501, 324.14701, 324.14721,

 

324.14802, 324.14804, 324.14810, 324.16901, 324.16903, 324.16903a,

 

324.16908a, 324.17203, 324.17301, 324.17327, 324.19601, 324.19701,

 

324.20101, 324.20104a, 324.20503, 324.21101, 324.21501, 324.21502,

 

324.21506, 324.21515, 324.21521, 324.21522, 324.21541, 324.21542,

 

324.21551, 324.21561, 324.21562, 324.30101, 324.30301, 324.30321,

 

324.31701, 324.32501, 324.32513, 324.32601, 324.32701, 324.32801,

 

324.32803, 324.33911, 324.33924, 324.33929, 324.35301, 324.40107c,

 

324.41303, 324.61501, 324.62501, 324.63101, 324.63201,

 

324.63502, 324.76111, 324.79501, 324.79504, 324.79505, and

 

324.79506), sections 301 and 503 as amended by 2004 PA 587, section

 

1301 as amended by 2008 PA 18, section 2521 as amended by 2005 PA

 

313, section 3101 as amended by 2006 PA 97, sections 3131, 3132,

 

and 3133 as added by 1997 PA 29, section 3301 as added by 2004 PA

 

246, section 5201 as amended by 2005 PA 257, section 5402 as added

 

by 1997 PA 26, section 6306 as amended by 1996 PA 564, section

 

8307a as added by 2002 PA 418, section 8707 as amended by 2000 PA

 

100, section 8801 as added by 1998 PA 287, section 9101 as amended

 

by 2005 PA 55, section 11503 as amended by 2007 PA 212, section

 

11701 as amended by 2005 PA 199, section 11715d as added by 2004 PA

 

381, section 12101 as amended by 2008 PA 8, section 14301 as

 

amended by 1998 PA 289, section 14501 as amended by 2007 PA 174,

 

section 14701 as amended by 2004 PA 562, section 14721 as added by

 

2004 PA 526, sections 14802 and 14804 as amended by 1997 PA 133,

 

section 14810 as added by 1996 PA 132, section 16901 as amended by

 

2006 PA 520, section 16903 as amended by 2006 PA 522, sections

 


16903a and 16908a as added by 1997 PA 17, section 17203 as added by

 

2002 PA 578, sections 17301 and 17327 as added by 2008 PA 394,

 

section 19601 as added by 1998 PA 288, section 19701 as added by

 

2002 PA 397, section 20101 as amended  section 20104a as added by

 

1996 PA 383, section 20503 as added by 2004 PA 229, section 21502

 

as amended by 2006 PA 318, section 21506 as amended by 2004 PA 390,

 

section 21515 as amended by 1996 PA 181, sections 21561 and 21562

 

as added by 2006 PA 322, section 30101 as amended by 2006 PA 275,

 

sections 30301 and 32501 as amended by 2003 PA 14, section 30321 as

 

amended by 1996 PA 530, section 31701 as added by 2003 PA 177,

 

section 32513 as amended by 2008 PA 276, section 32601 as added by

 

2000 PA 278, section 32701 as amended by 2008 PA 179, sections

 

32801 and 32803 as amended by 2008 PA 189, sections 33911, 33924,

 

and 33929 as amended by 2006 PA 496, section 35301 as amended by

 

1995 PA 262, section 40107c as added by 2007 PA 47, section 41303

 

as amended by 2009 PA 52, section 61501 as amended by 1998 PA 303,

 

section 62501 as amended by 1998 PA 467, section 63101 as amended 

 

section 63201 as added by 2004 PA 449, section 63502 as amended by

 

2001 PA 78, section 76111 as amended by 2001 PA 75, and sections

 

79501, 79504, 79505, and 79506 as added by 1998 PA 285, and by

 

adding sections 501b, 501c, and 501d; and to repeal acts and parts

 

of acts.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 301. Except as otherwise defined in this act, as used in

 

this act:

 

     (a) "Administrator" means the environmental permits

 

administrator appointed under section 501b.

 


     (b) "Board" means the natural resources science advisory board

 

created in section 501d.

 

     (c) (a) "Commission" means the commission of natural

 

resources.

 

     (d) (b) "Department" means the director of the department of

 

natural resources or his or her designee to whom the director

 

delegates a power or duty by written instrument.

 

     (e) (c) "Department of natural resources" means the principal

 

state department created in section 501.

 

     (f) (d) "Director" means the director of the department of

 

natural resources.

 

     (g) (e) "Local unit of government" means a municipality or

 

county.

 

     (h) (f) "Michigan conservation and recreation legacy fund"

 

means the Michigan conservation and recreation legacy fund

 

established in section 40 of article IX of the state constitution

 

of 1963 and provided for in section 2002.

 

     (i) (g) "Municipality" means a city, village, or township.

 

     (j) (h) "Person" means an individual, partnership,

 

corporation, association, governmental entity, or other legal

 

entity.

 

     (k) (i) "Public domain" means all land owned by the state or

 

land deeded to the state under state law.

 

     (l) (j) "Rule" means a rule promulgated pursuant to the

 

administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to

 

24.328.

 

     Sec. 501. (1) A department of natural resources for this state

 


is created which shall possess the powers and perform the duties

 

granted and imposed by this act and as otherwise provided by law.

 

The department of natural resources is the successor agency to the

 

department of environmental quality created by Executive

 

Reorganization Order No. 1995-16, MCL 324.99903. In addition to the

 

powers and duties provided by law to the department of natural

 

resources, the department of natural resources has the powers and

 

duties provided to the department of environmental quality in

 

Executive Reorganization Order No. 1995-16, MCL 324.99903, and the

 

powers and duties otherwise provided to the department of

 

environmental quality or the director of the department of

 

environmental quality by law.

 

     (2) The commission of natural resources is created as the head

 

of the department of natural resources and may establish general

 

policies related to natural resources management and environmental

 

protection for the guidance of the director. In addition, the

 

commission has appellate authority as provided in section 1101. The

 

commission shall be composed of 7 members, not more than 4 of whom

 

shall be members of the same political party, appointed by the

 

governor by and with the advice and consent of the senate. A member

 

of the commission shall be selected with special reference to that

 

person's training and experience related to at least 1 of the

 

principal lines of activities vested in the department of natural

 

resources and the ability and fitness of that person to deal with

 

those activities. The term of office of each member of the

 

commission shall be 4 years. The governor shall fill a vacancy

 

occurring in the membership of the commission and may remove a

 


member of the commission for cause after a hearing. Each member of

 

the commission shall hold office until the appointment and

 

qualification of that member's successor.

 

     (3) The commission, within 30 days after having qualified and

 

annually after that time, shall meet at its office in Lansing and

 

organize by appointing a secretary, who need not be a member of the

 

commission. The governor shall appoint a chairperson of the

 

commission from among its members, who shall serve as chairperson

 

at the pleasure of the governor. Four members of the commission

 

constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The business

 

which the commission may perform shall be conducted at a public

 

meeting of the commission held in compliance with the open meetings

 

act, Act No. 267 of the Public Acts of 1976, being sections 15.261

 

to 15.275 of the Michigan Compiled Laws 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to

 

15.275. Public notice of the time, date, and place of the meeting

 

shall be given in the manner required by Act No. 267 of the Public

 

Acts of 1976 the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to

 

15.275. A meeting may be called by the chairperson and shall be

 

called on request of a majority of the members of the commission. A

 

meeting may be held as often as necessary and at other places than

 

the commissioners' offices at Lansing. The commission shall meet at

 

least once each month.

 

     (4) The commission shall appoint and employ a director of the

 

department of natural resources who shall continue in office at the

 

pleasure of the commission. The director shall appoint 1 or more

 

deputy directors and other assistants and employees as are

 

necessary to implement this part and any other law of this state

 


affecting the powers and duties of the department. of natural

 

resources. A person to whom the director has lawfully delegated

 

decision making authority in writing may perform a duty or exercise

 

a power conferred by law upon the department at the time and to the

 

extent the duty and power is delegated to that person by the

 

director. When a vacancy in the office of director occurs, or the

 

director is unable to perform the director's duties or is absent

 

from the state, the powers and duties of the director as prescribed

 

by law shall be imposed on and transferred to a deputy director

 

until the vacancy is filled or the director's inability or absence

 

from the state ceases.

 

     (5) The compensation of the deputy directors, the assistants,

 

and the employees and the number of assistants and employees shall

 

be subject to the approval of the state administrative board. The

 

members of the commission shall not receive compensation under this

 

part, but each member and the other officers and employees of the

 

department of natural resources shall be entitled to reasonable

 

expenses while traveling in the performance of their duties

 

prescribed by this act. The salaries and expenses authorized under

 

this act shall be paid out of the state treasury in the same manner

 

as the salaries of other state officers and employees are paid. The

 

department of management and budget shall furnish suitable offices

 

and office equipment, at Lansing, for the use of the department. of

 

natural resources.

 

     (6) Each member of the commission and the director shall

 

qualify by taking and subscribing to the constitutional oath of

 

office and by filing it in the office of the secretary of state.

 


     Sec. 501b. (1) The office of environmental permits is

 

established within the department of natural resources. The office

 

shall be headed by an environmental permits administrator who shall

 

be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the

 

senate and who shall continue in office at the pleasure of the

 

governor. The administrator shall be selected with special

 

reference to the individual's training and experience related to

 

environmental permits issued by the department and the ability and

 

fitness of that individual to carry out his or her responsibilities

 

as provided in this act and as otherwise provided by law.

 

     (2) The administrator shall qualify for office by taking and

 

subscribing to the constitutional oath of office and by filing it

 

with the office of the secretary of state.

 

     (3) The administrator shall do all of the following:

 

     (a) Administer the office of environmental permits.

 

     (b) Make the final agency decision on all environmental

 

permits issued by the department, independent of the director or

 

the commission.

 

     (c) Hire through a request for proposals process a qualified

 

independent person to perform a benchmark analysis of each

 

environmental permitting program administered by the department and

 

arrange for an independent and external peer review of each of

 

these programs. A person shall not be selected to perform a

 

benchmark analysis or peer review under this subdivision unless the

 

person has a proven ability to evaluate environmental permitting

 

activities and make recommendations for improvement. A benchmark

 

analysis or peer review of a permitting program shall include all

 


of the following:

 

     (i) A calculation of the department's per-permit cost to

 

process a permit and administer the permitting program.

 

     (ii) A review of the timeliness of the permitting process from

 

receipt of a permit application to approval or denial of a permit

 

application.

 

     (iii) A review of the department's customer service practices

 

associated with the permitting program.

 

     (iv) A review of measurable environmental impacts related to

 

the permitting program.

 

     (v) A comparison of the department's performance to comparable

 

permitting programs administered by other Great Lake states.

 

     (4) The director shall provide appropriate office space and

 

staffing for the operations of the office of environmental permits.

 

     (5) As used in this section, "environmental permits" means all

 

permits and operating licenses issued by the department.

 

Environmental permits do not include hunting, fur harvester, or

 

fishing licenses.

 

     Sec. 501c. The position of environmental ombudsman is created

 

within the office of environmental permits. The governor, with the

 

advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint an environmental

 

permits ombudsman who shall continue in office at the pleasure of

 

the governor. The environmental permits ombudsman shall do all of

 

the following:

 

     (a) Provide information regarding the environmental permitting

 

process to individuals seeking environmental permits from the

 

department.

 


     (b) Facilitate agreements on permit conditions or permit

 

disputes between permit applicants and the department.

 

     (c) Assist the department and the administrator in

 

establishing a protocol for coordinating projects requiring more

 

than 1 permit from the department.

 

     (d) Provide a cost/benefit analysis of proposed rules related

 

to environmental permits issued by the department.

 

     Sec. 501d. (1) The natural resources science advisory board is

 

created within the department of natural resources. The board shall

 

consist of 5 individuals appointed by the governor with the advice

 

and consent of the senate with expertise in 1 or more of the

 

following areas:

 

     (a) Ecological sciences.

 

     (b) Chemistry.

 

     (c) Biological sciences.

 

     (d) Risk assessment.

 

     (e) Geology.

 

     (2) The members first appointed to the board shall be

 

appointed within 45 days after the effective date of the amendatory

 

act that added this section.

 

     (3) Members of the board shall serve for terms of 3 years or

 

until a successor is appointed, whichever is later, except that of

 

the members first appointed 2 shall serve for 1 year, 2 shall serve

 

for 2 years, and 1 shall serve for 3 years.

 

     (4) If a vacancy occurs on the board, the governor shall make

 

an appointment for the unexpired term in the same manner as the

 

original appointment.

 


     (5) The governor may remove a member of the board for

 

incompetency, dereliction of duty, malfeasance, misfeasance, or

 

nonfeasance in office, or any other good cause.

 

     (6) A majority of the members of the board constitute a quorum

 

for the transaction of business at a meeting of the board. A

 

majority of the members present and serving are required for

 

official action of the board.

 

     (7) The business that the board may perform shall be conducted

 

at a public meeting of the board held in compliance with the open

 

meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275.

 

     (8) A writing prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or

 

retained by the board in the performance of an official function is

 

subject to the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231

 

to 15.246.

 

     (9) Members of the board shall serve without compensation.

 

However, members of the board may be reimbursed for their actual

 

and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their

 

official duties as members of the board.

 

     (10) The commission, the director, or the administrator may

 

convene the board to provide advice and guidance on a scientific

 

issue affecting a program administered by the department.

 

     (11) When the board is convened, the board shall assess the

 

scientific issue before the board and shall determine whether the

 

board has sufficient expertise to fully review the issue. If the

 

board determines that additional expertise would aid the board in

 

its review, the board may appoint 1 or more consulting members who

 

have knowledge and expertise related to the subject of the specific

 


scientific inquiry. Upon appointment, these additional consulting

 

members shall provide advice and recommendations to the board

 

during the particular scientific review.

 

     (12) The director shall provide administrative support,

 

including appointing an executive director of the board, to

 

facilitate the operations of the board.

 

     Sec. 503. (1) The department shall protect and conserve the

 

air, water, and other natural resources of this state; provide and

 

develop facilities for outdoor recreation; prevent the destruction

 

of timber and other forest growth by fire or otherwise; promote the

 

reforesting of forestlands belonging to the state; prevent and

 

guard against the pollution of lakes and streams within the state

 

and enforce all laws provided for that purpose with all authority

 

granted by law; and foster and encourage the protecting and

 

propagation of game and fish. The department has the power and

 

jurisdiction over the management, control, and disposition of all

 

land under the public domain, except for those lands under the

 

public domain that are managed by other state agencies to carry out

 

their assigned duties and responsibilities. On behalf of the people

 

of the state, the department may accept gifts and grants of land

 

and other property and may buy, sell, exchange, or condemn land and

 

other property, for any of the purposes contemplated by this part.

 

The department may accept funds, money, or grants for development

 

of salmon and steelhead trout fishing in this state from the

 

government of the United States, or any of its departments or

 

agencies, pursuant to the anadromous fish conservation act, 16 USC

 

757a to 757f, and may use this money in accordance with the terms

 


and provisions of that act. However, the acceptance and use of

 

federal funds does not commit state funds and does not place an

 

obligation upon the legislature to continue the purposes for which

 

the funds are made available.

 

     (2) The department may lease lands owned or controlled by the

 

department or may grant concessions on lands owned or controlled by

 

the department to any person for any purpose that the department

 

determines to be necessary to implement this part. In granting a

 

concession, the department shall provide that each concession is

 

awarded at least every 7 years based on extension, renegotiation,

 

or competitive bidding. However, if the department determines that

 

a concession requires a capital investment in which reasonable

 

financing or amortization necessitates a longer term, the

 

department may grant a concession for up to a 15-year term. A

 

concession granted under this subsection shall require, unless the

 

department authorizes otherwise, that all buildings and equipment

 

shall be removed at the end of the concession's term. Any lease

 

entered into under this subsection shall limit the purposes for

 

which the leased land is to be used and shall authorize the

 

department to terminate the lease upon a finding that the land is

 

being used for purposes other than those permitted in the lease.

 

Unless otherwise provided by law, money received from a lease or a

 

concession of tax reverted land shall be credited to the fund

 

providing financial support for the management of the leased land.

 

Money received from a lease of all other land shall be credited to

 

the fund from which the land was purchased. However, money received

 

from program-related leases on these lands shall be credited to the

 


fund providing financial support for the management of the leased

 

lands. For land managed by the forest management division of the

 

department, that fund is either the forest development fund

 

established pursuant to part 505 or the forest recreation account

 

of the Michigan conservation and recreation legacy fund provided

 

for in section 2005. For land managed by the wildlife or fisheries

 

division of the department, that fund is the game and fish

 

protection account of the Michigan conservation and recreation

 

legacy fund provided for in section 2010.

 

     (3) When the department sells land, the deed by which the land

 

is conveyed may reserve all mineral, coal, oil, and gas rights to

 

the state only when the land is in production or is leased or

 

permitted for production, or when the department determines that

 

the land has unusual or sensitive environmental features or that it

 

is in the best interest of this state to reserve those rights as

 

determined by commission policy. However, the department shall not

 

reserve the rights to sand, gravel, clay, or other nonmetallic

 

minerals. When the department sells land that contains subsurface

 

rights, the department shall include a deed restriction that

 

restricts the subsurface rights from being severed from the surface

 

rights in the future. If the landowner severs the subsurface rights

 

from the surface rights, the subsurface rights revert to this

 

state. The deed may reserve to the state the right of ingress and

 

egress over and across land along watercourses and streams.

 

Whenever an exchange of land is made, either with the United States

 

government, a corporation, or an individual, for the purpose of

 

consolidating the state forest reserves, the department may issue

 


deeds without reserving to the state the mineral, coal, oil, and

 

gas rights and the rights of ingress and egress. The department may

 

sell the limestone, sand, gravel, or other nonmetallic minerals.

 

However, the department shall not sell a mineral or nonmetallic

 

mineral right if the sale would violate part 353, part 637, or any

 

other provision of law. The department may sell all reserved

 

mineral, coal, oil, and gas rights to such lands upon terms and

 

conditions as the department considers proper and may sell oil and

 

gas rights as provided in part 610. The owner of such lands as

 

shown by the records shall be given priority in case the department

 

authorizes any sale of such lands, and, unless the landowner waives

 

such rights, the department shall not sell such rights to any other

 

person. For the purpose of this section, mineral rights do not

 

include rights to sand, gravel, clay, or other nonmetallic

 

minerals.

 

     (4) The department may enter into contracts for the sale of

 

the economic share of royalty interests it holds in hydrocarbons

 

produced from devonian or antrim shale qualifying for the

 

nonconventional fuel credit contained in section 29 of the internal

 

revenue code of 1986. However, in entering into these contracts,

 

the department shall assure that revenues to the natural resources

 

trust fund under these contracts are not less than the revenues the

 

natural resources trust fund would have received if the contracts

 

were not entered into. The sale of the economic share of royalty

 

interests under this subsection may occur under contractual terms

 

and conditions considered appropriate by the department and as

 

approved by the state administrative board. Funds received from the

 


sale of the economic share of royalty interests under this

 

subsection shall be transmitted to the state treasurer for deposit

 

in the state treasury as follows:

 

     (a) Net proceeds allocable to the nonconventional fuel credit

 

contained in section 29 of the internal revenue code of 1986, under

 

this subsection shall be credited to the environmental protection

 

fund created in section 503a.

 

     (b) Proceeds related to the production of oil or gas from

 

devonian or antrim shale shall be credited to the natural resources

 

trust fund or other applicable fund as provided by law.

 

     (5) As used in subsection (4):

 

     (a) "Natural resources trust fund" means the Michigan natural

 

resources trust fund established in section 35 of article IX of the

 

state constitution of 1963 and provided for in section 1902.

 

     (b) "Net proceeds" means the total receipts received from the

 

sale of royalty interests under subsection (4) less costs related

 

to the sale. Costs may include, but are not limited to, legal,

 

financial advisory, geological or reserve studies, and accounting

 

services.

 

     (6) As used in this section:

 

     (a) "Concession" means an agreement between the department and

 

a person under terms and conditions as specified by the department

 

to provide services or recreational opportunities for public use.

 

     (b) "Lease" means a conveyance by the department to a person

 

of a portion of the state's interest in land under specific terms

 

and for valuable consideration, thereby granting to the lessee the

 

possession of that portion conveyed during the period stipulated.

 


     Sec. 508. The department may establish and collect fees and

 

rentals for any photographic or publication products or services

 

that the department provides. The fees and rentals shall be

 

credited to a separate fund of the state treasury and shall be

 

available for appropriation to the department of natural resources

 

and used to provide the photographic or publication products or

 

services. The fees and rentals shall not exceed the material costs

 

to the department of providing the products or services. In

 

addition, the expenditures made in a fiscal year to provide the

 

photographic and publication products or services shall not exceed

 

the amount appropriated for that purpose for that fiscal year, plus

 

any amounts carried over from previous fiscal years, or the amount

 

of fees and rentals actually received during that fiscal year, plus

 

any amounts carried over from previous fiscal years, whichever is

 

less. Any unexpended fees and rentals collected pursuant to this

 

section, along with any excess collections from prior fiscal years,

 

shall be carried over into subsequent fiscal years and shall be

 

available for appropriation for the purposes described in this

 

section.

 

     Sec. 510. (1) Money received by the department of natural

 

resources for reimbursement of damages to department of natural

 

resources property, reimbursement of land recording fees, sale of

 

farm animals from Maybury state park, reimbursement for utilities

 

for the Michigan state exposition and fairgrounds, reproduction of

 

the agenda of the commission or other meetings of the department,

 

reimbursement for forest fire protection services provided to the

 

federal government or other states, and money received from

 


forfeited cash bonds, security bonds, and court ordered

 

reimbursements may be credited to the accounts from which these

 

disbursements were or are to be made.

 

     (2) The department may establish and collect fees for use of

 

aircraft and pilots of the department. of natural resources. The

 

aircraft fees collected shall be credited to a separate fund of the

 

state treasury and shall be available for appropriation to the

 

department of natural resources and used to pay all operating and

 

maintenance costs of the aircraft, including depreciation and

 

aircraft replacement, but shall not exceed the fee revenue

 

collected for the fiscal year together with any unexpended balances

 

of prior years.

 

     Sec. 1101. (1) If a person has legal standing to challenge a

 

final decision of the department under this act regarding the

 

issuance, denial, suspension, revocation, annulment, withdrawal,

 

recall, cancellation, or amendment of a permit or operating

 

license, the commission administrator, upon request of that person,

 

shall review the decision and make the final agency decision. A

 

preliminary, procedural, or intermediate decision of the department

 

is reviewable by the commission administrator only if the

 

commission administrator elects to grant a review. If a person is

 

granted review by the commission administrator under this section,

 

the person is considered to have exhausted his or her

 

administrative remedies with regard to that matter. The commission

 

administrator may utilize administrative law judges or hearing

 

officers to conduct the review of decisions as contested case

 

hearings and to issue proposals for decisions as provided by law or

 


rule.

 

     (2) In all instances, except those described in subsection

 

(1), if a person has legal standing to challenge a final decision

 

of the department under this act, that person may seek direct

 

review by the courts as provided by law. Direct review by the

 

courts is available to that person as an alternative to any

 

administrative remedy that is provided in this act. A preliminary,

 

procedural, or intermediate action or ruling of the department is

 

not immediately reviewable, except that the court may grant leave

 

for review of a preliminary, procedural, or intermediate action or

 

ruling if the court determines that review of the final decision

 

would not provide an adequate remedy. If a person is granted direct

 

review by the courts under this section, the person is considered

 

to have exhausted his or her administrative remedies with regard to

 

that matter.

 

     (3) If the court does not review a decision of the department

 

brought before the court as provided in this section, the person

 

with legal standing retains any administrative appeal rights that

 

are otherwise provided by law.

 

     (4) If the court reviews a preliminary, procedural, or

 

intermediate decision of the department brought before the court as

 

provided in this section, the person with legal standing retains

 

the right to judicial review of the final decision of the

 

department as provided by law.

 

     (5) This section does not apply to a hunting, fur harvester,

 

or fishing license issued by the department.

 

     Sec. 1301. As used in this part:

 


     (a) "Application period" means the period beginning when an

 

application for a permit is received by the state and ending when

 

the application is considered to be administratively complete under

 

section 1305 and any applicable fee has been paid.

 

     (b) "Department" means, subject to section 1101, the

 

department, agency, or officer authorized by this act to approve or

 

deny an application for a particular permit.

 

     (c) "Director" means, subject to section 1101, the director of

 

the state department authorized under this act to approve or deny

 

an application for a particular permit or the director's designee.

 

     (d) "Permit" means a permit or operating license required by

 

any of the following sections or by rules promulgated thereunder,

 

or, in the case of section 9112, by an ordinance or resolution

 

adopted thereunder:

 

     (i) Section 3104, floodplain alteration permit.

 

     (ii) Section 3503, permit for use of water in mining iron ore.

 

     (iii) Section 4105, sewerage system construction permit.

 

     (iv) Section 6516, vehicle testing license.

 

     (v) Section 6521, motor vehicle fleet testing permit.

 

     (vi) Section 8310, restricted use pesticide dealer license.

 

     (vii) Section 8310a, agricultural pesticide dealer license.

 

     (viii) Section 8504, license to manufacture or distribute

 

fertilizer.

 

     (ix) Section 9112, local soil erosion and sedimentation control

 

permit.

 

     (x) Section 11509, solid waste disposal area construction

 

permit.

 


     (xi) Section 11512, solid waste disposal area operating

 

license.

 

     (xii) Section 11542, municipal solid waste incinerator ash

 

landfill operating license amendment.

 

     (xiii) Section 11702, septage waste servicing license or septage

 

waste vehicle license.

 

     (xiv) Section 11709, septage waste site permit.

 

     (xv) Section 30104, inland lakes and streams project permit.

 

     (xvi) Section 30304, state permit for dredging, filling, or

 

other activity in wetland.

 

     (xvii) Section 31509, dam construction, repair, removal permit.

 

     (xviii) Section 32312, flood risk, high risk, or environmental

 

area permit.

 

     (xix) Section 32503, permit for dredging and filling

 

bottomland.

 

     (xx) Section 35304, department permit for critical dune area

 

use.

 

     (xxi) Section 36505, endangered species permit.

 

     (xxii) Section 41702, game bird hunting preserve license.

 

     (xxiii) Section 42101, dog training area permit.

 

     (xxiv) Section 42501, fur dealer's license.

 

     (xxv) Section 42702, game dealer's license.

 

     (xxvi) Section 44513, charter boat operating permit under

 

reciprocal agreement.

 

     (xxvii) Section 44517, boat livery operating permit.

 

     (xxviii) Section 45503, permit to take frogs for scientific use.

 

     (xxix) Section 45902, game fish propagation license.

 


     (xxx) Section 45906, game fish import license.

 

     (xxxi) Section 61525, oil or gas well drilling permit.

 

     (xxxii) Section 62509, brine, storage, or waste disposal well

 

drilling or conversion permit or test well drilling permit.

 

     (xxxiii) Section 63103a, metallic mineral mining permit.

 

     (xxxiv) Section 63514 or 63525, surface coal mining and

 

reclamation permit or revision of the permit during the term of the

 

permit, respectively.

 

     (xxxv) Section 63704, sand dune mining permit.

 

     (xxxvi) Section 72108, use permits for Michigan trailway.

 

     (xxxvii) Section 76109, sunken aircraft or watercraft abandoned

 

property recovery permit.

 

     (xxxviii) Section 76504, Mackinac Island motor vehicle and land

 

use permits.

 

     (xxxix) Section 80159, buoy or beacon permit.

 

     (e) "Processing deadline" means the last day of the processing

 

period.

 

     (f) "Processing period" means the following time period after

 

the close of the application period, for the following permit, as

 

applicable:

 

     (i) Twenty days for a permit under section 61525 or 62509.

 

     (ii) Thirty days for a permit under section 9112.

 

     (iii) Thirty days after the department consults with the

 

underwater salvage and preserve committee created under section

 

76103, for a permit under section 76109.

 

     (iv) Sixty days, for a permit under section 30104 for a minor

 

project as established by rule under section 30105(7) or for a

 


permit under section 32312.

 

     (v) Sixty days or, if a hearing is held, 90 days for a permit

 

under section 35304.

 

     (vi) Sixty days or, if a hearing is held, 120 days for a permit

 

under section 30104, other than a permit for a minor project as

 

established by rule under section 30105(7), or for a permit under

 

section 31509.

 

     (vii) Ninety days for a permit under section 11512, a revision

 

of a surface coal mining and reclamation permit during the term of

 

the permit under section 63525, or a permit under section 72108.

 

     (viii) Ninety days or, if a hearing is held, 150 days for a

 

permit under section 3104, 30304, or 32503.

 

     (ix) One hundred and twenty days for a permit under section

 

11509, 11542, 63103a, 63514, or 63704.

 

     (x) One hundred fifty days for a permit under section 36505.

 

However, if a site inspection or federal approval is required, the

 

150-day period is tolled pending completion of the inspection or

 

receipt of the federal approval.

 

     (xi) For any other permit, 150 days or, if a hearing is held,

 

90 days after the hearing, whichever is later.

 

     Sec. 2521. (1) The department of environmental quality, in

 

conjunction with the department of natural resources, shall

 

biennially prepare a report that assesses the status of and trends

 

related to the overall state of the natural environment in

 

Michigan. The report shall be based upon environmental indicators

 

identified by the departments of environmental quality and natural

 

resources department and upon data obtained through sound

 


scientific methodologies and processes. The report shall be

 

submitted to the governor, to the standing committees of the

 

legislature with jurisdiction over issues primarily related to

 

natural resources and the environment, and to the senate and house

 

appropriations subcommittees on environmental quality and natural

 

resources. The report shall be submitted not later than October 1,

 

2008 and every third year thereafter. The reports shall also be

 

made available to the public electronically and, upon request, in

 

paper format.

 

     (2) The departments of environmental quality and natural

 

resources department shall monitor efforts undergoing in other

 

states and nationally to establish uniformity among environmental

 

indicators that might be included within the report.

 

     (3) All state agencies shall cooperate with the departments of

 

environmental quality and natural resources department in carrying

 

out their responsibilities under this section.

 

     (4) As used in this section, "environmental indicator" means a

 

measure of the state of the natural environment that can be derived

 

from empirical data. The department shall use the most recent data

 

available. If relevant data is not available, the department shall

 

include in the report recommendations for gathering data in the

 

future.

 

     Sec. 3101. As used in this part:

 

     (a) "Aquatic nuisance species" means a nonindigenous species

 

that threatens the diversity or abundance of native species or the

 

ecological stability of infested waters, or commercial,

 

agricultural, aquacultural, or recreational activities dependent on

 


such waters.

 

     (b) "Ballast water" means water and associated solids taken on

 

board a vessel to control or maintain trim, draft, stability, or

 

stresses on the vessel, without regard to the manner in which it is

 

carried.

 

     (c) "Ballast water treatment method" means a method of

 

treating ballast water and sediments to remove or destroy living

 

biological organisms through 1 or more of the following:

 

     (i) Filtration.

 

     (ii) The application of biocides or ultraviolet light.

 

     (iii) Thermal methods.

 

     (iv) Other treatment techniques approved by the department.

 

     (d) "Department" means the department of environmental

 

quality.

 

     (d) (e) "Detroit consumer price index" means the most

 

comprehensive index of consumer prices available for the Detroit

 

area from the United States department of labor, bureau of labor

 

statistics.

 

     (e) (f) "Emergency management coordinator" means that term as

 

defined in section 2 of the emergency management act, 1976 PA 390,

 

MCL 30.402.

 

     (f) (g) "Great Lakes" means the Great Lakes and their

 

connecting waters, including Lake St. Clair.

 

     (g) (h) "Group 1 facility" means a facility whose discharge is

 

described by R 323.2218 of the Michigan administrative code.

 

     (h) (i) "Group 2 facility" means a facility whose discharge is

 

described by R 323.2210(y), R 323.2215, or R 323.2216 of the

 


Michigan administrative code.

 

     (i) (j) "Group 3 facility" means a facility whose discharge is

 

described by R 323.2211 or R 323.2213 of the Michigan

 

administrative code.

 

     (j) (k) "Local health department" means that term as defined

 

in section 1105 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL

 

333.1105.

 

     (k) (l) "Local unit" means a county, city, village, or township

 

or an agency or instrumentality of any of these entities.

 

     (l) (m) "Municipality" means this state, a county, city,

 

village, or township, or an agency or instrumentality of any of

 

these entities.

 

     (m) (n) "National response center" means the national

 

communications center established under the clean water act, 33 USC

 

1251 to 1387, located in Washington, DC, that receives and relays

 

notice of oil discharge or releases of hazardous substances to

 

appropriate federal officials.

 

     (n) (o) "Nonoceangoing vessel" means a vessel that is not an

 

oceangoing vessel.

 

     (o) (p) "Oceangoing vessel" means a vessel that operates on

 

the Great Lakes or the St. Lawrence waterway after operating in

 

waters outside of the Great Lakes or the St. Lawrence waterway.

 

     (p) (q) "Open water disposal of contaminated dredge materials"

 

means the placement of dredge materials contaminated with toxic

 

substances as defined in R 323.1205 of the Michigan administrative

 

code into the open waters of the waters of the state but does not

 

include the siting or use of a confined disposal facility

 


designated by the United States army corps of engineers or beach

 

nourishment activities utilizing uncontaminated materials.

 

     (q) (r) "Primary public safety answering point" means that

 

term as defined in section 102 of the emergency telephone 9-1-1

 

service enabling act, 1986 PA 32, MCL 484.1102.

 

     (r) (s) "Sediments" means any matter settled out of ballast

 

water within a vessel.

 

     (s) (t) "Sewage sludge" means sewage sludge generated in the

 

treatment of domestic sewage, other than only septage or industrial

 

waste.

 

     (t) (u) "Sewage sludge derivative" means a product for land

 

application derived from sewage sludge that does not include solid

 

waste or other waste regulated under this act.

 

     (u) (v) "Sewage sludge generator" means a person who generates

 

sewage sludge that is applied to land.

 

     (v) (w) "Sewage sludge distributor" means a person who

 

applies, markets, or distributes, except at retail, a sewage sludge

 

derivative.

 

     (w) (x) "St. Lawrence waterway" means the St. Lawrence river,

 

the St. Lawrence seaway, and the gulf of St. Lawrence.

 

     (x) (y) "Threshold reporting quantity" means that term as

 

defined in R 324.2002 of the Michigan administrative code.

 

     (y) (z) "Waters of the state" means groundwaters, lakes,

 

rivers, and streams and all other watercourses and waters,

 

including the Great Lakes, within the jurisdiction of this state.

 

     Sec. 3131. (1) By October 1, 1997, the The department of

 

environmental quality in consultation with the department of

 


agriculture shall promulgate rules to manage the land application

 

of sewage sludge and sewage sludge derivatives. The rules shall be

 

consistent with the minimum requirements of 40 C.F.R. CFR part 503

 

but may impose requirements in addition to or more stringent than

 

40 C.F.R. CFR part 503 to protect public health or the environment

 

from any adverse effect from a pollutant in sewage sludge or in a

 

sewage sludge derivative. However, the rules shall require that if

 

monitoring of sewage sludge or a sewage sludge derivative indicates

 

a pollutant concentration in excess of that provided in table 3 of

 

40 C.F.R. CFR 503.13, monitoring frequency shall be increased to

 

not less than twice that provided in table 1 of 40 C.F.R. CFR

 

503.16, until pollutant concentrations are at or below those

 

provided in table 3 of 40 C.F.R. CFR 503.13. The rules shall

 

require a sewage sludge generator or sewage sludge distributor to

 

deliver to a county, city, village, or township a copy of any

 

record required to be created under the rules pertaining to sewage

 

sludge or a sewage sludge derivative applied to land in that local

 

unit. The copy shall be delivered free of charge promptly after the

 

record is created.

 

     (2) If the Michigan supreme court rules that sections 45 and

 

46 of the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL

 

24.245 and 24.246, are unconstitutional and a statute requiring

 

legislative review of administrative rules is not enacted within 90

 

days after the Michigan supreme court ruling, the rule-making

 

authority under this section and any rules promulgated under that

 

rule-making authority are rescinded, and the land application of

 

sewage sludge shall be managed by the department of environmental

 


quality in consultation with the department of agriculture

 

consistent with the requirements of 40 C.F.R. part 503.

 

     Sec. 3132. (1) Beginning in state fiscal year 1998, an annual

 

sewage sludge land application fee is imposed upon sewage sludge

 

generators and sewage sludge distributors. The sewage sludge land

 

application fee shall be in an amount equal to the sum of an

 

administrative fee and a generation fee. The administrative fee

 

shall be $400.00 and the department shall set the generation fee as

 

provided by subsection (2). The department shall set the generation

 

fee so that the annual cumulative total of the sewage sludge land

 

application fee to be paid in a state fiscal year is, as nearly as

 

possible, $650,000.00 minus the amount in the fund created under

 

subsection (5) carried forward from the prior state fiscal year.

 

Starting with fees to be paid in state fiscal year 1999, the

 

$650,000.00 amount shall be annually adjusted for inflation using

 

the Detroit consumer price index.

 

     (2) Each sewage sludge generator and sewage sludge distributor

 

shall annually report to the department for each state fiscal year,

 

beginning with the 1997 state fiscal year, the number of dry tons

 

of sewage sludge it generated or the number of dry tons of sewage

 

sludge in sewage sludge derivatives it distributed that were

 

applied to land in that state fiscal year. The report is due 30

 

days after the end of the state fiscal year. By December 15 of each

 

state fiscal year, the department shall determine the generation

 

fee on a per dry ton basis by dividing the cumulative generation

 

fee by the number of dry tons of sewage sludge applied to land or

 

in sewage sludge derivatives applied to land in the immediately

 


preceding state fiscal year. The department shall notify each

 

sewage sludge generator and sewage sludge distributor of the

 

generation fee on a per dry ton basis. Notwithstanding any other

 

provision of this section, for the 1998 state fiscal year, the

 

generation fee shall not exceed $4.00 per dry ton.

 

     (3) By January 31 of each state fiscal year, each sewage

 

sludge generator or sewage sludge distributor shall pay its sewage

 

sludge land application fee. The sewage sludge generator or sewage

 

sludge distributor shall determine the amount of its sewage sludge

 

land application fee by multiplying the number of dry tons of

 

sewage sludge that it reported under subsection (2) by the

 

generation fee and adding the administrative fee.

 

     (4) The department of environmental quality shall assess

 

interest on all fee payments submitted under this section after the

 

due date. The permittee shall pay an additional amount equal to

 

0.75% of the payment due for each month or portion of a month the

 

payment remains past due. The failure by a person to timely pay a

 

fee imposed by this section is a violation of this part.

 

     (5) The sewage sludge land application fund is created in the

 

state treasury. The department of environmental quality shall

 

forward all fees collected under this section to the state

 

treasurer for deposit into the fund. The state treasurer may

 

receive money or other assets from any source for deposit into the

 

fund. The state treasurer shall direct the investment of the fund.

 

The state treasurer shall credit to the fund interest and earnings

 

from fund investments. An unexpended balance within the fund at the

 

close of the state fiscal year shall be carried forward to the

 


following state fiscal year. The fund shall be allocated solely for

 

the administration of this section and sections 3131 and 3133,

 

including, but not limited to, education of the farmers, sewage

 

sludge generators, sewage sludge distributors, and the general

 

public about land application of sewage sludge and sewage sludge

 

derivatives and the requirements of this section and sections 3131

 

and 3133. The director of the department of environmental quality

 

may contract with a nonprofit educational organization to

 

administer the educational components of this section. Ten percent

 

of the fund shall be allocated to the department of agriculture to

 

provide persons involved in or affected by land application of

 

sewage sludge or sewage sludge derivatives with education and

 

technical assistance relating to land application of sewage sludge

 

or sewage sludge derivatives.

 

     (6) A local unit may enact, maintain, and enforce an ordinance

 

that prohibits the land application of sewage sludge or a sewage

 

sludge derivative if monitoring indicates a pollutant concentration

 

in excess of that provided in table 1 of 40 C.F.R. CFR 503.13 until

 

subsequent monitoring indicates that pollutant concentrations do

 

not exceed those provided in table 1 of 40 C.F.R. CFR 503.13.

 

     Sec. 3133. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section,

 

sections 3131 and 3132 preempt a local ordinance, regulation, or

 

resolution of a local unit that would duplicate, extend, revise, or

 

conflict with section 3131 or 3132. Except as otherwise provided

 

for in this section, a local unit shall not enact, maintain, or

 

enforce an ordinance, regulation, or resolution that duplicates,

 

extends, revises, or conflicts with section 3131 or 3132.

 


     (2) The director of the department of environmental quality

 

may contract with a local unit to act as its agent for the purpose

 

of enforcing this section and sections 3131 and 3132. The

 

department shall have sole authority to assess fees. If a local

 

unit is under contract with the department of environmental quality

 

to act as its agent or the local unit has received prior written

 

authorization from the department, then the local unit may pass an

 

ordinance that is identical to section 3132 and rules promulgated

 

under section 3131, except as prohibited in subsection (4).

 

     (3) A local unit may enact an ordinance prescribing standards

 

in addition to or more stringent than those contained in section

 

3132 or in rules promulgated under section 3131 and which regulate

 

a sewage sludge or sewage sludge derivative land application site

 

under either or both of the following circumstances:

 

     (a) The operation of a sewage sludge or sewage sludge

 

derivative land application site within that local unit will result

 

in unreasonable adverse effects on the environment or public health

 

within the local unit. The determination that unreasonable adverse

 

effects on the environment or public health will exist shall take

 

into consideration specific populations whose health may be

 

adversely affected within the local unit.

 

     (b) The operation of a sewage sludge or sewage sludge

 

derivative land application site within that local unit has

 

resulted or will result in the local unit being in violation of

 

other existing state laws or federal laws.

 

     (4) An ordinance enacted pursuant to subsection (2) or (3)

 

shall not conflict with existing state laws or federal laws. An

 


ordinance enacted pursuant to subsection (3) shall not be enforced

 

by a local unit until approved or conditionally approved by the

 

director of the department of environmental quality under

 

subsection (5). The local unit shall comply with any conditions of

 

approval.

 

     (5) If the legislative body of a local unit submits to the

 

department of environmental quality a resolution identifying how

 

the requirements of subsection (3)(a) or (b) are met, the

 

department shall hold a public meeting in the local unit within 60

 

days after the submission of the resolution to assist the

 

department in determining whether the requirements of subsection

 

(3)(a) or (b) are met. Within 45 days after the public meeting, the

 

department shall issue a detailed opinion on whether the

 

requirements of subsection (3)(a) or (b) are met as identified by

 

the resolution of the local unit and shall approve, conditionally

 

approve, or disapprove the ordinance accordingly. If the department

 

fails to satisfy the requirements of this subsection, the ordinance

 

is considered to be approved.

 

     Sec. 3301. As used in this part:

 

     (a) "Aquatic nuisance" means an organism that lives or

 

propagates, or both, within the aquatic environment and that

 

impairs the use or enjoyment of the waters of the state, including

 

the intermediate aquatic hosts for schistosomes that cause

 

swimmer's itch.

 

     (b) "Certificate of coverage" means written authorization from

 

the department to implement a project under a general permit.

 

     (c) "Department" means the department of environmental

 


quality.

 

     (d) "Director" means the director of the department.

 

     Sec. 5201. As used in this part:

 

     (a) "Authority" means the Michigan municipal bond authority

 

created in section 4 of the shared credit rating act, 1985 PA 227,

 

MCL 141.1054.

 

     (b) "Department" means the department of environmental

 

quality.

 

     (b) (c) "Fund" means the strategic water quality initiatives

 

fund created in section 5204.

 

     (c) (d) "Grant" means a grant from the grant program.

 

     (d) (e) "Grant program" means the strategic water quality

 

initiatives grant program established under section 5204a.

 

     (e) (f) "Loan" means a loan from the loan program.

 

     (f) (g) "Loan program" means the strategic water quality

 

initiatives loan program established under section 5202.

 

     (g) (h) "Municipality" means that term as it is defined in

 

section 5301.

 

     (h) (i) "On-site septic system" means a natural system or

 

mechanical device used to store, treat, and dispose of sewage from

 

1 or more dwelling units that utilize a subsurface trench or bed

 

that allows the effluent to be absorbed and treated by the

 

surrounding soil, including a septic tank and tile field system.

 

     (i) (j) "State water pollution control revolving fund" means

 

the state water pollution control revolving fund established under

 

section 16a of the shared credit rating act, 1985 PA 227, MCL

 

141.1066a.

 


     Sec. 5402. As used in this part:

 

     (a) "Department" means the department of environmental quality

 

or its authorized agent or representative.

 

     (b) "Director" means the director of the department of

 

environmental quality or his or her designated representative.

 

     (a) (c) "Disadvantaged community" means a municipality in

 

which all of the following conditions are met:

 

     (i) Users within the area served by a proposed public water

 

supply project are directly assessed for the costs of construction.

 

     (ii) The area served by a proposed public water supply project

 

does not exceed 120% of the statewide median annual household

 

income for Michigan.

 

     (iii) The municipality demonstrates at least 1 of the following:

 

     (A) More than 50% of the area served by a proposed public

 

water supply project is identified as a poverty area by the United

 

States bureau of the census.

 

     (B) The median annual household income of the area served by a

 

proposed public water supply project is less than the most recently

 

published federal poverty guidelines for a family of 4 in the 48

 

contiguous United States. In determining the median annual

 

household income of the area served by the proposed public water

 

supply project under this subparagraph, the municipality shall

 

utilize the most recently published statistics from the United

 

States Bureau of the Census, updated to reflect current dollars,

 

for the community which most closely approximates the area being

 

served. If these figures are not available for the area served by

 

the proposed public water supply project, the municipality may have

 


a survey conducted to document the median annual household income

 

of the area served by the project.

 

     (C) The median annual household income of the area served by a

 

proposed public water supply project is less than the most recently

 

published statewide median annual household income for Michigan,

 

and annual user costs for water supply exceed 1.5% of the median

 

annual household income of the area served by the proposed public

 

water supply project.

 

     (D) The median annual household income of the area served by a

 

proposed public water supply project is not greater than 120% of

 

the statewide median annual household income for Michigan, and

 

annual user costs for water supply exceed 3% of the median annual

 

household income of the area served by the proposed project.

 

     (b) (d) "Federal safe drinking water act" means title XIV of

 

the public health service act, chapter 373, 88 Stat. 1660, and the

 

rules promulgated under that act.

 

     (c) (e) "Fund" means the safe drinking water revolving fund

 

created in section 16b of the shared credit rating act, 1985 PA

 

227, MCL 141.1066b.

 

     (d) (f) "Fundable range" means those projects, taken in

 

descending order on the priority list, for which the department

 

estimates sufficient funds exist to provide assistance during each

 

annual funding cycle.

 

     (e) (g) "Municipality" means a city, village, county,

 

township, authority, public school district, or other public body

 

with taxing authority, including an intermunicipal agency of 2 or

 

more municipalities, authorized or created under state law.

 


     (f) (h) "Noncommunity water supply" means a public water

 

supply that is not a community water supply, but that has not less

 

than 15 service connections or that serves not less than 25

 

individuals on an average daily basis for not less than 60 days per

 

year.

 

     Sec. 5703. (1) The office of the small business clean air

 

ombudsman is created within the department of commerce energy,

 

labor, and economic growth. The office shall exercise its powers

 

and duties independently of any state department or entity.

 

     (2) The principal executive officer of the office is the small

 

business clean air ombudsman, who shall be appointed by the

 

governor.

 

     Sec. 5705. The program is created in the department of

 

commerce energy, labor, and economic growth. The program shall

 

develop adequate mechanisms for all of the following:

 

     (a) Developing, collecting, and coordinating information on

 

compliance methods and technologies for small businesses.

 

     (b) Encouraging lawful cooperation among small businesses and

 

other persons to further compliance with the clean air act and part

 

55.

 

     (c) Assisting small business with information regarding

 

pollution prevention and accidental release detection and

 

prevention, including, but not limited to, providing information

 

concerning alternative technologies, process changes, and products

 

and methods of operation that help reduce air pollution.

 

     (d) Establishing a compliance assistance program that assists

 

small businesses in determining applicable requirements for

 


compliance and the procedures for obtaining permits efficiently in

 

a timely manner under the clean air act or part 55, or both.

 

     (e) Providing mechanisms and access to information so that

 

small businesses receive notification of their rights under the

 

clean air act and part 55 in a manner and form that assures

 

reasonably adequate time for small businesses to evaluate their

 

compliance methods or applicable proposed or final rules or

 

standards under the clean air act and part 55.

 

     (f) Informing small businesses of their obligations under the

 

clean air act and part 55, including mechanisms for referring small

 

businesses to qualified auditors or to the state if the state

 

elects to provide audits to determine compliance with the clean air

 

act and part 55. To the extent permissible by state and federal

 

law, audits shall be separate from the formal inspection and

 

compliance program.

 

     (g) Providing information on how to obtain consideration from

 

the department on requests from small businesses for modifications

 

of any work practice, technological method of compliance, or the

 

schedule of milestones for reductions of emissions preceding an

 

applicable compliance date.

 

     Sec. 6306. (1) Each motor vehicle subject to this part shall

 

be inspected for emissions as provided in this part. A person shall

 

not operate a motor vehicle subject to this part whose certificate

 

of compliance has expired or who has not received a time extension

 

or waiver and whose vehicle fails to meet emission cut points

 

established by the department or other emission control

 

requirements established by the department in this part. If a

 


vehicle subject to testing under this part has not been tested

 

within the previous 12 months, the prospective seller of the

 

vehicle shall have the vehicle tested and complete necessary

 

repairs before offering the vehicle for sale.

 

     (2) To enforce this section, the department shall implement

 

and administer a motor vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance

 

program designed to meet the performance standards for a motor

 

vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program as established

 

by the United States environmental protection agency in 40 C.F.R.

 

CFR 51.351 in the counties of Kent, Ottawa, and Muskegon in those

 

areas that are not in attainment of the national ambient air

 

quality standards for ozone. However, those counties that would be

 

in attainment of the national ambient air quality standards for

 

ozone, given base line emissions for that county, but for emissions

 

emanating from outside of the state, are excluded from

 

implementation of such a program unless the department of

 

environmental quality natural resources shall affirmatively

 

determine by clear and convincing evidence, based on study of

 

formation and transport of ozone, that the control of motor vehicle

 

emissions would significantly contribute to the attainment of the

 

national ambient air quality standards for ozone as promulgated

 

under the clean air act. The motor vehicle emissions inspection and

 

maintenance program shall include the following test procedures and

 

components:

 

     (a) Biennial testing.

 

     (b) Test-only network.

 

     (c) Transient mass-emission evaporative system, purge, and

 


pressure testing on 1981 and later model year vehicles using the

 

IM240 driving cycle.

 

     (d) Two-speed idle testing, antitampering, and pressure test

 

on 1975 to 1980 vehicles in accordance with the following:

 

     (i) Visual antitampering inspection of the catalytic converter,

 

gas cap, PCV valve, air pump, and fuel inlet restrictor on light-

 

duty gas vehicles and light-duty gas trucks of 10,000 pounds or

 

less gross vehicle weight.

 

     (ii) Pressure test of the evaporative system for light-duty gas

 

vehicles and light-duty gas trucks of 10,000 pounds or less gross

 

vehicle weight.

 

     (e) On-board diagnostic check for vehicles so equipped.

 

     (3) The cut points set forth in test procedures, quality

 

control requirements, and equipment specifications issued by the

 

United States environmental protection agency are hereby adopted

 

for the emissions testing program authorized in this part.

 

     (4) Equipment and test procedures shall meet the requirements

 

of appendices A through E to subpart S of 40 C.F.R. CFR 51 and the

 

test procedures, quality control requirements, and equipment

 

specifications issued by the United States environmental protection

 

agency.

 

     (5) Vehicles shall be subject to inspection according to the

 

following:

 

     (a) The first initial inspection under this part for each even

 

numbered model year vehicle shall take place within 6 months before

 

the expiration of the vehicle registration in an even numbered

 

calendar year.

 


     (b) The first initial inspection under this part for each odd

 

numbered model year vehicle shall take place within 6 months before

 

the expiration of the vehicle registration in an odd numbered

 

calendar year.

 

     (6) The department, in consultation with the department of

 

state and the department of environmental quality natural

 

resources, may promulgate rules for the administration of the motor

 

vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program, including,

 

but not limited to, all of the following:

 

     (a) Standards for public inspection station equipment,

 

including emission testing equipment.

 

     (b) Emission test cut points and other emission control

 

requirements based on the clean air act and the state

 

implementation plan.

 

     (c) Exemptions from inspections as authorized under this part.

 

     (d) Standards and procedures for the issuance of certificates

 

of compliance and certificates of waiver from inspection and

 

maintenance program requirements.

 

     (e) Rules to ensure that owners of motor vehicles registered

 

in this state who temporarily reside out of state are not unduly

 

inconvenienced by the requirements of this part. The rules may

 

include any of the following:

 

     (i) Reciprocal agreements with other states that require motor

 

vehicle inspections that are at least as stringent as those

 

required under this part and rules promulgated under this part.

 

     (ii) Provision for time extensions of not more than 2 years for

 

persons temporarily residing in a state, the District of Columbia,

 


or a territory of the United States with which this state has not

 

entered into a reciprocal agreement for vehicle emissions

 

inspection and maintenance. Additional time extensions shall be

 

granted to persons temporarily residing out of state because of

 

military service.

 

     (7) The department may promulgate rules to require the

 

inspection of motor vehicles through the use of remote sensing

 

devices. These rules may provide for use of remote sensing devices

 

for research purposes, but shall not provide for any checklanes or

 

other measures by which motorists will be stopped on highways or

 

other areas open to the general public.

 

     (8) Upon receipt of documentation from the department, the

 

department of state may suspend the registration of any vehicle

 

that is not in compliance with this part and the rules promulgated

 

under this part and for which the required certificate of

 

compliance has not been obtained.

 

     (9) If any area in this state subject to this part is

 

redesignated by the United States environmental protection agency

 

as being in attainment with the national ambient air quality

 

standards for ozone, a motor vehicle emissions inspection and

 

maintenance program authorized by this part is suspended and shall

 

only be reimplemented if required as a contingency measure included

 

in a maintenance plan approved by the United States environmental

 

protection agency as part of the redesignation as an ozone

 

attainment area. The department may only implement the contingency

 

measure if there is observation of an actual violation of the ozone

 

national ambient air quality standard under 40 C.F.R. CFR 50.9

 


during the maintenance period.

 

     (10) Implementation of a motor vehicle emissions inspection

 

and maintenance program authorized by this part shall be suspended

 

if the classification of the Grand Rapids and Muskegon ozone

 

nonattainment areas is adjusted from moderate ozone nonattainment

 

areas to transitional or marginal nonattainment areas by the United

 

States environmental protection agency pursuant to its authority

 

under section 181 of the clean air act, 42 U.S.C. USC 7511, or if

 

the United States environmental protection agency determines that a

 

motor vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program is not

 

applicable or is not necessary for either of these areas to meet

 

the requirements of the clean air act.

 

     Sec. 8307a. (1) Every pesticide distributed, sold, exposed, or

 

offered for sale in this state shall be registered with the

 

director pursuant to this part. The registration shall be submitted

 

on a form provided by the director and shall be renewed annually

 

before July 1. The director shall not register a pesticide under

 

this part unless the registrant has paid all groundwater protection

 

fees and late fees required under part 87, registration fees under

 

this part, and any administrative fines imposed under this part.

 

     (2) A pesticide is considered distributed, sold, exposed, or

 

offered for sale in this state when the offer to sell either

 

originates within this state or is directed by the offeror to

 

persons in this state and received by those persons.

 

     (3) If a registrant distributes identical pesticides under

 

more than 1 brand name, or distributes more than 1 pesticide

 

formulation, each brand or formulation shall be registered as a

 


separate product.

 

     (4) A registrant shall not register a pesticide that contains

 

a substance that is required to be registered with the department

 

unless that substance is also registered with the department.

 

     (5) A pesticide registration applicant shall submit to the

 

director a complete copy of the pesticide labeling and the

 

following, in a format prescribed by the director:

 

     (a) The name and address of the applicant and the name and

 

address of the person whose name will appear on the label, if other

 

than the applicant.

 

     (b) The full product name of the pesticide and the EPA

 

registration number.

 

     (c) Other information considered necessary by the director.

 

     (6) The applicant shall submit a complete formula of the

 

pesticide proposed for registration, including the active and inert

 

ingredients, when requested by the director and necessary for the

 

director to execute his or her duties under this part. The director

 

shall not use any information relative to formulas of products,

 

trade secrets, or other information obtained under this part for

 

his or her own advantage or reveal such information, other than to

 

his or her authorized representative, the EPA, the department of

 

environmental quality natural resources, the department of

 

community health, a court of the state in response to a subpoena, a

 

licensed physician, or in an emergency to a pharmacist or other

 

persons qualified to administer antidotes.

 

     Sec. 8707. (1) The director, in conjunction with Michigan

 

state university extension and the Michigan state university

 


agricultural experiment station, and in cooperation with the United

 

States department of agriculture natural resources conservation

 

service, the department of environmental quality natural resources,

 

and other professional and industry organizations, shall develop

 

groundwater stewardship practices for approval by the commission of

 

agriculture and upon approval shall promote their implementation.

 

     (2) The director, in conjunction with Michigan state

 

university, the department of environmental quality natural

 

resources, and other persons the director considers appropriate,

 

shall develop a voluntary on-site evaluation system for pesticide

 

or nitrogen fertilizer use. The on-site evaluation system shall be

 

designed to do all of the following:

 

     (a) Provide persons with the ability to voluntarily determine

 

the relative groundwater impact potential posed by their use of

 

pesticides and nitrogen fertilizers.

 

     (b) Provide persons with the ability to determine the degree

 

to which operations are in accord with groundwater stewardship

 

practices and applicable groundwater protection rules.

 

     (c) Prioritize operational changes at the site level intended

 

to protect groundwater.

 

     (d) Guide persons to appropriate technical and educational

 

materials.

 

     (3) The director, in conjunction with the groundwater advisory

 

council, shall review and evaluate the effectiveness of groundwater

 

stewardship practices adopted under subsection (1).

 

     Sec. 8801. As used in this part:

 

     (a) "Department" means the department of environmental

 


quality.

 

     (a) (b) "Director" means the director of the department of

 

natural resources.

 

     (b) (c) "Fund" means the clean water fund created in section

 

8807.

 

     (c) (d) "Grant" means a nonpoint source pollution prevention

 

and control grant or a wellhead protection grant under this part.

 

     (d) (e) "Local unit of government" means a county, city,

 

village, or township, or an agency of a county, city, village, or

 

township; the office of a county drain commissioner; a soil

 

conservation district established under part 93; a watershed

 

council; a local health department as defined in section 1105 of

 

the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.1105; or an authority

 

or any other public body created by or pursuant to state law.

 

     (e) (f) "Nonpoint source pollution" means water pollution from

 

diffuse sources, including runoff from precipitation or snowmelt

 

contaminated through contact with pollutants in the soil or on

 

other surfaces and either infiltrating into the groundwater or

 

being discharged to surface waters, or runoff or wind causing

 

erosion of soil into surface waters.

 

     Sec. 9101. (1) "Agricultural practices" means all land farming

 

operations except the plowing or tilling of land for the purpose of

 

crop production or the harvesting of crops.

 

     (2) "Authorized public agency" means a state agency or an

 

agency of a local unit of government authorized under section 9110

 

to implement soil erosion and sedimentation control procedures with

 

regard to earth changes undertaken by it.

 


     (3) "Conservation district" means a conservation district

 

authorized under part 93.

 

     (4) "Consultant" means either of the following:

 

     (a) An individual who has a current certificate of training

 

under section 9123.

 

     (b) A person who employs 1 or more individuals who have

 

current certificates of training under section 9123.

 

     (5) "County agency" means an officer, board, commission,

 

department, or other entity of county government.

 

     (6) "County enforcing agency" means a county agency or a

 

conservation district designated by a county board of commissioners

 

under section 9105.

 

     (7) "County program" or "county's program" means a soil

 

erosion and sedimentation control program established under section

 

9105.

 

     (8) "Department" means the department of environmental

 

quality.

 

     (8) (9) "Earth change" means a human-made change in the

 

natural cover or topography of land, including cut and fill

 

activities, which may result in or contribute to soil erosion or

 

sedimentation of the waters of the state. Earth change does not

 

include the practice of plowing and tilling soil for the purpose of

 

crop production.

 

     (9) (10) "Gardening" means activities necessary to the growing

 

of plants for personal use, consumption, or enjoyment.

 

     (10) (11) "Local ordinance" means an ordinance enacted by a

 

local unit of government under this part providing for soil erosion

 


and sedimentation control.

 

     (11) (12) "Municipal enforcing agency" means an agency

 

designated by a municipality under section 9106 to enforce a local

 

ordinance.

 

     (12) (13) "Municipality" means any of the following:

 

     (a) A city.

 

     (b) A village.

 

     (c) A charter township.

 

     (d) A general law township that is located in a county with a

 

population of 200,000 or more.

 

     (13) (14) "Rules" means the rules promulgated pursuant to the

 

administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to

 

24.328.

 

     (14) (15) "Seawall maintenance" means an earth change activity

 

landward of the seawall.

 

     (15) (16) "Sediment" means solid particulate matter, including

 

both mineral and organic matter, that is in suspension in water, is

 

being transported, or has been removed from its site of origin by

 

the actions of wind, water, or gravity and has been deposited

 

elsewhere.

 

     (16) (17) "Soil erosion" means the wearing away of land by the

 

action of wind, water, gravity, or a combination of wind, water, or

 

gravity.

 

     (17) (18) "State agency" means a principal state department or

 

a state public university.

 

     (18) (19) "Violation of this part" or "violates this part"

 

means a violation of this part, the rules promulgated under this

 


part, a permit issued under this part, or a local ordinance enacted

 

under this part.

 

     (19) (20) "Waters of the state" means the Great Lakes and

 

their connecting waters, inland lakes and streams as defined in

 

rules promulgated under this part, and wetlands regulated under

 

part 303.

 

     Sec. 11503. (1) "De minimis" refers to a small amount of

 

material or number of items, as applicable, commingled and

 

incidentally disposed of with other solid waste.

 

     (2) "Department" means the department of environmental

 

quality.

 

     (3) "Director" means the director of the department.

 

     (2) (4) "Discharge" includes, but is not limited to, any

 

spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying,

 

discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing

 

of a substance into the environment which is or may become

 

injurious to the public health, safety, or welfare, or to the

 

environment.

 

     (3) (5) "Disposal area" means 1 or more of the following at a

 

location as defined by the boundary identified in its construction

 

permit or engineering plans approved by the department:

 

     (a) A solid waste transfer facility.

 

     (b) Incinerator.

 

     (c) Sanitary landfill.

 

     (d) Processing plant.

 

     (e) Other solid waste handling or disposal facility utilized

 

in the disposal of solid waste.

 


     (4) (6) "Enforceable mechanism" means a legal method whereby

 

the state, a county, a municipality, or another person is

 

authorized to take action to guarantee compliance with an approved

 

county solid waste management plan. Enforceable mechanisms include

 

contracts, intergovernmental agreements, laws, ordinances, rules,

 

and regulations.

 

     (5) (7) "Escrow account" means an account managed by a bank or

 

other financial institution whose account operations are regulated

 

and examined by a federal or state agency and which complies with

 

section 11523b.

 

     (6) (8) "Farm" means that term as defined in section 2 of the

 

Michigan right to farm act, 1981 PA 93, MCL 286.472.

 

     (7) (9) "Farm operation" means that term as defined in section

 

2 of the Michigan right to farm act, 1981 PA 93, MCL 286.472.

 

     (8) (10) "Financial assurance" means the mechanisms used to

 

demonstrate that the funds necessary to meet the cost of closure,

 

postclosure maintenance and monitoring, and corrective action will

 

be available whenever they are needed.

 

     (9) (11) "Financial test" means a corporate or local

 

government financial test or guarantee approved for type II

 

landfills under 42 USC 6941 to 6949a. An owner or operator may use

 

a single financial test for more than 1 facility. Information

 

submitted to the department to document compliance with the test

 

shall include a list showing the name and address of each facility

 

and the amount of funds assured by the test for each facility. For

 

purposes of the financial test, the owner or operator shall

 

aggregate the sum of the closure, postclosure, and corrective

 


action costs it seeks to assure with any other environmental

 

obligations assured by a financial test under state or federal law.

 

     (10) (12) "Food processing residuals" means any of the

 

following:

 

     (a) Residuals of fruits, vegetables, aquatic plants, or field

 

crops.

 

     (b) Otherwise unusable parts of fruits, vegetables, aquatic

 

plants, or field crops from the processing thereof.

 

     (c) Otherwise unusable food products which do not meet size,

 

quality, or other product specifications and which were intended

 

for human or animal consumption.

 

     (11) (13) "Garbage" means rejected food wastes including waste

 

accumulation of animal, fruit, or vegetable matter used or intended

 

for food or that results from the preparation, use, cooking,

 

dealing in, or storing of meat, fish, fowl, fruit, or vegetable

 

matter.

 

     (12) (14) "Scrap wood" means wood or wood product that is 1 or

 

more of the following:

 

     (a) Plywood, pressed board, oriented strand board, or any

 

other wood or wood product mixed with glue or filler.

 

     (b) Wood or wood product treated with creosote or

 

pentachlorophenol.

 

     (c) Any other wood or wood product designated as scrap wood in

 

rules promulgated by the department.

 

     (13) (15) "Treated wood" means wood or wood product that has

 

been treated with 1 or more of the following:

 

     (a) Chromated copper arsenate (CCA).

 


     (b) Ammoniacal copper quat (ACQ).

 

     (c) Ammoniacal copper zinc arsenate (ACZA).

 

     (d) Any other chemical designated in rules promulgated by the

 

department.

 

     (14) (16) "Wood" means trees, branches, bark, lumber, pallets,

 

wood chips, sawdust, or other wood or wood product but does not

 

include scrap wood, treated wood, painted wood or painted wood

 

product, or any wood or wood product that has been contaminated

 

during manufacture or use.

 

     Sec. 11701. As used in this part:

 

     (a) "Agricultural land" means land on which a food crop, a

 

feed crop, or a fiber crop is grown, including land used or

 

suitable for use as a range or pasture; a sod farm; or a Christmas

 

tree farm.

 

     (b) "Certified health department" means a city, county, or

 

district department of health certified under section 11716.

 

     (c) "Cesspool" means a cavity in the ground that receives

 

waste to be partially absorbed directly or indirectly by the

 

surrounding soil.

 

     (d) "Department" means the department of environmental quality

 

or its authorized agent.

 

     (e) "Director" means the director of the department of

 

environmental quality or his or her designee.

 

     (d) (f) "Domestic septage" means liquid or solid material

 

removed from a septic tank, cesspool, portable toilet, type III

 

marine sanitation device, or similar storage or treatment works

 

that receives only domestic sewage. Domestic septage does not

 


include liquid or solid material removed from a septic tank,

 

cesspool, or similar facility that receives either commercial

 

wastewater or industrial wastewater and does not include grease

 

removed from a grease interceptor, grease trap, or other

 

appurtenance used to retain grease or other fatty substances

 

contained in restaurant waste.

 

     (e) (g) "Domestic sewage" means waste and wastewater from

 

humans or household operations.

 

     (f) (h) "Domestic treatment plant septage" means biosolids

 

generated during the treatment of domestic sewage in a treatment

 

works and transported to a receiving facility or managed in

 

accordance with a residuals management program approved by the

 

department.

 

     (g) (i) "Food establishment septage" means material pumped

 

from a grease interceptor, grease trap, or other appurtenance used

 

to retain grease or other fatty substances contained in restaurant

 

wastes and which is blended into a uniform mixture, consisting of

 

not more than 1 part of that restaurant-derived material per 3

 

parts of domestic septage, prior to land application or disposed of

 

at a receiving facility.

 

     (h) (j) "Fund" means the septage waste program fund created in

 

section 11717.

 

     (i) (k) "Governmental unit" means a county, township,

 

municipality, or regional authority.

 

     (j) (l) "Incorporation" means the mechanical mixing of surface-

 

applied septage waste with the soil.

 

     (k) (m) "Injection" means the pressurized placement of septage

 


waste below the surface of soil.

 

     (l) (n) "Operating plan" means a plan developed by a receiving

 

facility for receiving septage waste that specifies at least all of

 

the following:

 

     (i) Categories of septage waste that the receiving facility

 

will receive.

 

     (ii) The receiving facility's service area.

 

     (iii) The hours of operation for receiving septage waste.

 

     (iv) Any other conditions for receiving septage waste

 

established by the receiving facility.

 

     (m) (o) "Pathogen" means a disease-causing agent. Pathogen

 

includes, but is not limited to, certain bacteria, protozoa,

 

viruses, and viable helminth ova.

 

     (n) (p) "Peace officer" means a sheriff or sheriff's deputy, a

 

village or township marshal, an officer of the police department of

 

any city, village, or township, any officer of the Michigan state

 

police, any peace officer who is trained and certified pursuant to

 

the commission on law enforcement standards act, 1965 PA 203, MCL

 

28.601 to 28.616, or any conservation officer appointed by the

 

department or the department of natural resources pursuant to

 

section 1606.

 

     (o) (q) "Portable toilet" means a receptacle for human waste

 

temporarily in a location for human use.

 

     (p) (r) "Receiving facility" means a structure that is

 

designed to receive septage waste for treatment at a wastewater

 

treatment plant or at a research, development, and demonstration

 

project authorized under section 11511b to which the structure is

 


directly connected, and that is available for that purpose as

 

provided for in an ordinance of the local unit of government where

 

the structure is located or in an operating plan. Receiving

 

facility does not include either of the following:

 

     (i) A septic tank.

 

     (ii) A structure or a wastewater treatment plant at which the

 

disposal of septage waste is prohibited by order of the department

 

under section 11708 or 11715b.

 

     (q) (s) "Receiving facility service area" or "service area"

 

means the territory for which a receiving facility has the capacity

 

and is available to receive and treat septage waste, subject to the

 

following:

 

     (i) Beginning October 12, 2005 and before the 2011 state fiscal

 

year, the geographic service area of a receiving facility shall not

 

extend more than 15 radial miles from the receiving facility.

 

     (ii) After the 2010 state fiscal year, the geographic service

 

area of a receiving facility shall not extend more than 25 radial

 

miles from the receiving facility.

 

     (r) (t) "Sanitary sewer cleanout septage" means sanitary

 

sewage or cleanout residue removed from a separate sanitary sewer

 

collection system that is not land applied and that is transported

 

by a vehicle licensed under this part elsewhere within the same

 

system or to a receiving facility that is approved by the

 

department.

 

     (s) (u) "Septage waste" means the fluid mixture of untreated

 

and partially treated sewage solids, liquids, and sludge of human

 

or domestic origin that is removed from a wastewater system.

 


Septage waste consists only of food establishment septage, domestic

 

septage, domestic treatment plant septage, or sanitary sewer

 

cleanout septage, or any combination of these.

 

     (t) (v) "Septage waste servicing license" means a septage

 

waste servicing license as provided for under sections 11703 and

 

11706.

 

     (u) (w) "Septage waste vehicle" means a vehicle that is self-

 

propelled or towed and that includes a tank used to transport

 

septage waste. Septage waste vehicle does not include an implement

 

of husbandry as defined in section 21 of the Michigan vehicle code,

 

1949 PA 300, MCL 257.21.

 

     (v) (x) "Septage waste vehicle license" means a septage waste

 

vehicle license as provided for under sections 11704 and 11706.

 

     (w) (y) "Septic tank" means a septic toilet, chemical closet,

 

or other enclosure used for the decomposition of domestic sewage.

 

     (x) (z) "Service" or "servicing" means cleaning, removing,

 

transporting, or disposing, by application to land or otherwise, of

 

septage waste.

 

     (y) (aa) "Site" means a location or locations on a parcel or

 

tract, as those terms are defined in section 102 of the land

 

division act, 1967 PA 288, MCL 560.102, proposed or used for the

 

disposal of septage waste on land.

 

     (z) (bb) "Site permit" means a permit issued under section

 

11709 authorizing the application of septage waste to a site.

 

     (aa) (cc) "Storage facility" means a structure that receives

 

septage waste for storage but not for treatment.

 

     (bb) (dd) "Tank" means an enclosed container placed on a

 


septage waste vehicle to carry or transport septage waste.

 

     (cc) (ee) "Type I public water supply", "type IIa public water

 

supply", "type IIb public water supply", and "type III public water

 

supply" mean those terms, respectively, as described in R 325.10502

 

of the Michigan administrative code.

 

     (dd) (ff) "Type III marine sanitation device" means that term

 

as defined in 33 CFR 159.3.

 

     Sec. 11715d. (1) Within 60 days after the effective date of

 

the amendatory act that added this section, the department shall

 

convene an advisory committee to make recommendations on septage

 

waste storage facility management practices, including, but not

 

limited to, storage facility inspections. The advisory committee

 

shall include at least all of the following:

 

     (a) A storage facility operator.

 

     (b) A receiving facility operator.

 

     (c) A generator of septage waste.

 

     (d) A representative of township government.

 

     (e) A representative of an environmental protection

 

organization.

 

     (f) A licensed Michigan septage waste hauler.

 

     (2) Within 18 months after the effective date of this section,

 

the

 

     (1) The department shall establish generally accepted septage

 

storage facility management practices and post the management

 

practices on the department's website.

 

     (2) (3) A person shall not construct a septage waste storage

 

facility without written approval from the department.

 


     Sec. 12101. As used in this part:

 

     (a) "Biofuel" means any renewable liquid or gas fuel offered

 

for sale as a fuel that is derived from recently living organisms

 

or their metabolic by-products and meets applicable quality

 

standards, including, but not limited to, ethanol, ethanol-blended

 

fuel, biodiesel, and biodiesel blends.

 

     (b) "Biogas" means a biofuel that is a gas.

 

     (c) "Brine" means a liquid produced as a by-product of oil or

 

natural gas production or exploration.

 

     (d) "Container" means any portable device in which a liquid

 

industrial waste is stored, transported, treated, or otherwise

 

handled.

 

     (e) "Department" means the department of environmental

 

quality.

 

     (e) (f) "Designated facility" means a treatment facility,

 

storage facility, disposal facility, or reclamation facility that

 

receives liquid industrial waste from off-site.

 

     (g) "Director" means the director of the department.

 

     (f) (h) "Discarded" means any of the following:

 

     (i) Abandoned by being disposed of, burned, or incinerated; or

 

accumulated, stored, or treated before, or instead of, being

 

abandoned.

 

     (ii) Accumulated, stored, or treated before being managed in 1

 

of the following ways:

 

     (A) By being used or reused in a manner constituting disposal

 

by being applied to or placed on land or by being used to produce

 

products that are applied to or placed on land.

 


     (B) By being burned to recover energy or used to produce a

 

fuel.

 

     (C) By reclamation.

 

     (g) (i) "Discharge" means the accidental or intentional

 

spilling, leaking, pumping, releasing, pouring, emitting, emptying,

 

or dumping of liquid industrial waste into the land, air, or water.

 

     (h) (j) "Disposal" means the abandonment, discharge, deposit,

 

injection, dumping, spilling, leaking, or placing of a liquid

 

industrial waste into or on land or water in such a manner that the

 

liquid industrial waste may enter the environment, or be emitted

 

into the air, or discharged into surface water or groundwater.

 

     (i) (k) "Disposal facility" means a facility or a part of a

 

facility at which liquid industrial waste is disposed.

 

     (j) (l) "Facility" means all contiguous land and structures,

 

other appurtenances, and improvements on land for treating,

 

storing, disposing of, or reclamation of liquid industrial waste.

 

     (k) (m) "Generator" means a person whose act or process

 

produces liquid industrial waste.

 

     (l) (n) "Liquid industrial waste" means any brine, by-product,

 

industrial wastewater, leachate, off-specification commercial

 

chemical product, sludge, sanitary sewer clean-out residue, storm

 

sewer clean-out residue, grease trap clean-out residue, spill

 

residue, used oil, or other liquid waste that is produced by, is

 

incident to, or results from industrial, commercial, or

 

governmental activity or any other activity or enterprise

 

determined to be liquid by method 9095 (paint filter liquids test)

 

as described in "Test methods for evaluating solid wastes,

 


physical/chemical methods," United States environmental protection

 

agency publication no. SW-846, and which is discarded. Liquid

 

industrial waste does not include any of the following:

 

     (i) Hazardous waste regulated and required to be manifested

 

under part 111.

 

     (ii) Septage waste regulated under part 117.

 

     (iii) Medical waste regulated under part 138 of the public

 

health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.13801 to 333.13831.

 

     (iv) A discharge to the waters of the state in accordance with

 

a permit, order, or rule under part 31.

 

     (v) A liquid generated by a household.

 

     (vi) A liquid regulated under 1982 PA 239, MCL 287.651 to

 

287.683.

 

     (vii) Material managed in accordance with section 12102a.

 

     Sec. 14301. As used in this part:

 

     (a) "Department" means the department of environmental

 

quality.

 

     (a) (b) "Environmental wastes" means all environmental

 

pollutants, wastes, discharges, and emissions, regardless of how

 

they are regulated and regardless of whether they are released to

 

the general environment or the workplace environment.

 

     (b) (c) "Pollution prevention" means all of the following:

 

     (i) "Source reduction" as defined in the pollution prevention

 

act of 1990, subtitle G of title VI of the omnibus budget

 

reconciliation act of 1990, Public Law 101-508, 42 U.S.C. USC 13101

 

to 13109.

 

     (ii) "Pollution prevention" as described in the United States

 


environmental protection agency's pollution prevention statement

 

dated June 15, 1993.

 

     (iii) Environmentally sound on-site or off-site reuse or

 

recycling.

 

     Sec. 14501. As used in this part:

 

     (a) "Agricultural biomass" means residue and waste generated

 

on a farm or by farm co-operative members from the production and

 

processing of agricultural products, animal wastes, food processing

 

wastes, or other materials as approved by the director.

 

     (b) "Department" means the department of environmental

 

quality.

 

     (c) "Director" means the director of the department of

 

environmental quality.

 

     (b) (d) "Eligible farmer or agricultural processor" means a

 

person who processes agricultural products or a person who is

 

engaged as an owner-operator of a farm in the production of

 

agricultural goods as defined by section 35(1)(h) of the former

 

single business tax act, 1975 PA 228, or by section 207(1)(d) of

 

the Michigan business tax act, 2007 PA 36, MCL 208.1207.

 

     (c) (e) "Environmental wastes" means all environmental

 

pollutants, wastes, discharges, and emissions, regardless of how

 

they are regulated and regardless of whether they are released to

 

the general environment or the workplace environment.

 

     (d) (f) "Pollution prevention" means all of the following:

 

     (i) "Source reduction" as defined in 42 USC 13102.

 

     (ii) "Pollution prevention" as described in the United States

 

environmental protection agency's pollution prevention statement

 


dated June 15, 1993.

 

     (iii) Environmentally sound on-site or off-site reuse or

 

recycling including, but not limited to, the use of agricultural

 

biomass by qualified agricultural energy production systems.

 

     (e) (g) "Qualified agricultural energy production system"

 

means the structures, equipment, and apparatus to be used to

 

produce a gaseous fuel from the noncombustive decomposition of

 

agricultural biomass and the apparatus and equipment used to

 

generate electricity or heat from the gaseous fuel or store the

 

gaseous fuel for future generation of electricity or heat.

 

Qualified agricultural energy production system may include, but is

 

not limited to, a methane digester, biomass gasification

 

technology, or thermal depolymerization technology.

 

     (f) (h) "RETAP" means the retired engineers technical

 

assistance program created in section 14511.

 

     (g) (i) "Retap "RETAP fund" means the retired engineers

 

technical assistance program fund created in section 14512.

 

     (h) (j) "Small business" means a business that is not dominant

 

in its field as described in 13 CFR part 121 and meets both of the

 

following requirements:

 

     (i) Is independently owned or operated, by a person that

 

employs 500 or fewer individuals.

 

     (ii) Is a small business concern as defined in 15 USC 632.

 

     Sec. 14701. As used in this subpart:

 

     (a) "Department" means the department of environmental

 

quality.

 

     (a) (b) "PCB" means the class of chlorinated biphenyl,

 


terphenyl, higher polyphenyl, or mixtures of these compounds

 

produced by replacing 2 or more hydrogen atoms on the biphenyl,

 

terphenyl, or higher polyphenyl molecule with chlorine atoms. PCB

 

does not include chlorinated biphenyls, terphenyls, higher

 

polyphenyls, or mixtures of these compounds that have functional

 

groups attached other than chlorine unless that functional group on

 

the chlorinated biphenyls, terphenyls, higher polyphenyls, or

 

mixtures of these compounds is determined to be dangerous to the

 

public health, safety, and welfare under section 14703.

 

     (b) (c) "Ppm" means parts per million.

 

     Sec. 14721. (1) As used in this subpart:

 

     (a) "Department" means the department of environmental

 

quality.

 

     (a) (b) "Octa-BDE" means octabromodiphenyl ether.

 

     (b) (c) "PBDE" means polybrominated diphenyl ether.

 

     (c) (d) "Penta-BDE" means pentabromodiphenyl ether.

 

     (2) This subpart may be cited as the "Mary Beth Doyle PBDE

 

act".

 

     Sec. 14802. (1) The owner or operator of a facility, or an

 

employee or agent of the owner or operator on behalf of the owner

 

or operator, at any time may conduct an environmental audit and may

 

create an environmental audit report.

 

     (2) Except as provided in subsection (3), an environmental

 

audit report created pursuant to this part is privileged and

 

protected from disclosure under this part.

 

     (3) The privilege described in subsection (2) does not extend

 

to any of the following regardless of whether or not they are

 


included within an environmental audit report:

 

     (a) Documents, communication, data, reports, or other

 

information required to be collected, maintained, or made available

 

or reported to a regulatory agency or any other person by statute,

 

rule, ordinance, permit, order, consent agreement, or as otherwise

 

provided by law.

 

     (b) Information obtained by observation, sampling, or

 

monitoring by any regulatory agency.

 

     (c) Pretreatment monitoring results which a publicly owned

 

treatment works or control authority requires any industrial user

 

to report to a publicly owned treatment works or control authority,

 

including, but not limited to, results establishing a violation of

 

the industrial user's discharge permit or applicable local

 

ordinance.

 

     (d) Information legally obtained from a source independent of

 

the environmental audit or from a person who did not obtain the

 

information from the environmental audit.

 

     (e) Machinery and equipment maintenance records.

 

     (f) Information in instances where the privilege is asserted

 

for a fraudulent purpose.

 

     (g) Information in instances where the material shows evidence

 

of noncompliance with state, federal, regional, or local

 

environmental laws, permits, consent agreements, regulations,

 

ordinances, or orders and the owner or operator failed to either

 

take prompt corrective action or eliminate any violation of law

 

identified during the environmental audit within a reasonable time,

 

but not exceeding 3 years after discovery of the noncompliance or

 


violation unless a longer period of time is set forth in a schedule

 

of compliance in an order issued by the department, of

 

environmental quality, after notice in the department's calendar,

 

and following the department's determination that acceptable

 

progress is being made.

 

     (4) Except as otherwise provided in this part, a person who

 

conducts an environmental audit and a person to whom the

 

environmental audit results are disclosed shall not be compelled to

 

testify regarding any information obtained solely through the

 

environmental audit which is a privileged portion of the

 

environmental audit report. Except as otherwise provided in this

 

part, the privileged portions of an environmental audit report are

 

not subject to discovery and are not admissible as evidence in any

 

civil or administrative proceeding.

 

     Sec. 14804. (1) A request by state or local law enforcement

 

authorities for disclosure of an environmental audit report shall

 

be made by a written request delivered by certified mail or a

 

demand by lawful subpoena. Within 30 business days after receipt of

 

a request for disclosure or subpoena, the person asserting the

 

privilege may make a written objection to the disclosure of the

 

environmental audit report on the basis that the environmental

 

audit report is privileged. Upon receipt of such an objection, the

 

state or local law enforcement authorities may file with the

 

circuit court, and serve upon the person, a petition requesting an

 

in camera hearing on whether the environmental audit report or

 

portions of the environmental audit report are privileged or

 

subject to disclosure. The motion shall be brought in camera and

 


under seal. The circuit court has jurisdiction over a petition

 

filed under this subsection requesting a hearing. Failure of the

 

person asserting the privilege to make an objection to disclosure

 

waives the privilege as to that person.

 

     (2) Upon the filing of a petition for an in camera hearing

 

under subsection (1), the person asserting the privilege in

 

response to a request for disclosure or subpoena under this section

 

shall provide a copy of the environmental audit report to the court

 

and shall demonstrate in the in camera hearing all of the

 

following:

 

     (a) The year the environmental audit report was prepared.

 

     (b) The identity of the person conducting the audit.

 

     (c) The name of the audited facility or facilities.

 

     (d) A brief description of the portion or portions of the

 

environmental audit report for which privilege is claimed.

 

     (3) Upon the filing of a petition for an in camera hearing

 

under subsection (1), the court shall issue an order under seal

 

scheduling, within 45 days after the filing of the petition, an in

 

camera hearing to determine whether the environmental audit report

 

or portions of the environmental audit report are privileged or

 

subject to disclosure. The counsel for the state or local law

 

enforcement agency seeking disclosure of the information contained

 

in the environmental audit report and the counsel for the person

 

asserting the privilege shall participate in the in camera hearing

 

but shall not disclose the contents of the environmental audit

 

report for which privilege is claimed unless the court so orders.

 

     (4) The court, after in camera review, shall require

 


disclosure of material for which privilege is asserted, if the

 

court determines that either of the following exists:

 

     (a) The privilege is asserted for a fraudulent purpose.

 

     (b) Even if subject to the privilege, the material shows

 

evidence of noncompliance with state, federal, regional, or local

 

environmental laws, permits, consent agreements, regulations,

 

ordinances, or orders and the owner or operator failed to either

 

take prompt corrective action or eliminate any violation of law

 

identified during the environmental audit within a reasonable time,

 

but not exceeding 3 years after discovery of the noncompliance or

 

violation unless a longer period of time is set forth in a schedule

 

of compliance in an order issued by the department, of

 

environmental quality, after notice in the department's calendar,

 

and following the department's determination that acceptable

 

progress is being made.

 

     (5) The court, after in camera review, shall require

 

disclosure of material for which privilege is asserted if the court

 

determines that the material is not subject to the privilege.

 

     (6) If the court determines under this section that the

 

material is not privileged, but the party asserting the privilege

 

files an application for leave to appeal of this finding, the

 

material, motions, and pleadings shall be disclosed unless the

 

court specifically determines that all or a portion of such

 

information shall be kept under seal during the pendency of the

 

appeal.

 

     Sec. 14810. (1) The department of environmental quality shall

 

establish and maintain a data base of the voluntary disclosures

 


made under this part. The data base shall include the number of

 

voluntary disclosures made on an annual basis and shall summarize

 

in general categories the types of violations and the time needed

 

to achieve compliance. The department of environmental quality

 

shall annually publish a report containing the information in this

 

data base.

 

     (2) Within 5 years after the effective date of this part, the

 

department of environmental quality shall prepare and submit to the

 

standing committees of the legislature with jurisdiction over

 

issues pertaining to natural resources and the environment a report

 

evaluating the effectiveness of this part and specifically

 

detailing whether this part has been effective in encouraging the

 

use of environmental audits and in identifying and correcting

 

environmental problems and conditions.

 

     Sec. 16901. (1) As used in this part:

 

     (a) "Abandoned scrap tires" means an accumulation of scrap

 

tires on property where the property owner is not responsible in

 

whole or in part for the accumulation of the scrap tires. For the

 

purposes of this subdivision, an owner who purchased or willingly

 

took possession of an existing scrap tire collection site shall be

 

considered by the department to be responsible in whole or in part

 

for the accumulation of the scrap tires.

 

     (b) "Automotive recycler" means that term as defined in

 

section 2a of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.2a.

 

     (c) "Bond" means a performance bond from a surety company

 

authorized to transact business in this state, a certificate of

 

deposit, a cash bond, or an irrevocable letter of credit, in favor

 


of the department.

 

     (d) "Collection site" means a site, other than a disposal area

 

licensed under part 115, a racecourse, or a feed storage location,

 

consisting of a parcel or adjacent parcels of real property where

 

any of the following are accumulated:

 

     (i) 500 or more scrap tires. This subparagraph does not apply

 

if that property is owned or leased by and associated with the

 

operations of a retailer or automotive recycler or a commercial

 

contractor as described in subparagraph (iv).

 

     (ii) 1,500 or more scrap tires if that property is owned or

 

leased by and associated with the operations of a retailer. This

 

subparagraph does not apply if the site is owned or leased by and

 

associated with the operations of an automotive recycler.

 

     (iii) 2,500 or more scrap tires if that property is owned or

 

leased by and associated with the operations of an automotive

 

recycler.

 

     (iv) More than 150 cubic yards of tire chips if that property

 

is owned or leased by and associated with the operations of a

 

commercial contractor that is authorized to use the tire chips as

 

an aggregate replacement in a manner approved by a designation of

 

inertness for scrap tires or is otherwise authorized for such use

 

by the department under part 115.

 

     (e) "Commodity" means crumb rubber, tire chips, a ring or slab

 

cut from a tire for use as a weight, or a product die-cut or

 

punched from a tire, or any other product that, as determined by

 

the department based on the product's production cost and value, is

 

not likely to result in an accumulation, at the site of production

 


or use, that poses a threat to public health or the environment. A

 

product is not a commodity unless it meets published national

 

standards or specifications that the department determines are

 

relevant to accomplishing the purposes of this part.

 

     (f) "Commodity storage area" means 1 or more locations within

 

a collection site where a commodity is stored.

 

     (g) "Crumb rubber" means rubber material derived from tires

 

that is less than 1/8 inch by 1/8 inch in size and is free of steel

 

and fiber.

 

     (h) "Department" means the department of environmental

 

quality.

 

     (h) (i) "End-user" means any of the following:

 

     (i) A person who possesses a permit to burn tires under part

 

55.

 

     (ii) The owner or operator of a landfill that is authorized

 

under the landfill's operating license to use scrap tires.

 

     (iii) A person who uses a commodity to make a product that is

 

sold in the market.

 

     (iv) A person who is authorized by this part to accumulate

 

scrap tires, who acquires scrap tires, and who converts scrap tires

 

into a product that is sold in the market or reused in a manner

 

authorized by this part.

 

     (i) (j) "Farm" means that term as defined in section 2 of the

 

Michigan right to farm act, 1981 PA 93, MCL 286.472.

 

     (j) (k) "Farm operation" means that term as defined in section

 

2 of the Michigan right to farm act, 1981 PA 93, MCL 286.472.

 

     (k) (l) "Feed storage location" means a location on 1 or more

 


parcels of adjacent real property containing a farm operation where

 

not more than 3,000 scrap tires are used to secure stored feed.

 

     (l) (m) "Fund" means the scrap tire regulatory fund created in

 

section 16908.

 

     (m) (n) "Landfill" means a landfill as defined in section

 

11504 that is licensed under part 115.

 

     (n) (o) "Outdoor" or "outdoors" means in a place other than a

 

building or covered vehicle.

 

     (o) (p) "Portable shredding operation" means a person who

 

operates scrap tire shredding equipment, which produces a commodity

 

or tire shreds, if the shredding equipment can be moved from site

 

to site.

 

     (p) (q) "Racecourse" means a commercially operated track for

 

go-carts, vehicles, off-road recreational vehicles, or motorcycles

 

that uses not more than 3,000 scrap tires for bumpers along the

 

track for safety purposes.

 

     (q) (r) "Retailer" means a person who sells or offers for sale

 

new, retreaded, or remanufactured tires to consumers in this state.

 

     (r) (s) "Retreader" means a person who retreads, recases, or

 

recaps tire casings for reuse.

 

     (s) (t) "Scrap tire" means a tire that is no longer being used

 

for its original intended purpose including, but not limited to, a

 

used tire, a reusable tire casing, or portions of a tire. Scrap

 

tire does not include a vehicle support stand.

 

     (t) (u) "Scrap tire hauler" means a person who transports more

 

than 7 scrap tires at once in a vehicle on a public road or street.

 

Scrap tire hauler does not include any of the following:

 


     (i) A person who is transporting his or her own tires to a

 

location authorized in section 16902(1).

 

     (ii) A member of a nonprofit service organization who is

 

participating in a community service project and is transporting

 

scrap tires to a location authorized in section 16902(1).

 

     (iii) The owner of a farm who is transporting only scrap tires

 

that originated from his or her farm operation, to a location

 

authorized in section 16902(1), or that are intended for use in a

 

feed storage location.

 

     (iv) A solid waste hauler that is transporting solid waste to a

 

disposal area licensed under part 115.

 

     (v) A person who is transporting only a commodity.

 

     (vi) A retreader.

 

     (u) (v) "Scrap tire processor" means either of the following:

 

     (i) A person who is authorized by this part to accumulate scrap

 

tires and is engaged in the business of buying or otherwise

 

acquiring scrap tires and reducing their volume by shredding or

 

otherwise facilitating recycling or resource recovery techniques

 

for scrap tires.

 

     (ii) A portable shredding operation.

 

     (v) (w) "Solid waste hauler" means a solid waste hauler as

 

defined in part 115 who transports less than 25% by weight or

 

volume of scrap tires along with other solid waste in any truckload

 

to a disposal area licensed under part 115.

 

     (w) (x) "Tire" means a continuous solid or pneumatic rubber

 

covering encircling the wheel of a tractor or other farm machinery

 

or of a vehicle.

 


     (x) (y) "Tire chip" means a portion of a tire that is any of

 

the following:

 

     (i) Not more than 2 inches by 2 inches in size and meets

 

requirements for size, metal content, and cleanliness as specified

 

in an executed contract for delivery of the material by the scrap

 

tire processor.

 

     (ii) Not more than 3/8 inch by 3/8 inch in size and

 

sufficiently free from steel to be used in the construction and

 

modification of sports surfaces such as golf course turf, athletic

 

field turf, athletic tracks, hiking surfaces, livestock show arena

 

surfaces, and playgrounds.

 

     (iii) To be used in a drain field approved under a district or

 

county sanitary code.

 

     (iv) To be used as ground cover or mulch, if, in aggregate, 95%

 

of the material is equal to or less than 3/4 inch in size in any

 

dimension and the material contains less than 1% by weight or

 

volume of steel and fiber.

 

     (v) Approved by the department for use at a landfill as daily

 

cover or a leachate collection system protective layer or for

 

access road construction within a lined cell.

 

     (y) (z) "Tire shred" means a portion of a tire that is not a

 

commodity.

 

     (z) (aa) "Tire storage area" means a location within a

 

collection site where tires are accumulated.

 

     (aa) (bb) "Vehicle" means a device in, upon, or by which a

 

person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a

 

highway. Vehicle does not include a device that is exclusively

 


moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or

 

tracks or a mobile home as defined in section 2 of the mobile home

 

commission act, 1987 PA 96, MCL 125.2302.

 

     (bb) (cc) "Vehicle support stand" means equipment used to

 

support a stationary vehicle consisting of an inflated tire and

 

wheel that is attached to another wheel.

 

     (2) A reference in this part to a number of scrap tires means

 

either of the following, or an equivalent combination thereof:

 

     (a) That number of whole tires or reusable tire casings.

 

     (b) A quantity of a commodity or tire shreds equivalent in

 

weight to that number of whole tires.

 

     Sec. 16903. (1) A person who owns or operates a collection

 

site where less than 2,500 scrap tires are accumulated outdoors

 

shall comply with all of the following:

 

     (a) Scrap tires shall be stored in the tire storage area

 

identified on the scrap tire collection site registration

 

application map and approved by the department.

 

     (b) Only scrap tires shall be accumulated in the tire storage

 

area.

 

     (c) Subject to subdivision (f), the scrap tires shall be

 

accumulated in piles no greater than 15 feet in height with

 

horizontal dimensions no greater than 200 by 40 feet.

 

     (d) Subject to subdivision (f), the scrap tires shall not be

 

within 20 feet of the property line or within 60 feet of a building

 

or structure.

 

     (e) Subject to subdivision (f), there shall be a minimum

 

separation of 30 feet between scrap tire piles. The open space

 


between the piles shall at all times be free of rubbish, equipment,

 

and other materials.

 

     (f) Scrap tire piles shall be accessible to fire fighting

 

equipment. If the requirement of this subdivision is met, the local

 

fire department that serves the jurisdiction in which the

 

collection site is located may grant a variance from the

 

requirements of subdivisions (c), (d), and (e). A variance under

 

this subsection shall be in writing.

 

     (g) Scrap tires shall be isolated from other stored materials

 

that may create hazardous products if there is a fire, including,

 

but not limited to, lead acid batteries, fuel tanks, solvent

 

barrels, and pesticide containers.

 

     (h) Except for scrap tires that are a commodity used to create

 

a storage pad for, or a roadway for access to, other scrap tires

 

that are also a commodity, scrap tires shall not be placed in the

 

open spaces between tire piles or used to construct on-site roads.

 

     (i) The owner or operator of the collection site shall allow

 

the local fire department that serves the jurisdiction in which the

 

collection site is located to inspect the collection site at any

 

reasonable time.

 

     (j) All persons employed to work at the collection site shall

 

be trained in emergency response operations. The owner or operator

 

of the collection site shall maintain training records and shall

 

make these records available to the local fire department that

 

serves the jurisdiction in which the collection site is located.

 

     (2) A person who owns or operates a collection site where at

 

least 2,500 but less than 100,000 scrap tires are accumulated

 


outdoors shall comply with all of the following:

 

     (a) All of the requirements of subsection (1).

 

     (b) The tire storage area shall be completely enclosed with a

 

fence that is at least 6 feet tall with lockable gates and that is

 

designed to prevent easy access.

 

     (c) An earthen berm not less than 5 feet in height shall

 

completely enclose the tire storage area except to allow for

 

necessary ingress and egress from roadways and buildings.

 

     (d) The collection site shall contain sufficient drainage so

 

that water does not pool or collect on the property.

 

     (e) The approach road to the tire storage area and on-site

 

access roads to the tire storage area shall be of all-weather

 

construction and maintained in good condition and free of debris

 

and equipment so that it is passable at all times for fire fighting

 

and other emergency vehicles. If the local fire department for the

 

jurisdiction where the collection site is located submits to the

 

department a written determination that the on-site access roads do

 

not ensure that the site is accessible to emergency vehicles at all

 

times during the year, the department of environmental quality

 

shall consider the on-site access roads to be in violation of this

 

requirement.

 

     (f) Tire storage areas shall be mowed regularly or otherwise

 

kept free of weeds, vegetation, and other growth at all times.

 

     (g) An emergency procedures plan shall be prepared and

 

displayed at the collection site. The plan shall include telephone

 

numbers of the local fire and police departments. The plan shall be

 

reviewed by the local fire department prior to being posted.

 


     (h) Scrap tires shall not be accumulated in excess of 10,000

 

cubic yards of scrap tires per acre.

 

     (3) A person who owns or operates a collection site where

 

100,000 or more scrap tires are accumulated outdoors shall comply

 

with all of the requirements of subsections (1) and (2) and that

 

person shall operate as a scrap tire processor.

 

     (4) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) and section

 

16903b, a person who owns a collection site shall maintain a bond

 

in favor of the department. The amount of the bond shall be not

 

less than the sum of $25,000.00 per quarter acre, or fraction

 

thereof, of outdoor tire storage area, and $2.00 per square foot of

 

tire storage area in a building. However, for collection sites with

 

fewer than 2,500 tires, the bond shall not exceed $2,500.00. A

 

person who elects to use a certificate of deposit as bond shall

 

receive any accrued interest on that certificate of deposit upon

 

release of the bond by the department. A person who elects to post

 

cash as bond shall accrue interest on that bond at the annual rate

 

of 6%, to be accrued quarterly, except that the interest rate

 

payable to an applicant shall not exceed the rate of interest

 

accrued on the state common cash fund for the quarter in which an

 

accrual is determined. Interest shall be paid to the applicant upon

 

release of the bond by the department. Any interest greater than 6%

 

shall be deposited into the fund. The department may utilize a bond

 

required under this subsection for removing scrap tires from a

 

collection site, for other costs of cleanup at the collection site,

 

and for costs of fire suppression and costs associated with

 

responding to a fire or an emergency at a collection site, if there

 


is an emergency at the collection site, if the collection site

 

owner becomes insolvent, or if the owner or operator of the

 

collection site fails to comply with the requirements of this

 

section and does not cause the removal of the tires at the

 

direction of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

     (5) A bond is not required under subsection (4) for a

 

commodity storage area that meets all of the following

 

requirements:

 

     (a) The commodity is stored in accordance with the

 

requirements of subsection (1).

 

     (b) Not less than 75% of the commodity, by weight or volume,

 

that is stored at the collection site each calendar year is removed

 

from the collection site to a market during that year, and the

 

collection site owner or operator certifies compliance with this

 

subparagraph on a form approved by the department.

 

     (c) The areas of the collection site that are used for storage

 

of the commodity are not larger than a total of 1 acre and those

 

areas are indicated on a survey by a registered professional

 

engineer submitted to the department as part of the collection site

 

registration.

 

     Sec. 16903a. The department of environmental quality shall

 

prepare and implement a statewide response plan for responding to

 

fires at collection sites.

 

     Sec. 16908a. The department of environmental quality shall

 

assist owners and operators of collection sites and scrap tire

 

processors in this state in developing markets for scrap tires.

 

     Sec. 17203. (1) The department of environmental quality shall

 


enforce this part.

 

     (2) A person who violates this part is guilty of a misdemeanor

 

punishable by imprisonment for not more than 60 days or a fine of

 

not more than $1,000.00, or both, plus the costs of prosecution.

 

     Sec. 17301. As used in this part:

 

     (a) "Collector" means a person who receives covered electronic

 

devices from consumers and arranges for the delivery of the covered

 

electronic devices to a recycler.

 

     (b) "Computer" means a desktop personal computer or laptop

 

computer, a computer monitor, or beginning April 1, 2011, a

 

printer. Computer does not include any of the following:

 

     (i) A personal digital assistant device or mobile telephone.

 

     (ii) A computer peripheral device, including a mouse or other

 

similar pointing device, or a detachable or wireless keyboard.

 

     (c) "Computer takeback program" means a program required under

 

section 17305(c).

 

     (d) "Consumer" means a person who used a covered electronic

 

device primarily for personal or small business purposes in this

 

state.

 

     (e) "Covered computer" means a computer that was or will be

 

used primarily for personal or small business purposes in this

 

state. Covered computer does not include a device that is

 

functionally or physically a part of, or connected to, or

 

integrated within a larger piece of equipment or system designed

 

and intended for use in an industrial, governmental, commercial,

 

research and development, or medical setting, including, but not

 

limited to, diagnostic, monitoring, or control products, medical

 


products approved under the federal food, drug, and cosmetic act,

 

21 USC 301 to 399, equipment used for security, sensing,

 

monitoring, antiterrorism, or emergency services purposes, or

 

equipment designed and intended primarily for use by professional

 

users.

 

     (f) "Covered electronic device" means a covered computer or

 

covered video display device.

 

     (g) "Covered video display device" means a video display

 

device that was or will be used primarily for personal or small

 

business purposes in this state. Covered video display device does

 

not include a device that is functionally or physically a part of,

 

or connected to, or integrated within a larger piece of equipment

 

or system designed and intended for transportation or use in an

 

industrial, governmental, commercial, research and development, or

 

medical setting, including, but not limited to, diagnostic,

 

monitoring, or control products, medical products approved under

 

the federal food, drug, and cosmetic act, 21 USC 301 to 399,

 

equipment used for security, sensing, monitoring, antiterrorism, or

 

emergency services purposes, or equipment designed and intended

 

primarily for use by professional users.

 

     (h) "Department" means the department of environmental

 

quality.

 

     (h) (i) "Electronic device takeback program" or "takeback

 

program" means a computer takeback program or a video display

 

device takeback program.

 

     (i) (j) "Manufacturer", subject to subdivision (k) (j), means

 

any of the following:

 


     (i) The person who owns the brand with which a covered computer

 

is labeled.

 

     (ii) The person who owns or is licensed to use the brand with

 

which a covered video display device is labeled.

 

     (iii) If the brand owner does not do business in the United

 

States, the person on whose account a covered electronic device was

 

imported into the United States.

 

     (iv) A person who contractually assumes the responsibilities

 

and obligations of a person described under subparagraph (i), (ii),

 

or (iii).

 

     (j) (k) Manufacturer does not include a person unless the

 

person manufactured, sold, or imported more than 50 covered

 

computers in 2000 or any subsequent calendar year or more than 50

 

covered video display devices in the previous calendar year.

 

     (k) (l) "Printer" means a printer or a multifunction or "all-

 

in-one" device that in addition to printing performs 1 or more

 

other operations such as copying, scanning, or faxing, that is

 

designed to be placed on a desk or other work surface, and that may

 

use any of various print technologies, such as laser and LED

 

(electrographic), ink jet, dot matrix, thermal, or digital

 

sublimation. Printer does not include a floor-standing printer, a

 

printer with an optional floor stand, a point of sale (POS) receipt

 

printer, a household printer such as a calculator with printing

 

capabilities or a label maker, or a non-stand-alone printer that is

 

embedded into a product other than a covered computer.

 

     (l) (m) "Recycler" means a person who as a principal component

 

of business operations acquires covered electronic devices and

 


sorts and processes the covered electronic devices to facilitate

 

recycling or resource recovery techniques. Recycler does not

 

include a collector, hauler, or electronics shop.

 

     (m) (n) "Retailer" means a person that sells a covered

 

electronic device to a consumer by any means, including

 

transactions conducted through sales outlets, catalogs, mail order,

 

or the internet, whether or not the person has a physical presence

 

in this state.

 

     (n) (o) "Small business" means a business with 10 or fewer

 

employees.

 

     (o) (p) "Video display device" means an electronic device with

 

a viewable screen of 4 inches or larger that contains a tuner that

 

locks on to a selected carrier frequency and is capable of

 

receiving and displaying television or video programming via

 

broadcast, cable, or satellite. Video display device includes, but

 

is not limited to, a direct view or projection television whose

 

display technology is based on cathode ray tube (CRT), plasma,

 

liquid crystal (LCD), digital light processing (DLP), liquid

 

crystal on silicon (LCOS), silicon crystal reflective display

 

(SXRD), light emitting diode (LED), or similar technology.

 

     (p) (q) "Video display device takeback program" means a

 

program required under section 17305(d).

 

     Sec. 17327. (1) The electronic waste recycling fund is created

 

within the state treasury.

 

     (2) The state treasurer may receive money or other assets from

 

any source for deposit into the fund. The state treasurer shall

 

direct the investment of the fund. The state treasurer shall credit

 


to the fund interest and earnings from fund investments.

 

     (3) Money in the fund at the close of the fiscal year shall

 

remain in the fund and shall not lapse to the general fund.

 

     (4) The department of environmental quality shall be the

 

administrator of the fund for auditing purposes.

 

     (5) Money from the fund shall be expended, upon appropriation,

 

for the administrative expenses of the department in implementing

 

this part.

 

     Sec. 19601. As used in this part:

 

     (a) "Bonds" means the bonds authorized under the clean

 

Michigan initiative act.

 

     (b) "Corrective action" means that term as it is defined in

 

part 213.

 

     (c) "Department" means the department of environmental

 

quality.

 

     (c) (d) "Facility" means that term as it is defined in part

 

201.

 

     (d) (e) "Fund" means the clean Michigan initiative bond fund

 

created in section 19606.

 

     (e) (f) "Gaming facility" means a gaming facility regulated

 

under the Michigan gaming control and revenue act, the Initiated

 

Law of 1996 IL 1, MCL 432.201 to 432.226.

 

     (f) (g) "Local unit of government" means a county, city,

 

village, or township, or an agency of a county, city, village, or

 

township; or an authority or other public body created by or

 

pursuant to state law.

 

     (g) (h) "Response activity" means that term as it is defined

 


in part 201.

 

     Sec. 19701. As used in this part:

 

     (a) "Bonds" means the bonds authorized under the Great Lakes

 

water quality bond authorization act.

 

     (b) "Department" means the department of environmental

 

quality.

 

     (b) (c) "Fund" means the Great Lakes water quality bond fund

 

created in section 19706.

 

     Sec. 20101. (1) As used in this part:

 

     (a) "Act of God" means an unanticipated grave natural disaster

 

or other natural phenomenon of an exceptional, inevitable, and

 

irresistible character, the effects of which could not have been

 

prevented or avoided by the exercise of due care or foresight.

 

     (b) "Agricultural property" means real property used for

 

farming in any of its branches, including cultivating of soil;

 

growing and harvesting of any agricultural, horticultural, or

 

floricultural commodity; dairying; raising of livestock, bees,

 

fish, fur-bearing animals, or poultry; turf and tree farming; and

 

performing any practices on a farm as an incident to, or in

 

conjunction with, these farming operations. Agricultural property

 

does not include property used for commercial storage, processing,

 

distribution, marketing, or shipping operations.

 

     (c) "Attorney general" means the department of the attorney

 

general.

 

     (d) "Baseline environmental assessment" means an evaluation of

 

environmental conditions which exist at a facility at the time of

 

purchase, occupancy, or foreclosure that reasonably defines the

 


existing conditions and circumstance at the facility so that, in

 

the event of a subsequent release, there is a means of

 

distinguishing the new release from existing contamination.

 

     (e) "Board" means the brownfield redevelopment board created

 

in section 20104a.

 

     (f) "Department" means the director of the department of

 

environmental quality or his or her designee to whom the director

 

delegates a power or duty by written instrument.

 

     (g) "Director" means the director of the department of

 

environmental quality.

 

     (f) (h) "Directors" means the directors or their designees of

 

the departments of environmental quality natural resources,

 

community health, agriculture, and state police.

 

     (g) (i) "Disposal" means the discharge, deposit, injection,

 

dumping, spilling, leaking, or placing of any hazardous substance

 

into or on any land or water so that the hazardous substance or any

 

constituent of the hazardous substance may enter the environment or

 

be emitted into the air or discharged into any groundwater or

 

surface water.

 

     (h) (j) "Enforcement costs" means court expenses, reasonable

 

attorney fees of the attorney general, and other reasonable

 

expenses of an executive department that are incurred in relation

 

to enforcement under this part or rules promulgated under this

 

part, or both.

 

     (i) (k) "Environment" or "natural resources" means land,

 

surface water, groundwater, subsurface, strata, air, fish,

 

wildlife, or biota within the state.

 


     (j) (l) "Environmental contamination" means the release of a

 

hazardous substance, or the potential release of a discarded

 

hazardous substance, in a quantity which is or may become injurious

 

to the environment or to the public health, safety, or welfare.

 

     (k) (m) "Evaluation" means those activities including, but not

 

limited to, investigation, studies, sampling, analysis, development

 

of feasibility studies, and administrative efforts that are needed

 

to determine the nature, extent, and impact of a release or threat

 

of release and necessary response activities.

 

     (l) (n) "Exacerbation" means the occurrence of either of the

 

following caused by an activity undertaken by the person who owns

 

or operates the property, with respect to existing contamination:

 

     (i) Contamination that has migrated beyond the boundaries of

 

the property which is the source of the release at levels above

 

cleanup criteria specified in section 20120a(1)(a) unless a

 

criterion is not relevant because exposure is reliably restricted

 

pursuant to section 20120b.

 

     (ii) A change in facility conditions that increases response

 

activity costs.

 

     (m) (o) "Facility" means any area, place, or property where a

 

hazardous substance in excess of the concentrations which satisfy

 

the requirements of section 20120a(1)(a) or (17) or the cleanup

 

criteria for unrestricted residential use under part 213 has been

 

released, deposited, disposed of, or otherwise comes to be located.

 

Facility does not include any area, place, or property at which

 

response activities have been completed which satisfy the cleanup

 

criteria for the residential category provided for in section

 


20120a(1)(a) and (17) or at which corrective action has been

 

completed under part 213 which satisfies the cleanup criteria for

 

unrestricted residential use.

 

     (n) (p) "Feasibility study" means a process for developing,

 

evaluating, and selecting appropriate response activities.

 

     (o) (q) "Foreclosure" means possession of a property by a

 

lender on which it has foreclosed on a security interest or the

 

expiration of a lawful redemption period, whichever occurs first.

 

     (p) (r) "Free product" means a hazardous substance in a liquid

 

phase equal to or greater than 1/8 inch of measurable thickness

 

that is not dissolved in water and that has been released into the

 

environment.

 

     (q) (s) "Fund" means the cleanup and redevelopment fund

 

established in section 20108.

 

     (r) (t) "Hazardous substance" means 1 or more of the

 

following, but does not include fruit, vegetable, or field crop

 

residuals or processing by-products, or aquatic plants, that are

 

applied to the land for an agricultural use or for use as an animal

 

feed, if the use is consistent with generally accepted agricultural

 

management practices developed pursuant to the Michigan right to

 

farm act, Act No. 93 of the Public Acts of 1981, being sections

 

286.471 to 286.474 of the Michigan Compiled Laws 1981 PA 93, MCL

 

286.471 to 286.474:

 

     (i) Any substance that the department demonstrates, on a case

 

by case basis, poses an unacceptable risk to the public health,

 

safety, or welfare, or the environment, considering the fate of the

 

material, dose-response, toxicity, or adverse impact on natural

 


resources.

 

     (ii) Hazardous substance as defined in the comprehensive

 

environmental response, compensation, and liability act of 1980,

 

Public Law 96-510, 94 Stat. 2767.

 

     (iii) Hazardous waste as defined in part 111.

 

     (iv) Petroleum as described in part 213.

 

     (s) (u) "Interim response activity" means the cleanup or

 

removal of a released hazardous substance or the taking of other

 

actions, prior to the implementation of a remedial action, as may

 

be necessary to prevent, minimize, or mitigate injury to the public

 

health, safety, or welfare, or to the environment. Interim response

 

activity also includes, but is not limited to, measures to limit

 

access, replacement of water supplies, and temporary relocation of

 

people as determined to be necessary by the department. In

 

addition, interim response activity means the taking of other

 

actions as may be necessary to prevent, minimize, or mitigate a

 

threatened release.

 

     (t) (v) "Lender" means any of the following:

 

     (i) A state or nationally chartered bank.

 

     (ii) A state or federally chartered savings and loan

 

association or savings bank.

 

     (iii) A state or federally chartered credit union.

 

     (iv) Any other state or federally chartered lending institution

 

or regulated affiliate or regulated subsidiary of any entity listed

 

in this subparagraph or subparagraphs (i) to (iii).

 

     (v) An insurance company authorized to do business in this

 

state pursuant to the insurance code of 1956, Act No. 218 of the

 


Public Acts of 1956, being sections 500.100 to 500.8302 of the

 

Michigan Compiled Laws 1956 PA 218, MCL 500.100 to 500.8302.

 

     (vi) A motor vehicle finance company subject to the motor

 

vehicle finance act, Act No. 27 of the Extra Session of 1950, being

 

sections 492.101 to 492.141 of the Michigan Compiled Laws 1950 (Ex

 

Sess) PA 27, MCL 492.101 to 492.141, with net assets in excess of

 

$50,000,000.00.

 

     (vii) A foreign bank.

 

     (viii) A retirement fund regulated pursuant to state law or a

 

pension fund regulated pursuant to federal law with net assets in

 

excess of $50,000,000.00.

 

     (ix) A state or federal agency authorized by law to hold a

 

security interest in real property or a local unit of government

 

holding a reversionary interest in real property.

 

     (x) A nonprofit tax exempt organization created to promote

 

economic development in which a majority of the organization's

 

assets are held by a local unit of government.

 

     (xi) Any other person who loans money for the purchase of or

 

improvement of real property.

 

     (xii) Any person who retains or receives a security interest to

 

service a debt or to secure a performance obligation.

 

     (u) (w) "Local health department" means that term as defined

 

in section 1105 of the public health code, Act No. 368 of the

 

Public Acts of 1978, being section 333.1105 of the Michigan

 

Compiled Laws 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.1105.

 

     (v) (x) "Local unit of government" means a county, city,

 

township, or village, an agency of a local unit of government, an

 


authority or any other public body or entity created by or pursuant

 

to state law. Local unit of government does not include the state

 

or federal government or a state or federal agency.

 

     (w) (y) "Operator" means a person who is in control of or

 

responsible for the operation of a facility. Operator does not

 

include either of the following:

 

     (i) A person who holds indicia of ownership primarily to

 

protect the person's security interest in the facility, unless that

 

person participates in the management of the facility as described

 

in section 20101a.

 

     (ii) A person who is acting as a fiduciary in compliance with

 

section 20101b.

 

     (x) (z) "Owner" means a person who owns a facility. Owner does

 

not include either of the following:

 

     (i) A person who holds indicia of ownership primarily to

 

protect the person's security interest in the facility, including,

 

but not limited to, a vendor's interest under a recorded land

 

contract, unless that person participates in the management of the

 

facility as described in section 20101a.

 

     (ii) A person who is acting as a fiduciary in compliance with

 

section 20101b.

 

     (y) (aa) "Permitted release" means 1 or more of the following:

 

     (i) A release in compliance with an applicable, legally

 

enforceable permit issued under state law.

 

     (ii) A lawful and authorized discharge into a permitted waste

 

treatment facility.

 

     (iii) A federally permitted release as defined in the

 


comprehensive environmental response, compensation, and liability

 

act of 1980, Public Law 96-510, 94 Stat. 2767.

 

     (z) (bb) "Release" includes, but is not limited to, any

 

spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying,

 

discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing

 

of a hazardous substance into the environment, or the abandonment

 

or discarding of barrels, containers, and other closed receptacles

 

containing a hazardous substance. Release does not include any of

 

the following:

 

     (i) A release that results in exposure to persons solely within

 

a workplace, with respect to a claim that these persons may assert

 

against their employers.

 

     (ii) Emissions from the engine exhaust of a motor vehicle,

 

rolling stock, aircraft, or vessel.

 

     (iii) A release of source, by-product, or special nuclear

 

material from a nuclear incident, as those terms are defined in the

 

atomic energy act of 1954, chapter 1073, 68 Stat. 919, if the

 

release is subject to requirements with respect to financial

 

protection established by the nuclear regulatory commission under

 

section 170 of chapter 14 of title I of the atomic energy act of

 

1954, chapter 1073, 71 Stat. 576, 42 U.S.C. USC 2210, or any

 

release of source by-product or special nuclear material from any

 

processing site designated under section 102(a)(1) of title I or

 

302(a) of title III of the uranium mill tailings radiation control

 

act of 1978, Public Law 95-604, 42 U.S.C. USC 7912 and 7942.

 

     (iv) If applied according to label directions and according to

 

generally accepted agricultural and management practices, the

 


application of a fertilizer, soil conditioner, agronomically

 

applied manure, or pesticide, or fruit, vegetable, or field crop

 

residuals or processing by-products, aquatic plants, or a

 

combination of these substances. As used in this subparagraph,

 

fertilizer and soil conditioner have the meaning given to these

 

terms in part 85, and pesticide has the meaning given to that term

 

in part 83.

 

     (v) A release does not include fruits, vegetables, field crop

 

processing by-products, or aquatic plants, that are applied to the

 

land for an agricultural use or for use as an animal feed, if the

 

use is consistent with generally accepted agricultural and

 

management practices developed pursuant to the Michigan right to

 

farm act, Act No. 93 of the Public Acts of 1981, being sections

 

286.471 to 286.474 of the Michigan Compiled Laws 1981 PA 93, MCL

 

286.471 to 286.474.

 

     (aa) (cc) "Remedial action" includes, but is not limited to,

 

cleanup, removal, containment, isolation, destruction, or treatment

 

of a hazardous substance released or threatened to be released into

 

the environment, monitoring, maintenance, or the taking of other

 

actions that may be necessary to prevent, minimize, or mitigate

 

injury to the public health, safety, or welfare, or to the

 

environment.

 

     (bb) (dd) "Remedial action plan" means a work plan for

 

performing remedial action under this part.

 

     (cc) (ee) "Response activity" means evaluation, interim

 

response activity, remedial action, demolition, or the taking of

 

other actions necessary to protect the public health, safety, or

 


welfare, or the environment or the natural resources. Response

 

activity also includes health assessments or health effect studies

 

carried out under the supervision, or with the approval of, the

 

department of public community health and enforcement actions

 

related to any response activity.

 

     (dd) (ff) "Response activity costs" or "costs of response

 

activity" means all costs incurred in taking or conducting a

 

response activity, including enforcement costs.

 

     (ee) (gg) "Security interest" means any interest, including a

 

reversionary interest, in real property created or established for

 

the purpose of securing a loan or other obligation. Security

 

interests include, but are not limited to, mortgages, deeds of

 

trusts, liens, and title pursuant to lease financing transactions.

 

Security interests may also arise from transactions such as sale

 

and leasebacks, conditional sales, installment sales, trust receipt

 

transactions, certain assignments, factoring agreements, accounts

 

receivable financing arrangements, consignments, or any other

 

transaction in which evidence of title is created if the

 

transaction creates or establishes an interest in real property for

 

the purpose of securing a loan or other obligation.

 

     (ff) (hh) "Site" means the location of environmental

 

contamination.

 

     (gg) (ii) "Threatened release" or "threat of release" means

 

any circumstance that may reasonably be anticipated to cause a

 

release.

 

     (2) As used in this part, the phrase "a person who is liable"

 

includes a person who is described as being subject to liability in

 


section 20126. The phrase "a person who is liable" does not presume

 

that liability has been adjudicated.

 

     Sec. 20104a. (1) The brownfield redevelopment board is created

 

within the department of environmental quality natural resources.

 

     (2) The board shall consist of the following members:

 

     (a) The director of the department of environmental quality or

 

his or her designee.

 

     (b) The director of the department of management and budget or

 

his or her designee.

 

     (c) The chief executive officer of the jobs commission

 

Michigan economic development corporation or his or her designee.

 

     (3) A majority of the members of the board constitute a quorum

 

for the transaction of business at a meeting of the board.

 

     (4) The business which the board may perform shall be

 

conducted at a public meeting of the board held in compliance with

 

the open meetings act, Act No. 267 of the Public Acts of 1976,

 

being sections 15.261 to 15.275 of the Michigan Compiled Laws 1976

 

PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275.

 

     (5) A writing prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or

 

retained by the board in the performance of an official function is

 

subject to the freedom of information act, Act No. 442 of the

 

Public Acts of 1976, being sections 15.231 to 15.246 of the

 

Michigan Compiled Laws 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246.

 

     (6) The board shall implement the duties and responsibilities

 

as provided in this part and as otherwise provided by law.

 

     Sec. 20503. As used in this part:

 

     (a) "Analytical data" means the qualitative or quantitative

 


measurements generated by chemical, physical, biological,

 

microbiological, radiological, or other scientific determination.

 

     (b) "Calibration" means a set of operations that establish,

 

under specified conditions, the relationship between values of

 

quantities indicated by a measuring instrument or measuring system,

 

or values represented by a material measure or a reference

 

material, and the corresponding values realized by standards

 

established as follows:

 

     (i) In calibration of support equipment, through the use of

 

reference standards that are traceable to the international system

 

of units.

 

     (ii) In calibration according to analytical methods, typically

 

through the use of reference materials that are either purchased by

 

the laboratory with a certificate of analysis or purity, or

 

prepared by the laboratory using support equipment that has been

 

calibrated or verified to meet specifications.

 

     (c) "Commercial laboratory" means a privately owned laboratory

 

that generates analytical data required under this act pertaining

 

to the operations of a third person regulated under this act.

 

     (d) "Council" means the laboratory data quality assurance

 

advisory council created in section 20517.

 

     (e) "Department" means the department of environmental

 

quality.

 

     (f) "Director" means the director of the department.

 

     (d) (g) "Fund" means the laboratory data quality recognition

 

program fund created in section 20509.

 

     (e) (h) "In-house laboratory" means a privately owned

 


laboratory that generates analytical data required under this act

 

pertaining to the operations of the owner of that laboratory or an

 

affiliate of the owner.

 

     (f) (i) "Laboratory" means a body that engages in calibration

 

or testing, or both, at a specified location.

 

     (g) (j) "Proficiency testing" means a method of evaluating a

 

laboratory's performance under controlled conditions relative to a

 

given set of criteria through analysis of unknown samples provided

 

by an external source.

 

     (h) (k) "Public laboratory" means a municipal or other

 

publicly owned laboratory that generates analytical data for

 

submission to the department under this act.

 

     (i) (l) "Quality recognition program" means the laboratory data

 

quality recognition program provided for in section 20505.

 

     Sec. 21101. As used in this part:

 

     (a) "Department" means the department of natural resources,

 

underground storage tank division.

 

     (a) (b) "Fund" means the underground storage tank regulatory

 

enforcement fund created in section 21104.

 

     (b) (c) "Local unit of government" means a municipality,

 

county, or governmental authority or any combination of

 

municipalities, counties, or governmental authorities.

 

     (c) (d) "Natural gas" means natural gas, synthetic gas, and

 

manufactured gas.

 

     (d) (e) "Operator" means a person who is presently, or was at

 

the time of a release, in control of or responsible for the

 

operation of an underground storage tank system.

 


     (e) (f) "Owner" means a person who holds, or at the time of a

 

release who held, a legal, equitable, or possessory interest of any

 

kind in an underground storage tank system or in the property on

 

which an underground storage tank system is located, including, but

 

not limited to, a trust, vendor, vendee, lessor, or lessee.

 

However, owner does not include a person or a regulated financial

 

institution who, without participating in the management of an

 

underground storage tank system and who is not otherwise engaged in

 

petroleum production, refining, or marketing relating to the

 

underground storage tank system, is acting in a fiduciary capacity

 

or who holds indicia of ownership primarily to protect the person's

 

or the regulated financial institution's security interest in the

 

underground storage tank system or the property on which it is

 

located. This exclusion does not apply to a grantor, beneficiary,

 

remainderman, or other person who could directly or indirectly

 

benefit financially from the exclusion other than by the receipt of

 

payment for fees and expenses related to the administration of a

 

trust.

 

     (f) (g) "Regulated substance" means any of the following:

 

     (i) A substance defined in section 101(14) of title I of the

 

comprehensive environmental response, compensation, and liability

 

act of 1980, Public Law 96-510, 42 U.S.C. USC 9601, but not

 

including a substance regulated as a hazardous waste under subtitle

 

C of the solid waste disposal act, title II of Public Law 89-272,

 

42 U.S.C. USC 6921 to 6931 and 6933 to 6939b.

 

     (ii) Petroleum, including crude oil or any fraction of crude

 

oil that is liquid at standard conditions of temperature and

 


pressure (60 degrees Fahrenheit and 14.7 pounds per square inch

 

absolute). Petroleum includes but is not limited to mixtures of

 

petroleum with de minimis quantities of other regulated substances,

 

and petroleum-based substances composed of a complex blend of

 

hydrocarbons derived from crude oil through processes of

 

separation, conversion, upgrading, or finishing such as motor

 

fuels, jet fuels, distillate fuel oils, residual fuel oils,

 

lubricants, and petroleum solvents.

 

     (iii) A substance listed in section 112 of part A of title I of

 

the clean air act, chapter 360, 84 Stat. 1685, 42 U.S.C. USC 7412.

 

     (g) (h) "Release" means any spilling, leaking, emitting,

 

discharging, escaping, leaching, or disposing from an underground

 

storage tank system into groundwater, surface water, or subsurface

 

soils.

 

     (h) (i) "Underground storage tank system" means a tank or

 

combination of tanks, including underground pipes connected to the

 

tank or tanks, which is, was, or may have been used to contain an

 

accumulation of regulated substances, and the volume of which,

 

including the volume of the underground pipes connected to the tank

 

or tanks, is 10% or more beneath the surface of the ground. An

 

underground storage tank system does not include any of the

 

following:

 

     (i) A farm or residential tank of 1,100 gallons or less

 

capacity used for storing motor fuel for noncommercial purposes.

 

     (ii) A tank used for storing heating oil for consumptive use on

 

the premises where the tank is located.

 

     (iii) A septic tank.

 


     (iv) A pipeline facility, including gathering lines regulated

 

under either of the following:

 

     (A) The natural gas pipeline safety act of 1968, Public Law

 

90-481, 49 U.S.C. USC Appx 1671 to 1677, 1679a to 1682, and 1683 to

 

1687.

 

     (B) Sections 201 to 215 and 217 of the hazardous liquid

 

pipeline safety act of 1979, title II of Public Law 96-129, 49

 

U.S.C. USC Appx 2001 to 2015.

 

     (v) A surface impoundment, pit, pond, or lagoon.

 

     (vi) A storm water or wastewater collection system.

 

     (vii) A flow-through process tank.

 

     (viii) A liquid trap or associated gathering lines directly

 

related to oil or gas production and gathering operations.

 

     (ix) A storage tank situated in an underground area, such as a

 

basement, cellar, mineworking, drift, shaft, or tunnel if the

 

storage tank is situated upon or above the surface of the floor.

 

     (x) Any pipes connected to a tank that is described in

 

subparagraphs (i) to (xvi).

 

     (xi) An underground storage tank system holding hazardous

 

wastes listed or identified under subtitle C of the solid waste

 

disposal act, title II of Public Law 89-272, 42 U.S.C. USC 6921 to

 

6931 and 6933 to 6939b, or a mixture of such hazardous waste and

 

other regulated substances.

 

     (xii) A wastewater treatment tank system that is part of a

 

wastewater treatment facility regulated under section 307(b) of

 

title III or section 402 of title IV of the federal water pollution

 

control act, 33 U.S.C. USC 1317 and 1342.

 


     (xiii) Equipment or machinery that contains regulated substances

 

for operational purposes such as hydraulic lift tanks and

 

electrical equipment tanks.

 

     (xiv) An underground storage tank system with a capacity of 110

 

gallons or less.

 

     (xv) An underground storage tank system that contains a de

 

minimis concentration of regulated substances.

 

     (xvi) An emergency spill or overflow containment underground

 

storage tank system that is expeditiously emptied after use.

 

     Sec. 21501. For purposes of this part, the words and phrases

 

defined in sections 21502 and 21503 have the meanings ascribed to

 

them in those sections.

 

     Sec. 21502. As used in this part:

 

     (a) "Administrator" means the fund administrator provided for

 

in section 21513.

 

     (b) "Advisory board" means the temporary reimbursement program

 

advisory board established under section 21562.

 

     (b) (c) "Approved claim" means a claim that is approved

 

pursuant to section 21515.

 

     (c) (d) "Authority" means the Michigan underground storage

 

tank financial assurance authority created in section 21523.

 

     (e) "Board" means the Michigan underground storage tank

 

financial assurance policy board created in section 21541.

 

     (d) (f) "Board of directors" means the board of directors of

 

the authority.

 

     (e) (g) "Bond proceeds account" means the account or fund to

 

which proceeds of bonds or notes issued under this part have been

 


credited.

 

     (f) (h) "Bonds or notes" means the bonds, notes, commercial

 

paper, other obligations of indebtedness, or any combination of

 

these, issued by the authority pursuant to this part.

 

     (g) (i) "Claim" means the submission by the owner or operator

 

or his or her representative of documentation on an application

 

requesting payment from the fund. A claim shall include, at a

 

minimum, a completed and signed claim form and the name, address,

 

telephone number, and federal tax identification number of the

 

consultant retained by the owner or operator to carry out

 

responsibilities pursuant to part 213.

 

     (h) (j) "Class 1 site" means a site posing the highest degree

 

of threat to the public and environment as determined by the

 

department, based on the classification system developed by the

 

department pursuant to section 21314a.

 

     (i) (k) "Class 2 site" means a site posing the second highest

 

degree of threat to the public and environment as determined by the

 

department, based on the classification system developed by the

 

department pursuant to section 21314a.

 

     (j) (l) "Consultant" means a person on the list of qualified

 

underground storage tank consultants prepared pursuant to section

 

21542.

 

     (k) (m) "Co-pay amount" means the co-pay amount provided for

 

in section 21514.

 

     (l) (n) "Corrective action" means the investigation,

 

assessment, cleanup, removal, containment, isolation, treatment, or

 

monitoring of regulated substances released into the environment or

 


the taking of such other actions as may be necessary to prevent,

 

minimize, or mitigate injury to the public health, safety, or

 

welfare, the environment, or natural resources.

 

     (o) "Department" means the department of environmental

 

quality.

 

     (m) (p) "Eligible person" means an owner or operator who meets

 

the eligibility requirements in section 21556 or 21557 and received

 

approval of his or her precertification application by the

 

department.

 

     (n) (q) "Financial responsibility requirements" means the

 

financial responsibility for taking corrective action and for

 

compensating third parties for bodily injury and property damage

 

caused by a release from an underground storage tank system that

 

the owner or operator of an underground storage tank system must

 

demonstrate under part 211 and the rules promulgated under that

 

part.

 

     (o) (r) "Fund" means the Michigan underground storage tank

 

financial assurance fund created in section 21506.

 

     (p) (s) "Heating oil" means petroleum that is No. 1, No. 2,

 

No. 4—light, No. 4—heavy, No. 5—light, No. 5—heavy, and No. 6

 

technical grades of fuel oil; other residual fuel oils including

 

navy special fuel oil and bunker C; and other fuels when used as

 

substitutes for 1 of these fuel oils.

 

     (q) (t) "Indemnification" means indemnification of an owner or

 

operator for a legally enforceable judgment entered against the

 

owner or operator by a third party, or a legally enforceable

 

settlement entered between the owner or operator and a third party,

 


compensating that third party for bodily injury or property damage,

 

or both, caused by an accidental release as those terms are defined

 

in R 29.2163 of the Michigan administrative code.

 

     (r) (u) "Location" means a facility or parcel of property

 

where petroleum underground storage tank systems are registered

 

pursuant to part 211.

 

     (s) (v) "Operator" means a person who was, at the time of

 

discovery of a release, in control of or responsible for the

 

operation of a petroleum underground storage tank system or a

 

person to whom an approved claim has been assigned or transferred.

 

     (t) (w) "Owner" means a person, other than a regulated

 

financial institution, who, at the time of discovery of a release,

 

held a legal, equitable, or possessory interest of any kind in an

 

underground storage tank system or in the property on which an

 

underground storage tank system is located, including, but not

 

limited to, a trust, vendor, vendee, lessor, or lessee. Owner

 

includes a person to whom an approved claim is assigned or

 

transferred. Owner does not include a person or a regulated

 

financial institution who, without participating in the management

 

of an underground storage tank system and without being otherwise

 

engaged in petroleum production, refining, or marketing relating to

 

the underground storage tank system, is acting in a fiduciary

 

capacity or who holds indicia of ownership primarily to protect the

 

person's or the regulated financial institution's security interest

 

in the underground storage tank system or the property on which it

 

is located. This exclusion does not apply to a grantor,

 

beneficiary, remainderman, or other person who could directly or

 


indirectly benefit financially from the exclusion other than by the

 

receipt of payment for fees and expenses related to the

 

administration of a trust.

 

     (u) (x) "Oxygenate" means an organic compound containing

 

oxygen and having properties as a fuel that are compatible with

 

petroleum, including, but not limited to, ethanol, methanol, or

 

methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE).

 

     Sec. 21506. (1) The Michigan underground storage tank

 

financial assurance fund is created in the state treasury.

 

     (2) The state treasurer shall direct the investment of the

 

fund. Interest and earnings from fund investments shall be credited

 

to the fund.

 

     (3) Money in the fund at the close of the fiscal year shall

 

remain in the fund and shall not lapse to the general fund.

 

     (4) Except as provided in subsections (5) and (6), money in

 

the fund shall be expended only as follows and in the following

 

order of priority:

 

     (a) To defease principal and interest due and owing on bonds

 

issued by the authority pursuant to this part that are outstanding

 

on the effective date of the 2004 amendatory act that amended this

 

section October 12, 2004.

 

     (b) For the reasonable administrative cost of implementing

 

this part by the department, the department of treasury, the

 

department of attorney general, and the authority as annually

 

appropriated by the legislature. Administrative costs include the

 

actual and necessary expenses incurred by the board and its members

 

in carrying out the duties imposed by this part. Total

 


administrative costs expended under this subdivision shall not

 

exceed 7% of the fund's projected revenues in any year. Costs

 

incurred by the authority for the issuance of bonds or notes which

 

may also be payable from the proceeds of the bonds or notes shall

 

not be considered administrative costs.

 

     (c) For payment of rewards under section 21549.

 

     (d) For the interest subsidy program established in section

 

21522. The money expended under this subdivision shall not exceed

 

10% of the fund's projected revenues in any year. However, 10% of

 

the revenue of the fund during the first year of the fund's

 

operation shall be expended on the interest subsidy program. If

 

this money is not expended during the first year, this money shall

 

be carried over for expenditure in the succeeding years of the

 

fund's operation. Additional fund revenue shall not be set aside

 

for the interest subsidy program until all of the first year

 

revenue is expended.

 

     (e) For corrective action and indemnification including all of

 

the following:

 

     (i) Payments for work invoices submitted prior to 5 p.m. on

 

June 29, 1995 and approved by the department pursuant to this part.

 

     (ii) Payments for requests for indemnification submitted prior

 

to 5 p.m. on June 29, 1995 and approved by the department pursuant

 

to this part.

 

     (iii) Payments for work invoices or requests for indemnification

 

that were submitted prior to 5 p.m. on June 29, 1995 and denied by

 

the department pursuant to this part but which denials were

 

subsequently reversed on appeal.

 


     (5) All revenue collected during the state fiscal years ending

 

September 30, 2003 and September 30, 2004 from the environmental

 

protection regulatory fee imposed under section 21508 shall be

 

allocated and expended by the state treasurer for the purchase of

 

United States treasury obligations in an amount sufficient,

 

together with interest on the obligations, to implement subsection

 

(4)(a).

 

     (6) Upon determination by the state treasurer of the amount of

 

money needed to satisfy all obligations listed in subsection (4),

 

the state treasurer shall transfer all remaining money in the fund

 

to the refined petroleum fund created in section 21506a.

 

     (7) The board shall make recommendations to the appropriations

 

committees in the senate and house of representatives on the

 

distribution and amount of administrative costs under subsection

 

(4)(b). The board shall provide a copy of these recommendations to

 

each affected department.

 

     Sec. 21515. (1) To receive money from the fund or bond

 

proceeds account for corrective action, the owner or operator, or a

 

consultant retained by the owner or operator, shall follow the

 

procedures outlined in this section and shall submit reports, work

 

plans, feasibility analyses, hydrogeological studies, and

 

corrective action plans prepared under part 213 and rules

 

promulgated under that part to the department, and shall provide

 

other information required by the administrator relevant to

 

determining compliance with this part.

 

     (2) To receive money from the fund for corrective action, an

 

owner or operator shall submit a claim to the administrator. An

 


owner or operator shall not submit a claim until work invoices in

 

excess of $5,000.00 of the costs of corrective action have been

 

incurred.

 

     (3) Upon receipt of a completed claim pursuant to subsection

 

(2), the administrator shall make all of the following

 

determinations:

 

     (a) Whether the department of environmental quality,

 

underground storage tank division has objected to payment on the

 

claim because the work performed or proposed to be performed is not

 

consistent with the requirements of part 213 and rules promulgated

 

under that part.

 

     (b) Whether the work performed is necessary and appropriate

 

considering conditions at the site of the release.

 

     (c) Whether the cost of performing the work is reasonable.

 

     (d) Whether the owner or operator is eligible to receive

 

funding under this part.

 

     (e) Whether the consultant retained by the owner or operator

 

has complied with section 21517.

 

     (4) If the administrator fails to make the determinations

 

required under this section within 30 days after receipt of

 

certification from the department of environmental quality,

 

underground storage tank division that the owner or operator has

 

met the requirements of section 21510(1)(b) and (c), the claim is

 

considered to be approved.

 

     (5) If the administrator determines under subsection (3) that

 

the work invoices included with the claim are necessary and

 

appropriate considering conditions at the site of the release and

 


reasonable in terms of cost and the owner or operator is eligible

 

for funding under this part, the administrator shall approve the

 

claim and notify the owner or operator who submitted the claim of

 

the approval. If the administrator determines that the work

 

described on the work invoices submitted was not necessary or

 

appropriate or the cost of the work is not reasonable, or that the

 

owner or operator is not eligible for funding under this part, the

 

administrator shall deny the claim or any portion of the work

 

invoices submitted and give notice of the denial to the owner or

 

operator who submitted the claim.

 

     (6) The owner or operator may submit additional work invoices

 

to the administrator after approval of a claim under subsection

 

(5). Within 45 days after receipt of a work invoice, the

 

administrator shall make the following determinations:

 

     (a) Whether the work invoice complies with subsection (3).

 

     (b) Whether the owner or operator is currently in compliance

 

with the registration and fee requirements of part 211 and the

 

rules promulgated under that part for the underground storage tank

 

system from which the release occurred.

 

     (7) If the administrator determines that the work invoice does

 

not meet the requirements of subsection (6), he or she shall deny

 

the work invoice and give written notice of the denial to the owner

 

or operator who submitted the work invoice.

 

     (8) The administrator shall keep records of approved work

 

invoices. If the owner or operator has not exceeded the allowable

 

amount of expenditure provided in section 21512, the administrator

 

shall forward payment vouchers to the state treasurer within 45

 


days of making the determinations under subsection (6).

 

     (9) The administrator may approve a reimbursement for a work

 

invoice that was submitted by an owner or operator for corrective

 

action taken if the work invoice meets the requirements of this

 

part for an approved claim and an approved work invoice.

 

     (10) Except as provided in subsection (11) or as otherwise

 

provided in this subsection, upon receipt of a payment voucher, the

 

state treasurer or the authority shall make a payment jointly to

 

the owner or operator and the consultant within 30 days if

 

sufficient money exists in the fund or a bond proceeds account.

 

However, the owner or operator may submit to the fund administrator

 

a signed affidavit stating that the consultant listed on a work

 

invoice has been paid in full. The affidavit shall list the work

 

invoice and claim to which the affidavit applies, a statement that

 

the owner or operator has mailed a copy of the affidavit by first-

 

class mail to the consultant listed on the work invoice, and the

 

date that the affidavit was mailed to the consultant. The

 

department is not required to verify affidavits submitted under

 

this subsection. If, within 14 days after the affidavit was mailed

 

to the consultant under this subsection, the fund administrator has

 

not received an objection in writing from the consultant listed on

 

the work invoice, the state treasurer or the authority shall make

 

the payment directly to the owner or operator. If a check has

 

already been issued to the owner or operator and the consultant,

 

the owner or operator may return the original check to the fund

 

administrator along with the affidavit. If within 14 days after the

 

affidavit was mailed to the consultant the fund administrator has

 


not received an objection from the consultant listed on the check,

 

the state treasurer or the authority shall reissue a check to the

 

owner or operator. If a consultant objects to an affidavit received

 

under this subsection, and notifies the fund administrator in

 

writing within 14 days after the affidavit was mailed to the

 

consultant, the fund administrator shall notify the state treasurer

 

and the authority, and the state treasurer or the authority shall

 

issue or reissue the check to the owner or operator and the

 

consultant. The grounds for an objection by a consultant under this

 

subsection must be that the consultant has not been paid in full

 

and the objection must be made by affidavit. The state treasurer or

 

the authority shall issue checks under this subsection within 60

 

days after an affidavit has been received by the fund

 

administrator. Once payment has been made under this section, the

 

fund is not liable for any claim on the basis of that payment.

 

     (11) Upon direction of the administrator, the state treasurer

 

or the authority may withhold partial payment of money on payment

 

vouchers if there is reasonable cause to believe that there are

 

suspected violations of section 21548 or if necessary to assure

 

acceptable completion of the proposed work.

 

     (12) The department of environmental quality shall prepare and

 

make available to owners and operators and consultants standardized

 

claim and work invoice forms.

 

     Sec. 21521. (1) If the administrator denies a claim or work

 

invoice, or a request for indemnification, the owner or operator

 

who submitted the claim, work invoice, or request for

 

indemnification may, within 14 days following the denial, request

 


review by the department. Upon receipt of a request for review

 

under this subsection, the department shall forward the request to

 

the board for a preliminary review. The board shall conduct a

 

review of the denial and shall submit a recommendation to the

 

department as to whether the claim, work invoice, or request for

 

indemnification substantially complies with this part. Following

 

review by the board, the The department shall approve the claim,

 

work invoice, or request for indemnification if the department

 

determines that the claim, work invoice, or request for

 

indemnification substantially complies with the requirements of

 

this part. In making its determination, the department shall give

 

substantial consideration to the recommendations of the board.

 

However, the department shall not approve a claim, work invoice, or

 

request for indemnification for a release that was discovered prior

 

to July 18, 1989.

 

     (2) If the department approves a claim based upon substantial

 

compliance pursuant to subsection (1), the department may refuse to

 

pay for costs incurred during the time the owner or operator was

 

not in strict compliance with this part.

 

     (3) A person who is denied approval by the department after

 

review under subsection (1) may appeal the decision directly to the

 

circuit court for the county of Ingham.

 

     Sec. 21522. (1) The department of treasury in cooperation with

 

the board shall establish an interest subsidy program through

 

rules. This program shall provide for interest subsidies, upon

 

application, to the owner or operator of a petroleum underground

 

storage tank system who meets the applicable requirements of

 


section 21510(1). Money in the fund shall not be used for loans but

 

shall be used to provide interest subsidies to lenders on loans for

 

the replacement of a petroleum underground storage tank system.

 

     (2) Interest subsidies shall be made under this section, upon

 

application, for the replacement of existing petroleum underground

 

storage tank systems with petroleum underground storage tank

 

systems that meet the requirements of subtitle I of title II of the

 

solid waste disposal act, Public Law 89-272, 42 U.S.C. USC 6991 to

 

6991i, for new underground storage tank systems installed after

 

January 1, 1989, and the rules promulgated under part 211.

 

     (3) Applications for the interest subsidy program under this

 

section shall be submitted prior to December 22, 1998.

 

     (4) Beginning August 1, 1993, the department of treasury shall

 

provide all applicants who otherwise qualify for the interest

 

subsidy program, an interest rate subsidy 1% above the 6-month

 

United States treasury bill rate in effect at the beginning of the

 

calendar quarter in which an owner or operator is eligible, but no

 

more than the actual interest rate paid. The maximum loan amount

 

that an interest rate subsidy will be provided for is $200,000.00.

 

The maximum loan period is 10 years.

 

     Sec. 21541. (1) The Michigan underground storage tank

 

financial assurance policy board is created in the department of

 

natural resources.

 

     (2) The board shall consist of the following:

 

     (a) The director of the department of management and budget or

 

his or her designee.

 

     (b) The director of the department of natural resources or his

 


or her designee.

 

     (c) The director of the department of state police or his or

 

her designee.

 

     (d) The state treasurer or his or her designee.

 

     (e) Eight individuals appointed by the governor with the

 

advice and consent of the senate, as follows:

 

     (i) One individual representing an independent petroleum

 

wholesale distributor-marketer trade association.

 

     (ii) One individual representing a petroleum refiner-supplier

 

trade association.

 

     (iii) One individual representing a service station dealers'

 

trade association.

 

     (iv) One individual representing a truck stop operators trade

 

association.

 

     (v) One individual representing an environmental public

 

interest organization who is not associated with any of the

 

organizations listed in subparagraphs (i) to (iv).

 

     (vi) Two individuals representing the general public who are

 

not associated with any of the organizations listed in

 

subparagraphs (i) to (iv).

 

     (vii) One individual representing local government.

 

     (3) An individual appointed to the board shall serve for a

 

term of 2 years.

 

     (4) A vacancy on the board shall be filled in the same manner

 

as the original appointment.

 

     (5) The first meeting of the board shall be called by the

 

department. At its first meeting, the board shall elect from among

 


its members a chairperson and other officers as it considers

 

necessary. After the first meeting, a meeting of the board shall be

 

called by the chairperson on his or her own initiative or by the

 

chairperson on petition of 3 or more members. Upon receipt of a

 

petition of 3 or more members, a meeting shall be called for a date

 

no later than 14 days after the date of receipt of the petition.

 

     (6) The business that the board may perform shall be conducted

 

at a public meeting of the board held in compliance with the open

 

meetings act, Act No. 267 of the Public Acts of 1976, being

 

sections 15.261 to 15.275 of the Michigan Compiled Laws.

 

     (7) A majority of the members of the board constitutes a

 

quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of the board.

 

Action by the board shall be by a majority of the votes cast.

 

     (8) The board shall advise the department and the

 

administrator on all matters related to the implementation of this

 

part.

 

     (1) (9) The administrator or the department may submit to the

 

board, for its review and evaluation, evaluate the competitive

 

bidding process employed by a consultant pursuant to section 21517.

 

In conducting this review and evaluation, the board department may

 

convene a peer review panel. Following completion of its review and

 

evaluation, the board department shall forward a copy of its

 

findings to the department, the administrator , and the consultant.

 

If the board department finds the practices employed by a

 

consultant to be inappropriate, the board department may recommend

 

that the department remove the consultant from the list of

 

qualified consultants.

 


     (2) (10) Upon request of the administrator or the department,

 

the board shall make a recommendation to the The department on

 

shall determine whether a consultant should be removed from the

 

list of qualified consultants. Prior to making this recommendation

 

determination, the board department may convene a peer review panel

 

to evaluate the conduct of the consultant with regard to compliance

 

with this part.

 

     (11) A member of the board shall abstain from voting on any

 

matter in which that member has a conflict of interest.

 

     Sec. 21542. (1) The department , after consultation with the

 

board, shall prepare and annually update a list of qualified

 

underground storage tank consultants who, based on department

 

guidelines, are qualified to carry out the responsibilities of

 

consultants as provided in part 213 and to oversee corrective

 

actions. However, in preparing this list of consultants, the

 

department is not responsible or liable for the performance of the

 

consultants. The department shall make this list of consultants

 

available to a person upon request.

 

     (2) The department shall include a person on the list of

 

qualified consultants upon application, if the person meets all of

 

the following requirements:

 

     (a) The person demonstrates experience in all phases of

 

underground storage tank work, including tank removal oversight,

 

site assessment, soil removal, feasibility, design, remedial system

 

installation, remediation management activities, and site closure.

 

     (b) The person has 1 or more individuals actively on staff who

 

are certified underground storage tank professionals. Each

 


certified underground storage tank professional shall provide a

 

letter declaring that he or she is employed by the applicant and

 

that the individual has an active operational role in the daily

 

activities of the applicant.

 

     (c) The person demonstrates that the person has or will be

 

able to obtain, if approved, all of the following:

 

     (i) Workers' compensation insurance.

 

     (ii) Professional liability errors and omissions insurance.

 

This policy may not exclude bodily injury, property damage, or

 

claims arising out of pollution for environmental work and shall be

 

issued with a limit of not less than $1,000,000.00 per occurrence.

 

     (iii) Contractor pollution liability insurance with limits of

 

not less than $1,000,000.00 per occurrence, if not included under

 

the professional liability errors and omissions insurance required

 

under subparagraph (ii). The insurance requirement under this

 

subparagraph is not required for consultants who do not perform

 

contracting functions.

 

     (iv) Commercial general liability insurance with limits of not

 

less than $1,000,000.00 per occurrence and $2,000,000.00 aggregate.

 

     (v) Automobile liability insurance with limits of not less

 

than $1,000,000.00 per occurrence.

 

     Deductibles in excess of 10% of the insurance limits provided

 

in this subdivision, or the use of self-insurance, must be approved

 

by the department. Insurance policies must be written by carriers

 

authorized to write such business, or approved as an eligible

 

surplus lines insurer, by the state. The insurance utilized must be

 

placed with an insurer listed in A.M. Best's with a rating of no

 


less than B+ VII.

 

     (d) The person demonstrates compliance with the occupational

 

safety and health act of 1970, Public Law 91-596, 84 Stat. 1590,

 

and the regulations promulgated under that act, and the Michigan

 

occupational safety and health act, Act No. 154 of the Public Acts

 

of 1974, being sections 408.1001 to 408.1094 of the Michigan

 

Compiled Laws 1974 PA 154, MCL 408.1001 to 408.1094, and the rules

 

promulgated under that act, and demonstrates that all such rules

 

and regulations have been complied with during the person's

 

previous corrective action activity.

 

     (3) A person applying to be placed on the list of qualified

 

consultants under this section shall submit an application to the

 

department along with documentation that the person meets the

 

requirements of subsection (2). If the person is a corporation, the

 

person shall include a copy of its most recent annual report.

 

     (4) After submitting an application under this section, or any

 

time after a consultant is included on the list of qualified

 

consultants, the person shall notify the department within 10 days

 

of a change in any of the requirements of subsection (2), or any

 

material change in the person's operations or organizational status

 

that might affect the person's ability to operate as a consultant.

 

     (5) A consultant shall be suspended or removed from the list

 

of qualified consultants for fraud or other cause as determined by

 

the department, including, but not limited to, failing to select

 

and employ the most cost effective corrective action measures. As

 

used in this subsection, "cost effective" includes a consideration

 

of timeliness of implementation of the corrective action measures.

 


     Sec. 21551. Notwithstanding any provision of this part, prior

 

to December 22, 1998, the state treasurer shall reserve enough

 

money in the fund to pay interest subsidies pursuant to section

 

21522, and for work invoices and requests for indemnification that

 

were denied by the administrator, if subsequent to the denial the

 

owner or operator requested review by the former Michigan

 

underground storage tank financial assurance policy board,

 

requested a contested case hearing, or filed a lawsuit related to

 

the denial, and the case is still pending. This money shall be used

 

to pay interest subsidies, and for work invoices and requests for

 

indemnification in cases in which an owner or operator is

 

successful in persuading the board, the department, or a court that

 

the administrator's denial was in error.

 

     Sec. 21561. (1) If the department denies a precertification

 

application or a work invoice submitted under the temporary

 

reimbursement program, the applicant who submitted the

 

precertification application or the eligible person who submitted

 

the work invoice may, within 14 days following the denial, request

 

review by the department. Upon receipt of a request for review

 

under this subsection, the department shall forward the request to

 

the advisory board for a preliminary review. The advisory board

 

shall conduct a review of the denial and shall submit a

 

recommendation to the department as to whether the precertification

 

application or the work invoice complies with this part. Not later

 

than 21 days following its receipt of a request for review, by the

 

advisory board, the department shall approve the precertification

 

application or the work invoice if the department determines that

 


the precertification application or the work invoice substantially

 

complies with the requirements of this part. In making its

 

determination, the department shall give substantial consideration

 

to the recommendations of the advisory board.

 

     (2) An eligible person or applicant who submitted a

 

precertification application who is denied approval by the

 

department after review under subsection (1) may appeal the

 

decision pursuant to section 631 of the revised judicature act of

 

1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.631, directly to the circuit court for

 

the county of Ingham.

 

     Sec. 21562. (1) The temporary reimbursement program advisory

 

board is created. The advisory board shall conduct reviews of

 

denied work invoices upon the request of eligible persons and

 

provide recommendations to the department upon completion of such

 

reviews. The advisory board shall also advise the department on all

 

matters related to the implementation of the temporary

 

reimbursement program.

 

     (2) The advisory board shall consist of the following:

 

     (a) Three individuals appointed by the governor, not more than

 

2 of whom are employed by state departments.

 

     (b) Two individuals appointed by the speaker of the house of

 

representatives.

 

     (c) Two individuals appointed by the senate majority leader.

 

     (3) An individual appointed to the advisory board shall serve

 

for a term of 3 years, commencing on the initiation date of the

 

temporary reimbursement program.

 

     (4) A vacancy on the advisory board shall be filled in the

 


same manner as the original appointment was made.

 

     (5) The first meeting of the advisory board shall be called by

 

the department. At its first meeting, the advisory board shall

 

elect from among its members a chairperson and other officers as it

 

considers necessary. After the first meeting, a meeting of the

 

advisory board shall be called by the chairperson on his or her own

 

initiative or by the chairperson on petition of 3 or more members.

 

Upon receipt of a petition of 3 or more members, a meeting shall be

 

called for a date not later than 21 days after the date of receipt

 

of the petition.

 

     (6) The business that the advisory board may perform shall be

 

conducted at a public meeting of the advisory board held in

 

compliance with the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to

 

15.275.

 

     (7) A majority of the members of the advisory board constitute

 

a quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of the

 

advisory board. Action by the advisory board shall be by a majority

 

of the votes cast.

 

     (8) The department may submit to the advisory board, for its

 

review and evaluation, evaluate the competitive bidding process

 

employed by a consultant pursuant to section 21558. In conducting

 

this review and evaluation, the advisory board department may

 

convene a peer review panel. Following completion of its review and

 

evaluation, the advisory board department shall forward a copy of

 

its findings to the department and the consultant. If the advisory

 

board department finds the practices employed by a consultant to be

 

inappropriate, the advisory board may recommend that the department

 


may revoke the consultant's certification.

 

     (9) A member of the advisory board shall abstain from voting

 

on any matter in which that member has a conflict of interest.

 

     Sec. 30101. As used in this part:

 

     (a) "Bottomland" means the land area of an inland lake or

 

stream that lies below the ordinary high-water mark and that may or

 

may not be covered by water.

 

     (b) "Bulkhead line" means a line that is established pursuant

 

to this part beyond which dredging, filling, or construction of any

 

kind is not allowed without a permit.

 

     (c) "Dam" means an artificial barrier, including dikes,

 

embankments, and appurtenant works, that impounds, diverts, or is

 

designed to impound or divert water.

 

     (d) "Department" means the department of environmental

 

quality.

 

     (d) (e) "Fund" means the land and water management permit fee

 

fund created in section 30113.

 

     (e) (f) "Height of the dam" means the difference in elevation

 

measured vertically between the natural bed of an inland lake or

 

stream at the downstream toe of the dam, or, if it is not across a

 

stream channel or watercourse, from the lowest elevation of the

 

downstream toe of the dam, to the design flood elevation or to the

 

lowest point of the top of the dam, whichever is less.

 

     (f) (g) "Impoundment" means water held back by a dam, dike,

 

floodgate, or other barrier.

 

     (g) (h) "Inland lake or stream" means a natural or artificial

 

lake, pond, or impoundment; a river, stream, or creek which may or

 


may not be serving as a drain as defined by the drain code of 1956,

 

1956 PA 40, MCL 280.1 to 280.630; or any other body of water that

 

has definite banks, a bed, and visible evidence of a continued flow

 

or continued occurrence of water, including the St. Marys, St.

 

Clair, and Detroit rivers. Inland lake or stream does not include

 

the Great Lakes, Lake St. Clair, or a lake or pond that has a

 

surface area of less than 5 acres.

 

     (h) (i) "Marina" means a facility that is owned or operated by

 

a person, extends into or over an inland lake or stream, and offers

 

service to the public or members of the marina for docking,

 

loading, or other servicing of recreational watercraft.

 

     (i) (j) "Minor offense" means either of the following

 

violations of this part if the project involved in the offense is a

 

minor project as listed in R 281.816 of the Michigan administrative

 

code or the department determines that restoration of the affected

 

property is not required:

 

     (i) The failure to obtain a permit under this part.

 

     (ii) A violation of a permit issued under this part.

 

     (j) (k) "Ordinary high-water mark" means the line between

 

upland and bottomland that persists through successive changes in

 

water levels, below which the presence and action of the water is

 

so common or recurrent that the character of the land is marked

 

distinctly from the upland and is apparent in the soil itself, the

 

configuration of the surface of the soil, and the vegetation. On an

 

inland lake that has a level established by law, it means the high

 

established level. Where water returns to its natural level as the

 

result of the permanent removal or abandonment of a dam, it means

 


the natural ordinary high-water mark.

 

     (k) (l) "Project" means an activity that requires a permit

 

pursuant to section 30102.

 

     (l) (m) "Property owners' association" means any group of

 

organized property owners publishing a directory of their

 

membership, the majority of which are riparian owners and are

 

located on the inland lake or stream that is affected by the

 

proposed project.

 

     (m) (n) "Riparian owner" means a person who has riparian

 

rights.

 

     (n) (o) "Riparian rights" means those rights which are

 

associated with the ownership of the bank or shore of an inland

 

lake or stream.

 

     (o) (p) "Seasonal structure" includes any type of dock, boat

 

hoist, ramp, raft, or other recreational structure that is placed

 

into an inland lake or stream and removed at the end of the boating

 

season.

 

     (p) (q) "Structure" includes a marina, wharf, dock, pier, dam,

 

weir, stream deflector, breakwater, groin, jetty, sewer, pipeline,

 

cable, and bridge.

 

     (q) (r) "Upland" means the land area that lies above the

 

ordinary high-water mark.

 

     Sec. 30301. As used in this part:

 

     (a) "Beach" means the area landward of the shoreline of the

 

Great Lakes as the term shoreline is defined in section 32301.

 

     (b) "Beach maintenance activities" means any of the following

 

in the area of Great Lakes bottomlands lying below the ordinary

 


high-water mark and above the water's edge:

 

     (i) Manual or mechanized leveling of sand.

 

     (ii) Mowing of vegetation.

 

     (iii) Manual de minimis removal of vegetation.

 

     (iv) Grooming of soil.

 

     (v) Construction and maintenance of a path.

 

     (c) "Debris" means animal or fish carcasses, zebra mussel

 

shells, dead vegetation, trash, and discarded materials of human-

 

made origin.

 

     (d) "Department" means the department of environmental

 

quality.

 

     (e) "Director" means the director of the department.

 

     (d) (f) "Fill material" means soil, rocks, sand, waste of any

 

kind, or any other material that displaces soil or water or reduces

 

water retention potential.

 

     (e) (g) "Environmental area" means an environmental area as

 

defined in section 32301.

 

     (f) (h) "Grooming of soil" means raking or dragging, pushing,

 

or pulling metal teeth through the top 4 inches of soil without

 

disturbance of or destruction to plant roots, for the purpose of

 

removing debris.

 

     (g) (i) "Leveling of sand" means the relocation of sand within

 

areas being leveled that are predominantly free of vegetation,

 

including the redistribution, grading, and spreading of sand that

 

has been deposited through wind or wave action onto upland riparian

 

property.

 

     (h) (j) "Minor drainage" includes ditching and tiling for the

 


removal of excess soil moisture incidental to the planting,

 

cultivating, protecting, or harvesting of crops or improving the

 

productivity of land in established use for agriculture,

 

horticulture, silviculture, or lumbering.

 

     (i) (k) "Mowing of vegetation" means the cutting of vegetation

 

to a height of not less than 2 inches, without disturbance of soil

 

or plant roots.

 

     (j) (l) "Ordinary high-water mark" means that term as it is

 

defined in section 32502.

 

     (k) (m) "Path" means a temporary access walkway from the

 

upland riparian property directly to the shoreline across swales

 

with standing water, not exceeding 6 feet in bottom width and

 

consisting of sand and pebbles obtained from the exposed,

 

nonvegetated bottomlands or from the upland riparian property.

 

     (l) (n) "Person" means an individual, sole proprietorship,

 

partnership, corporation, association, municipality, this state, an

 

instrumentality or agency of this state, the federal government, an

 

instrumentality or agency of the federal government, or other legal

 

entity.

 

     (m) (o) "Removal of vegetation" means the manual or mechanized

 

removal of vegetation, other than the manual de minimis removal of

 

vegetation.

 

     (n) (p) "Wetland" means land characterized by the presence of

 

water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that

 

under normal circumstances does support, wetland vegetation or

 

aquatic life, and is commonly referred to as a bog, swamp, or marsh

 

and which is any of the following:

 


     (i) Contiguous to the Great Lakes or Lake St. Clair, an inland

 

lake or pond, or a river or stream.

 

     (ii) Not contiguous to the Great Lakes, an inland lake or pond,

 

or a river or stream; and more than 5 acres in size. ; except this

 

subparagraph shall not be of effect, except for the purpose of

 

inventorying, in counties of less than 100,000 population until the

 

department certifies to the commission it has substantially

 

completed its inventory of wetlands in that county.

 

     (iii) Not contiguous to the Great Lakes, an inland lake or pond,

 

or a river or stream; and 5 acres or less in size if the department

 

determines that protection of the area is essential to the

 

preservation of the natural resources of the state from pollution,

 

impairment, or destruction and the department has so notified the

 

owner. ; except this subparagraph may be utilized regardless of

 

wetland size in a county in which subparagraph (ii) is of no effect;

 

except for the purpose of inventorying, at the time.

 

     Sec. 30321. (1) The department shall make or cause to be made

 

a preliminary inventory of all wetland in this state on a county by

 

county basis and file the inventory with the agricultural extension

 

office, register of deeds, and county clerk.

 

     (2) At least 2 hearings shall be held in each state planning

 

and development region created by Executive Directive No. 1973-1.

 

The hearing shall be held by the department after publication and

 

due notice so that interested parties may comment on the inventory.

 

After the hearings, the department shall issue a final inventory

 

which shall be sent and kept by the agricultural extension office,

 

register of deeds, and county clerk. Legislators shall receive an

 


inventory of a county or regional classification for their

 

districts including both preliminary and final inventories unless

 

the legislators request not to receive the materials.

 

     (3) Before an inventory is made of a county, a person who owns

 

or leases a parcel of property located in that county may request

 

that the department of environmental quality assess whether the

 

parcel of property or a portion of the parcel is wetland. The

 

request shall satisfy all of the following requirements:

 

     (a) Be made on a form provided by the department.

 

     (b) Be signed by the person who owns or leases the property.

 

     (c) Contain a legal description of the parcel and, if only a

 

portion of the parcel is to be assessed, a description of the

 

portion to be assessed.

 

     (d) Include a map showing the location of the parcel.

 

     (e) Grant the department or its agent permission to enter on

 

the parcel for the purpose of conducting the assessment.

 

     (4) The department shall assess the parcel within a reasonable

 

time after the request is made. The department may enter upon the

 

parcel to conduct the assessment. Upon completion of the

 

assessment, the department shall provide the person with a written

 

assessment report. The assessment report shall do all of the

 

following:

 

     (a) Identify in detail the location of any wetland in the area

 

assessed.

 

     (b) If wetland is present in the area assessed, describe the

 

types of activities that require a permit under this part.

 

     (c) If the assessment report determines that the area assessed

 


or part of the area assessed is not wetland, state that the

 

department lacks jurisdiction under this part as to the area that

 

the report determines is not wetland and that this determination is

 

binding on the department for 3 years from the date of the

 

assessment.

 

     (d) Contain the date of the assessment.

 

     (e) Advise that the person may request the department to

 

reassess the parcel or any part of the parcel that the person

 

believes was erroneously determined to be wetland if the request is

 

accompanied by evidence pertaining to wetland vegetation, soils, or

 

hydrology that is different from or in addition to the information

 

relied upon by the department.

 

     (f) Advise that the assessment report does not constitute a

 

determination of wetland that may be regulated under local

 

ordinance or wetland areas that may be regulated under federal law

 

and advise how a determination of wetland areas regulated under

 

federal law may be obtained.

 

     (g) List regulatory programs that may limit land use

 

activities on the parcel, advise that the list is not exhaustive,

 

and advise that the assessment report does not constitute a

 

determination of jurisdiction under those programs. The regulatory

 

programs listed shall be those under the following parts:

 

     (i) Part 31, with respect to floodplains and floodways.

 

     (ii) Part 91.

 

     (iii) Part 301.

 

     (iv) Part 323.

 

     (v) Part 325.

 


     (vi) Part 353.

 

     (5) A person may request the department to reassess any area

 

assessed under subsections (3) and (4) that the person believes the

 

department erroneously determined to be wetland. The requirements

 

of subsections (3) and (4) apply to the request, assessment, and

 

assessment report. However, the request shall be accompanied by

 

evidence pertaining to wetland vegetation, soils, or hydrology that

 

is different from or in addition to the information relied upon by

 

the department. The assessment report shall not contain the

 

information required by subsection (4)(e).

 

     (6) If an assessment report determines that the area assessed

 

or part of the area assessed is not a wetland regulated by the

 

department under this part, then the area determined by the

 

assessment report not to be a wetland is not a wetland regulated by

 

the department under this part for a period of 3 years after the

 

date of the assessment.

 

     (7) The department may charge a fee for an assessment

 

requested under subsection (3) based upon the cost to the

 

department of conducting an assessment.

 

     Sec. 31701. As used in this part:

 

     (a) "Agricultural well" means a high capacity well that is

 

used for an agricultural purpose.

 

     (b) "Complaint" means a complaint submitted under section

 

31702 alleging a potential groundwater dispute.

 

     (c) "Construction" means the process of building a building,

 

road, utility, or another structure, including all of the

 

following:

 


     (i) Assembling materials.

 

     (ii) Disassembling and removing a structure.

 

     (iii) Preparing the construction site.

 

     (iv) Work related to any of the items described in

 

subparagraphs (i) to (iii).

 

     (d) "Dewatering well" means a well or pump that is used for a

 

limited time period as part of a construction project to remove or

 

pump water from a surface or subsurface area and ceases to be used

 

upon completion of the construction project or shortly after

 

completion of the construction project.

 

     (e) "Director" means the director of the department of

 

environmental quality or his or her designee.

 

     (f) "Farm" means that term as it is defined in section 2 of

 

the Michigan right to farm act, 1981 PA 93, MCL 286.472.

 

     (g) "Fund" means the aquifer protection revolving fund created

 

in section 31710.

 

     (h) "Groundwater" means the water in the zone of saturation

 

that fills all of the pore spaces of the subsurface geologic

 

material.

 

     (i) "Groundwater dispute" means a groundwater dispute declared

 

by order of the director under section 31703.

 

     (j) "High capacity well" means 1 or more water wells

 

associated with an industrial or processing facility, an irrigation

 

facility, a farm, or a public water supply system that, in the

 

aggregate from all sources and by all methods, have the capability

 

of withdrawing 100,000 or more gallons of groundwater in 1 day.

 

     (k) "Industrial or processing facility" means that term as it

 


is defined in section 32701.

 

     (l) "Irrigation facility" means that term as it is defined in

 

section 32701.

 

     (k) (m) "Local health department" means that term as it is

 

defined in section 1105 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL

 

333.1105.

 

     (l) (n) "Owner" means either of the following:

 

     (i) The owner of an interest in property.

 

     (ii) A person in possession of property.

 

     (m) (o) "Potable water" means water that at the point of use

 

is acceptable for human consumption.

 

     (n) (p) "Public water supply system" means a water system that

 

provides water for human consumption or other purposes to persons

 

other than the supplier of water.

 

     (o) (q) "Small quantity well" means 1 or more water wells of a

 

person at the same location that, in the aggregate from all sources

 

and by all methods, have the capability of withdrawing less than

 

100,000 gallons of groundwater in 1 day.

 

     (p) (r) "Water well" means an opening in the surface of the

 

earth, however constructed, that is used for the purpose of

 

withdrawing groundwater. Water well does not include a drain as

 

defined in section 3 of the drain code of 1956, 1956 PA 40, MCL

 

280.3.

 

     (q) (s) "Well drilling contractor" means a well drilling

 

contractor registered under part 127 of the public health code,

 

1978 PA 368, MCL 333.12701 to 333.12771.

 

     Sec. 32501. As used in this part:

 


     (a) "Beach" means the area landward of the shoreline of the

 

Great Lakes as the term shoreline is defined in section 32301.

 

     (b) "Beach maintenance activities" means any of the following

 

in the area of Great Lakes bottomlands lying below the ordinary

 

high-water mark and above the water's edge:

 

     (i) Manual or mechanized leveling of sand.

 

     (ii) Mowing of vegetation.

 

     (iii) Manual de minimis removal of vegetation.

 

     (iv) Grooming of soil.

 

     (v) Construction and maintenance of a path.

 

     (c) "Debris" means animal or fish carcasses, zebra mussel

 

shells, dead vegetation, trash, and discarded materials of human-

 

made origin.

 

     (d) "Department" means the department of environmental

 

quality.

 

     (e) "Director" means the director of the department.

 

     (d) (f) "Environmental area" means an environmental area as

 

defined in section 32301.

 

     (e) (g) "Grooming of soil" means raking or dragging, pushing,

 

or pulling metal teeth through the top 4 inches of soil without

 

disturbance of or destruction to plant roots, for the purpose of

 

removing debris.

 

     (f) (h) "Leveling of sand" means the relocation of sand within

 

areas being leveled that are predominantly free of vegetation,

 

including the redistribution, grading, and spreading of sand that

 

has been deposited through wind or wave action onto upland riparian

 

property.

 


     (g) (i) "Marina purposes" means an operation making use of

 

submerged bottomlands or filled-in bottomlands of the Great Lakes

 

for the purpose of service to boat owners or operators, which

 

operation may restrict or prevent the free public use of the

 

affected bottomlands or filled-in lands.

 

     (h) (j) "Mowing of vegetation" means the cutting of vegetation

 

to a height of not less than 2 inches, without disturbance of soil

 

or plant roots.

 

     (i) (k) "Path" means a temporary access walkway from the

 

upland riparian property directly to the shoreline across swales

 

with standing water, not exceeding 6 feet in bottom width and

 

consisting of sand and pebbles obtained from the exposed,

 

nonvegetated bottomlands or from the upland riparian property.

 

     (j) (l) "Removal of vegetation" means the manual or mechanized

 

removal of vegetation other than the de minimis removal of

 

vegetation.

 

     (k) (m) "Wetland" means that term as it is defined in section

 

30301.

 

     Sec. 32513. (1) Before any work or connection specified in

 

section 32512 or 32512a is undertaken, a person shall file an

 

application with the department of environmental quality setting

 

forth the following:

 

     (a) The name and address of the applicant.

 

     (b) The legal description of the lands included in the

 

project.

 

     (c) A summary statement of the purpose of the project.

 

     (d) A map or diagram showing the proposal on an adequate scale

 


with contours and cross-section profiles of the waterway to be

 

constructed.

 

     (e) Other information required by the department. of

 

environmental quality.

 

     (2) Except as provided in subsections (3) and (4), until

 

October 1, 2011, an application for a permit under this section

 

shall be accompanied by a fee according to the following schedule:

 

     (a) For a project in a category of activities for which a

 

general permit is issued under section 32512a, a fee of $100.00.

 

     (b) For activities included in the minor project category as

 

described in rules promulgated under this part and for a permit for

 

the removal of vegetation in an area that is not more than 100 feet

 

wide or the width of the property, whichever is less, or the mowing

 

of vegetation in excess of what is allowed in section

 

32512(2)(a)(ii), in the area between the ordinary high-water mark

 

and the water's edge, a fee of $50.00.

 

     (c) For construction or expansion of a marina, a fee of:

 

     (i) $50.00 for an expansion of 1-10 slips to an existing

 

permitted marina.

 

     (ii) $100.00 for a new marina with 1-10 proposed marina slips.

 

     (iii) $250.00 for an expansion of 11-50 slips to an existing

 

permitted marina, plus $10.00 for each slip over 50.

 

     (iv) $500.00 for a new marina with 11-50 proposed marina slips,

 

plus $10.00 for each slip over 50.

 

     (v) $1,500.00 if an existing permitted marina proposes

 

maintenance dredging of 10,000 cubic yards or more or the addition

 

of seawalls, bulkheads, or revetments of 500 feet or more.

 


     (d) For major projects other than a project described in

 

subdivision (c)(v), involving any of the following, a fee of

 

$2,000.00:

 

     (i) Dredging of 10,000 cubic yards or more.

 

     (ii) Filling of 10,000 cubic yards or more.

 

     (iii) Seawalls, bulkheads, or revetment of 500 feet or more.

 

     (iv) Filling or draining of 1 acre or more of coastal wetland.

 

     (v) New dredging or upland boat basin excavation in areas of

 

suspected contamination.

 

     (vi) New breakwater or channel jetty.

 

     (vii) Shore protection, such as groins and underwater

 

stabilizers, that extend 150 feet or more on Great Lakes

 

bottomlands.

 

     (viii) New commercial dock or wharf of 300 feet or more in

 

length.

 

     (e) For all other projects not listed in subdivisions (a)

 

through to (d), $500.00.

 

     (3) A project that requires review and approval under this

 

part and 1 or more of the following is subject to only the single

 

highest permit fee required under this part or the following:

 

     (a) Part 301.

 

     (b) Part 303.

 

     (c) Part 323.

 

     (d) Section 3104.

 

     (e) Section 117 of the land division act, 1967 PA 288, MCL

 

560.117.

 

     (4) If work has been done in violation of a permit requirement

 


under this part and restoration is not ordered by the department,

 

of environmental quality, the department of environmental quality

 

may accept an application for a permit if the application is

 

accompanied by a fee equal to 2 times the permit fee required under

 

this section.

 

     (5) The department of environmental quality shall forward all

 

fees collected under this section to the state treasurer for

 

deposit into the land and water management permit fee fund created

 

in section 30113.

 

     Sec. 32601. As used in this part:

 

     (a) "Bottomlands" means land in the Great Lakes, and bays and

 

harbors of the Great Lakes, lying below and lakeward of the

 

ordinary high-water mark as described in section 32502.

 

     (b) "Department" means the department of environmental

 

quality.

 

     (b) (c) "Fair market value" means the price based upon the

 

unique historical and physical properties, including, but not

 

limited to, species, growth rates, volume, and condition of the

 

submerged logs as calculated at dockside following delivery to

 

shore.

 

     (c) (d) "Fund" means the submerged log recovery fund created

 

in section 32610.

 

     (d) (e) "Great Lakes" means Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake

 

Huron, and Lake Erie, and includes Lake St. Clair.

 

     (e) (f) "Ordinary high-water mark" means the elevations

 

described in section 32502. When the soil, configuration of the

 

surface, or vegetation has been altered by human activity, the

 


ordinary high-water mark is located where it would have been if

 

this alteration had not occurred.

 

     (f) (g) "Patented lands" means any bottomlands lying within a

 

specific government grant area, including a private claim patent or

 

federal patent.

 

     (g) (h) "Riparian owner" means a person who owns frontage

 

bordering bottomlands.

 

     (h) (i) "Riparian rights" means those rights that are

 

associated with the ownership of frontage bordering bottomlands,

 

subject to the public trust.

 

     (i) (j) "Submerged log" means a portion of the trunk of a

 

felled tree that has not been further processed for any end use and

 

is located on, in, over, or under bottomlands. Submerged log does

 

not include a portion of a tree that is located in the Great Lakes

 

or on, in, over, or under bottomlands that poses a navigational or

 

safety hazard or is of no or little commercial value.

 

     (j) (k) "Unpatented lands" means all bottomlands except

 

patented lands.

 

     Sec. 32701. (1) As used in this part:

 

     (a) "Adverse resource impact" means any of the following:

 

     (i) Until February 1, 2009, decreasing the flow of a river or

 

stream by part of the index flow such that the river's or stream's

 

ability to support characteristic fish populations is functionally

 

impaired.

 

     (ii) Beginning February 1, 2009, subject to subparagraph (vi),

 

decreasing the flow of a cold river system by part of the index

 

flow as follows:

 


     (A) For a cold stream, the withdrawal will result in a 3% or

 

more reduction in the density of thriving fish populations as

 

determined by the thriving fish curve.

 

     (B) For a cold small river, the withdrawal will result in a 1%

 

or more reduction in the density of thriving fish populations as

 

determined by the thriving fish curve.

 

     (iii) Beginning February 1, 2009, subject to subparagraph (vi),

 

decreasing the flow of a cold-transitional river system by part of

 

the index flow such that the withdrawal will result in a 5% or more

 

reduction in the density of thriving fish populations as determined

 

by the thriving fish curve.

 

     (iv) Beginning February 1, 2009, subject to subparagraph (vi),

 

decreasing the flow of a cool river system by part of the index

 

flow as follows:

 

     (A) For a cool stream, the withdrawal will result in a 10% or

 

more reduction in the abundance of characteristic fish populations

 

as determined by the characteristic fish curve.

 

     (B) For a cool small river, the withdrawal will result in a

 

15% or more reduction in the density of thriving fish populations

 

as determined by the thriving fish curve.

 

     (C) For a cool large river, the withdrawal will result in a

 

12% or more reduction in the density of thriving fish populations

 

as determined by the thriving fish curve.

 

     (v) Beginning February 1, 2009, subject to subparagraph (vi),

 

decreasing the flow of a warm river system by part of the index

 

flow as follows:

 

     (A) For a warm stream, the withdrawal will result in a 5% or

 


more reduction in the abundance of characteristic fish populations

 

as determined by the characteristic fish curve.

 

     (B) For a warm small river, the withdrawal will result in a

 

10% or more reduction in the abundance of characteristic fish

 

populations as determined by the characteristic fish curve.

 

     (C) For a warm large river, the withdrawal will result in a

 

10% or more reduction in the abundance of characteristic fish

 

populations as determined by the characteristic fish curve.

 

     (vi) Beginning February 1, 2009, decreasing the flow of a

 

stream or river by more than 25% of its index flow.

 

     (vii) Decreasing the level of a lake or pond with a surface

 

area of 5 acres or more through a direct withdrawal from the lake

 

or pond in a manner that would impair or destroy the lake or pond

 

or the uses made of the lake or pond, including the ability of the

 

lake or pond to support characteristic fish populations, or such

 

that the ability of the lake or pond to support characteristic fish

 

populations is functionally impaired. As used in this subparagraph,

 

lake or pond does not include a retention pond or other

 

artificially created surface water body.

 

     (b) "Agricultural purpose" means the agricultural production

 

of plants and animals useful to human beings and includes, but is

 

not limited to, forages and sod crops, grains and feed crops, field

 

crops, dairy animals and dairy products, poultry and poultry

 

products, cervidae, livestock, including breeding and grazing,

 

equine, fish and other aquacultural products, bees and bee

 

products, berries, herbs, fruits, vegetables, flowers, seeds,

 

grasses, nursery stock, trees and tree products, mushrooms, and

 


other similar products, or any other product, as determined by the

 

commission of agriculture, that incorporates the use of food, feed,

 

fiber, or fur.

 

     (c) "Assessment tool" means the water withdrawal assessment

 

tool provided for in section 32706a.

 

     (d) "Baseline capacity", subject to subsection (2), means any

 

of the following, which shall be considered the existing withdrawal

 

approval amount under section 4.12.2 of the compact:

 

     (i) The following applicable withdrawal capacity as reported to

 

the department or the department of agriculture, as appropriate, by

 

the person making the withdrawal in the annual report submitted

 

under section 32707 not later than April 1, 2009 or in the water

 

use conservation plan submitted under section 32708 not later than

 

April 1, 2009:

 

     (A) Unless reported under a different provision of this

 

subparagraph, for a quarry or mine that holds an authorization to

 

discharge under part 31 that includes a discharge volume, the

 

discharge volume stated in that authorization on February 28, 2006.

 

     (B) The system capacity used or developed to make a withdrawal

 

on February 28, 2006, if the system capacity and a description of

 

the system capacity are included in an annual report that is

 

submitted under this part not later than April 1, 2009.

 

     (ii) If the person making the withdrawal does not report under

 

subparagraph (i), the highest annual amount of water withdrawn as

 

reported under this part for calendar year 2002, 2003, 2004, or

 

2005. However, for a person who is required to report by virtue of

 

the 2008 amendments to section 32705(2)(d), baseline capacity means

 


the person's withdrawal capacity as reported in the April 1, 2009

 

annual report submitted under section 32707.

 

     (iii) For a community supply, the total designed withdrawal

 

capacity for the community supply under the safe drinking water

 

act, 1976 PA 399, MCL 325.1001 to 325.1023, on February 28, 2006 as

 

reported to the department in a report submitted not later than

 

April 1, 2009.

 

     (e) "Characteristic fish curve" means a fish functional

 

response curve that describes the abundance of characteristic fish

 

populations in response to reductions in index flow as published in

 

the document entitled "Report to the Michigan Legislature in

 

response to 2006 Public Act 34" by the former groundwater

 

conservation advisory council dated July 2007, which is

 

incorporated by reference.

 

     (f) "Characteristic fish population" means the fish species,

 

including thriving fish, typically found at relatively high

 

densities in stream reaches having specific drainage area, index

 

flow, and summer temperature characteristics.

 

     (g) "Cold river system" means a stream or small river that has

 

the appropriate summer water temperature that, based on statewide

 

averages, sustains a fish community composed predominantly of cold-

 

water fish species, and where small increases in water temperature

 

will not cause a decline in these populations, as determined by a

 

scientific methodology adopted by order of the commission.

 

     (h) "Cold-transitional river system" means a stream or river

 

that has the appropriate summer water temperature that, based on

 

statewide averages, sustains a fish community composed

 


predominantly of cold-water fish species, and where small increases

 

in water temperature will cause a decline in the proportion of

 

cold-water species, as determined by a scientific methodology

 

adopted by order of the commission.

 

     (i) "Community supply" means that term as it is defined in

 

section 2 of the safe drinking water act, 1976 PA 399, MCL

 

325.1002.

 

     (j) "Compact" means the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence river basin

 

water resources compact provided for in part 342.

 

     (k) "Consumptive use" means that portion of water withdrawn or

 

withheld from the Great Lakes basin and assumed to be lost or

 

otherwise not returned to the Great Lakes basin due to evaporation,

 

incorporation into products or agricultural products, use as part

 

of the packaging of products or agricultural products, or other

 

processes. Consumptive use includes a withdrawal of waters of the

 

Great Lakes basin that is packaged within the Great Lakes basin in

 

a container of 5.7 gallons (20 liters) or less and is bottled

 

drinking water as defined in the food code, 2005 recommendations of

 

the food and drug administration of the United States public health

 

service.

 

     (l) "Cool river system" means a stream or river that has the

 

appropriate summer water temperature that, based on statewide

 

averages, sustains a fish community composed mostly of warm-water

 

fish species, but also contains some cool-water species or cold-

 

water species, or both, as determined by a scientific methodology

 

adopted by order of the commission.

 

     (m) "Council" means the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence river basin

 


water resources council created in the compact.

 

     (n) "Department" means the department of environmental

 

quality.

 

     (n) (o) "Designated trout stream" means a trout stream

 

identified on the document entitled "Designated Trout Streams for

 

the State of Michigan", as issued under order of the director of

 

the department of natural resources, FO-210.04, on October 10,

 

2003.

 

     (o) (p) "Diversion" means a transfer of water from the Great

 

Lakes basin into another watershed, or from the watershed of 1 of

 

the Great Lakes into that of another by any means of transfer,

 

including, but not limited to, a pipeline, canal, tunnel, aqueduct,

 

channel, modification of the direction of a water course, tanker

 

ship, tanker truck, or rail tanker but does not apply to water that

 

is used in the Great Lakes basin or a Great Lake watershed to

 

manufacture or produce a product that is then transferred out of

 

the Great Lakes basin or watershed. Diverted has a corresponding

 

meaning. Diversion includes a transfer of water withdrawn from the

 

waters of the Great Lakes basin that is removed from the Great

 

Lakes basin in a container greater than 5.7 gallons (20 liters).

 

Diversion does not include any of the following:

 

     (i) A consumptive use.

 

     (ii) The supply of vehicles, including vessels and aircraft,

 

whether for the needs of the persons or animals being transported

 

or for ballast or other needs related to the operation of vehicles.

 

     (iii) Use in a noncommercial project on a short-term basis for

 

firefighting, humanitarian, or emergency response purposes.

 


     (iv) A transfer of water from a Great Lake watershed to the

 

watershed of its connecting waterways.

 

     (p) (q) "Environmentally sound and economically feasible water

 

conservation measures" means those measures, methods, technologies,

 

or practices for efficient water use and for reduction of water

 

loss and waste or for reducing a withdrawal, consumptive use, or

 

diversion that meet all of the following:

 

     (i) Are environmentally sound.

 

     (ii) Reflect best practices applicable to the water use sector.

 

     (iii) Are technically feasible and available.

 

     (iv) Are economically feasible and cost-effective based on an

 

analysis that considers direct and avoided economic and

 

environmental costs.

 

     (v) Consider the particular facilities and processes involved,

 

taking into account the environmental impact, the age of equipment

 

and facilities involved, the process employed, energy impacts, and

 

other appropriate factors.

 

     (q) (r) "Farm" means that term as it is defined in section 2

 

of the Michigan right to farm act, 1981 PA 93, MCL 286.472.

 

     (r) (s) "Flow-based safety factor" means a protective measure

 

of the assessment tool that reduces the portion of index flow

 

available for a withdrawal to 1/2 of the index flow for the purpose

 

of minimizing the risk of adverse resource impacts caused by

 

statistical uncertainty.

 

     (s) (t) "Great Lakes" means Lakes Superior, Michigan and

 

Huron, Erie, and Ontario and their connecting waterways including

 

the St. Marys river, Lake St. Clair, the St. Clair river, and the

 


Detroit river. For purposes of this definition, Lakes Huron and

 

Michigan shall be considered a single Great Lake.

 

     (t) (u) "Great Lakes basin" means the watershed of the Great

 

Lakes and the St. Lawrence river.

 

     (u) (v) "Great Lakes charter" means the document establishing

 

the principles for the cooperative management of the Great Lakes

 

water resources, signed by the governors and premiers of the Great

 

Lakes region on February 11, 1985.

 

     (v) (w) "Great Lakes region" means the geographic region

 

composed of the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota,

 

New York, Ohio, and Wisconsin, the commonwealth of Pennsylvania,

 

and the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, Canada.

 

     (w) (x) "Index flow" means the 50% exceedance flow for the

 

lowest summer flow month of the flow regime, for the applicable

 

stream reach, as determined over the period of record or

 

extrapolated from analyses of the United States geological survey

 

flow gauges in Michigan. Beginning on October 1, 2008, index flow

 

shall be calculated as of that date.

 

     (x) (y) "Intrabasin transfer" means a diversion of water from

 

the source watershed of a Great Lake prior to its use to the

 

watershed of another Great Lake.

 

     (y) (z) "Lake augmentation well" means a water well used to

 

withdraw groundwater for the purpose of maintaining or raising

 

water levels of an inland lake or stream as defined in section

 

30101.

 

     (z) (aa) "Large quantity withdrawal" means 1 or more

 

cumulative total withdrawals of over 100,000 gallons of water per

 


day average in any consecutive 30-day period that supply a common

 

distribution system.

 

     (aa) (bb) "Large river" means a river with a drainage area of

 

300 or more square miles.

 

     (bb) (cc) "New or increased large quantity withdrawal" means a

 

new water withdrawal of over 100,000 gallons of water per day

 

average in any consecutive 30-day period or an increase of over

 

100,000 gallons of water per day average in any consecutive 30-day

 

period beyond the baseline capacity of a withdrawal.

 

     (cc) (dd) "New or increased withdrawal capacity" means new or

 

additional water withdrawal capacity to supply a common

 

distribution system that is an increase from the person's baseline

 

capacity. New or increased capacity does not include maintenance or

 

replacement of existing withdrawal capacity.

 

     (dd) (ee) "Online registration process" means the online

 

registration process provided for in section 32706.

 

     (ee) (ff) "Preventative measure" means an action affecting a

 

stream or river that prevents an adverse resource impact by

 

diminishing the effect of a withdrawal on stream or river flow or

 

the temperature regime of the stream or river.

 

     (ff) (gg) "Registrant" means a person who has registered a

 

water withdrawal under section 32705.

 

     (gg) (hh) "River" means a flowing body of water with a

 

drainage area of 80 or more square miles.

 

     (hh) (ii) "Site-specific review" means the department's

 

independent review under section 32706c to determine whether the

 

withdrawal is a zone A, zone B, zone C, or zone D withdrawal and

 


whether a withdrawal is likely to cause an adverse resource impact.

 

     (ii) (jj) "Small river" means a river with a drainage area of

 

less than 300 square miles.

 

     (jj) (kk) "Source watershed" means the watershed from which a

 

withdrawal originates. If water is withdrawn directly from a Great

 

Lake, then the source watershed shall be considered to be the

 

watershed of that Great Lake and its connecting waterways. If water

 

is withdrawn from the watershed of a direct tributary to a Great

 

Lake, then the source watershed shall be considered to be the

 

watershed of that Great Lake and its connecting waterways, with a

 

preference for returning water to the watershed of the direct

 

tributary from which it was withdrawn.

 

     (kk) (ll) "Stream" means a flowing body of water with a

 

drainage area of less than 80 square miles.

 

     (ll) (mm) "Stream reach" means a segment of a stream or river.

 

     (mm) (nn) "Thriving fish curve" means a fish functional

 

response curve that describes the initial decline in density of

 

thriving fish populations in response to reductions in index flow

 

as published in the document entitled "Report to the Michigan

 

Legislature in response to 2006 Public Act 34" by the former

 

groundwater conservation advisory council dated July 2007, which is

 

incorporated by reference.

 

     (nn) (oo) "Thriving fish population" means the fish species

 

that are expected to flourish at very high densities in stream

 

reaches having specific drainage area, index flow, and summer

 

temperature characteristics.

 

     (oo) (pp) "Warm river system" means a stream or river that has

 


the appropriate summer water temperature that, based on statewide

 

averages, sustains a fish community composed predominantly of warm-

 

water fish species, as determined by a scientific methodology

 

adopted by order of the commission.

 

     (pp) (qq) "Waters of the Great Lakes basin" means the Great

 

Lakes and all streams, rivers, lakes, connecting channels, and

 

other bodies of water, including groundwater, within the Great

 

Lakes basin.

 

     (qq) (rr) "Waters of the state" means groundwater, lakes,

 

rivers, and streams and all other watercourses and waters,

 

including the Great Lakes, within the territorial boundaries of the

 

state. Waters of the state do not include drainage ways and ponds

 

designed and constructed solely for wastewater conveyance,

 

treatment, or control.

 

     (rr) (ss) "Withdrawal" means the removal of water from surface

 

water or groundwater.

 

     (ss) (tt) "Zone A withdrawal" means the following:

 

     (i) For a cold river system, as follows:

 

     (A) For a cold stream, less than a 1% reduction in the density

 

of thriving fish populations as determined by the thriving fish

 

curve.

 

     (B) For a cold small river, less than 50% of the withdrawal

 

that would result in an adverse resource impact.

 

     (ii) For a cold-transitional river system, there is not a zone

 

A withdrawal.

 

     (iii) For a cool river system, as follows:

 

     (A) For a cool stream, less than a 10% reduction in the

 


density of thriving fish populations as determined by the thriving

 

fish curve.

 

     (B) For a cool small river, less than a 5% reduction in the

 

density of thriving fish populations as determined by the thriving

 

fish curve.

 

     (C) For a cool large river, less than an 8% reduction in the

 

density of thriving fish populations as determined by the thriving

 

fish curve.

 

     (iv) For a warm river system, less than a 10% reduction in the

 

density of thriving fish populations as determined by the thriving

 

fish curve.

 

     (tt) (uu) "Zone B withdrawal" means the following:

 

     (i) There is not a zone B withdrawal for a cold stream or small

 

river.

 

     (ii) For a cold-transitional river system, less than a 5%

 

reduction in the density of thriving fish populations as determined

 

by the thriving fish curve.

 

     (iii) For a cool river system, as follows:

 

     (A) For a cool stream, a 10% or more but less than a 20%

 

reduction in the density of thriving fish populations as determined

 

by the thriving fish curve.

 

     (B) For a cool small river, a 5% or more but less than a 10%

 

reduction in the density of thriving fish populations as determined

 

by the thriving fish curve.

 

     (C) For a cool large river, an 8% or more but less than a 10%

 

reduction in the density of thriving fish populations as determined

 

by the thriving fish curve.

 


     (iv) For a warm river system, as follows:

 

     (A) For a warm stream, a 10% or more but less than a 15%

 

reduction in the density of thriving fish populations as determined

 

by the thriving fish curve.

 

     (B) For a warm small river or a warm large river, a 10% or

 

more but less than a 20% reduction in the density of thriving fish

 

populations as determined by the thriving fish curve.

 

     (uu) (vv) "Zone C withdrawal" means the following as long as

 

the withdrawal will not decrease the flow of a stream or river by

 

more than 25% of its index flow:

 

     (i) For a cold river system, as follows:

 

     (A) For a cold stream, a 1% or more but less than a 3%

 

reduction in the density of thriving fish populations as determined

 

by the thriving fish curve.

 

     (B) For a cold small river, 50% or more of the withdrawal that

 

would result in an adverse resource impact but less than a 1%

 

reduction in the density of thriving fish populations as determined

 

by the thriving fish curve.

 

     (ii) There is not a zone C withdrawal for a cold-transitional

 

river system.

 

     (iii) For a cool river system, as follows:

 

     (A) For a cool stream, a 20% or more reduction in the density

 

of thriving fish populations as determined by the thriving fish

 

curve but less than a 10% reduction in the abundance of

 

characteristic fish populations as determined by the characteristic

 

fish curve.

 

     (B) For cool small rivers, a 10% or more but less than a 15%

 


reduction in the density of thriving fish populations as determined

 

by the thriving fish curve.

 

     (C) For cool large rivers, a 10% or more but less than a 12%

 

reduction in the density of thriving fish populations as determined

 

by the thriving fish curve.

 

     (iv) For warm river systems, as follows:

 

     (A) For warm streams, a 15% or more reduction in the density

 

of thriving fish populations as determined by the thriving fish

 

curve but less than a 5% reduction in the abundance of

 

characteristic fish populations as determined by the characteristic

 

fish curve.

 

     (B) For warm small rivers and warm large rivers, a 20% or more

 

reduction in the density of thriving fish populations as determined

 

by the thriving fish curve but less than a 10% reduction in the

 

abundance of characteristic fish populations as determined by the

 

characteristic fish curve.

 

     (vv) (ww) "Zone D withdrawal" means, beginning February 1,

 

2009, a withdrawal that is likely to cause an adverse resource

 

impact.

 

     (2) For purposes of determining baseline capacity, a person

 

who replaces his or her surface water withdrawal capacity with the

 

same amount of groundwater withdrawal capacity from the drainage

 

area of the same stream reach may retain the baseline capacity

 

established under this section.

 

     Sec. 32801. As used in this part:

 

     (a) "Annex 2001" means the Great Lakes charter annex signed by

 

the governors and premiers of the Great Lakes region on June 18,

 


2001.

 

     (b) "Aquifer" means any water bearing bed or stratum of earth

 

or rock capable of yielding groundwater to a water well in

 

sufficient quantities that can be withdrawn.

 

     (c) "Base flow" means groundwater discharge to rivers and

 

streams.

 

     (d) "Conflict areas" means an aquifer or a portion of an

 

aquifer in which the department has determined that there is

 

reasonable, scientifically based evidence of a pattern of

 

groundwater withdrawal conflicts or a single extended groundwater

 

withdrawal conflict.

 

     (e) "Council" means the water resources conservation advisory

 

council created under section 32803.

 

     (f) "Department" means the department of environmental

 

quality.

 

     (g) "Director" means the director of the department.

 

     (f) (h) "Groundwater" means water below the land surface in a

 

zone of saturation.

 

     (g) (i) "Groundwater withdrawal conflict" means the failure of

 

an existing water well that was constructed in compliance with part

 

127 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.12701 to

 

333.12771, to furnish its normal supply of groundwater because of a

 

progressive decline of the static water level within the aquifer

 

due to the withdrawal of groundwater from the aquifer by a high-

 

capacity well or sump, as determined based on reasonable,

 

scientifically based evidence.

 

     (h) (j) "Static water level" means the distance between the

 


ground surface and the water level within a well that is not being

 

pumped.

 

     Sec. 32803. (1) The water resources conservation advisory

 

council is created within the department. of natural resources. The

 

council shall consist of all of the following members:

 

     (a) Four individuals appointed by the senate majority leader

 

as follows:

 

     (i) One individual representing business and manufacturing

 

interests.

 

     (ii) One individual representing public utilities.

 

     (iii) One individual representing a statewide angler

 

association.

 

     (iv) One individual representing a statewide agricultural

 

organization.

 

     (b) Four individuals appointed by the speaker of the house of

 

representatives as follows:

 

     (i) One individual representing registered well drilling

 

contractors with hydrology experience.

 

     (ii) One individual representing local units of government.

 

     (iii) One individual representing agricultural interests.

 

     (iv) One individual with knowledge and expertise in limnology.

 

     (c) Five individuals appointed by the governor as follows:

 

     (i) One individual representing municipal water suppliers.

 

     (ii) One individual representing a statewide conservation

 

organization.

 

     (iii) One individual representing a statewide riparian

 

landowners association.

 


     (iv) One individual representing a statewide tourism

 

organization.

 

     (v) One individual representing Indian tribes.

 

     (d) Four individuals appointed by the director as follows:

 

     (i) One individual representing nonagriculture irrigators.

 

     (ii) One individual representing the aggregate industry.

 

     (iii) One individual representing environmental organizations.

 

     (iv) One individual representing the general public.

 

     (e) Four Three individuals representing the department, the

 

department of agriculture, the department of natural resources, and

 

the attorney general.

 

     (2) The appointments to the council under subsection (1) shall

 

be made not later than 30 days after the effective date of the

 

amendatory act that added this subsection August 7, 2008. The

 

person making the appointment under subsection (1) shall give

 

consideration and deference to individuals who served on the former

 

groundwater conservation advisory council.

 

     (3) The council shall appoint a technical advisory committee

 

of individuals with specific technical and legal expertise relevant

 

to the council's responsibilities.

 

     (4) The council shall do all of the following:

 

     (a) Not later than 6 months after the effective date of the

 

amendatory act that added this subdivision January 9, 2009, study

 

and make recommendations to the senate majority leader, the speaker

 

of the house of representatives, and the standing committees of the

 

legislature with jurisdiction primarily related to natural

 

resources and the environment, and the department on how the

 


assessment tool could be updated to reconcile differences between

 

baseline capacity and actual withdrawal amounts to assure the

 

accuracy of the assessment tool's determinations.

 

     (b) When the department makes the assessment tool available

 

for testing and evaluation, conduct testing and evaluate the

 

operation and the accuracy of the assessment tool, including

 

implications of section 32706e. Not later than 9 months after the

 

effective date of the amendatory act that added this subdivision

 

April 9, 2009, submit a report to the senate majority leader, the

 

speaker of the house of representatives, and the standing

 

committees of the legislature with jurisdiction primarily related

 

to natural resources and the environment, and the department that

 

contains the results of its testing and evaluation and any

 

recommendations that the council has to improve the operation of

 

the assessment tool.

 

     (c) Study and make recommendations regarding the development

 

and refinement of the assessment tool.

 

     (d) Study and make recommendations on whether and how the

 

definition of adverse resource impact in section 32701 should be

 

modified to more specifically address potential impacts to the

 

Great Lakes, inland lakes, and other aquatic systems due to large

 

quantity withdrawals.

 

     (e) Make recommendations on reconciling conflicts in state

 

laws related to the use of the waters of the state.

 

     (f) Make recommendations on the development and implementation

 

of the state's water conservation and efficiency program under

 

section 4.2 of the compact.

 


     (g) Develop a framework for evaluating preventative measures

 

designed to prevent adverse resource impacts.

 

     (h) In consultation with academic institutions and other

 

nonprofit organizations, make recommendations regarding educational

 

materials related to the use and availability of water resources.

 

     (i) Not earlier than 3 years after the effective date of the

 

amendatory act that added this subdivision July 9, 2011, submit a

 

report to the senate majority leader, the speaker of the house of

 

representatives, and the standing committees of the legislature

 

with jurisdiction primarily related to natural resources and the

 

environment that makes recommendations regarding how the water

 

withdrawal assessment process under part 327 could be improved in

 

order to more accurately assess adverse resource impacts. The

 

report shall contain specific recommendations on the use of the

 

assessment tool, the site-specific review process, the permitting

 

process, and any other measure that the council determines would

 

improve the water withdrawal assessment process.

 

     (5) The council shall submit the following reports, approved

 

by a majority of the voting members of the council, to the senate

 

majority leader, the speaker of the house of representatives, and

 

the standing committees of the legislature with jurisdiction

 

primarily related to natural resources and the environment and to

 

the department:

 

     (a) Not later than February 8, 2009, a progress report on the

 

council's findings and recommendations under subsection (4)(c) to

 

(h) as of that date.

 

     (b) Not later than August 8, 2009, the council's final report

 


on its findings and recommendations under subsection (4)(c) to (h).

 

     (6) As used in this section, "assessment tool" means the water

 

withdrawal assessment tool provided for in part 327.

 

     Sec. 33911. (1) Upon application of a person that holds a

 

lease from this state of any portion or portions of the real

 

property described in this part, the department may execute and

 

deliver to the applicant a deed conveying all of the right, title,

 

and interest of this state in and to that real property, subject to

 

the paramount rights of hunting, fishing, and navigation, which

 

remain in the general public and in the government as recognized by

 

law. The deeds shall contain the same provisions as to use and

 

occupancy now set forth in all the leases previously granted under

 

former 1913 PA 326 or under this part. The department shall not

 

grant a deed under this part unless the lessee of the subject

 

property agrees to cancel the lease and relinquishes all rights

 

under the lease.

 

     (2) The department shall not grant a deed under this part for

 

a lot that contains a structure unless the structure and the lot

 

subject to the deed, including seawalls where present, comply with

 

the applicable township building code and county and state

 

sanitation codes and part 325, and the structure is located on a

 

parcel of land that is adequately protected from erosion.

 

     (3) A deed granted under this part shall not include a portion

 

of the original lease that is submerged or lies below the elevation

 

of 575.3 International Great Lakes Datum (IGLD 1985). The

 

department of environmental quality shall perform a site inspection

 

and set stakes, if necessary, to identify the boundaries of the

 


area of the leased lot to be deeded. The applicant shall provide a

 

boundary survey, completed by a professional surveyor, that

 

delineates the area of the real property to be deeded. The state

 

shall retain proprietary ownership in trust over the portion of the

 

leased lot below the ordinary high-water mark of Lake St. Clair at

 

the time of the conveyance.

 

     (4) A deed shall not be granted under this part at less than

 

the estimated land value of the real property as determined by the

 

township in which the real property is located. Appraisal

 

procedures and practices may include utilizing independent fee

 

appraisal contractors. The appraisal shall not include improvements

 

such as buildings, seawalls, and docks. Credit shall not be granted

 

to the lessee for the years remaining on an unexpired lease when

 

determining the sale value to the state. The applicant shall remit

 

the full consideration within 1 year after being notified in

 

writing of the selling price by the department. If the applicant

 

does not remit the full consideration for the deed within 1 year,

 

the department shall close the file and a new application must be

 

submitted.

 

     (5) If the applicant is not satisfied with the fair market

 

value determined by the department under subsection (4), the

 

applicant, within 30 days after receiving the determination, may

 

submit a petition in writing to the circuit court in the thirty-

 

first judicial circuit, and the court shall appoint an appraiser or

 

appraisers from the department's approved listing to conduct an

 

appraisal of the parcel. The decision of the court is final. The

 

applicant shall pay all costs associated with this additional

 


appraisal.

 

     (6) A request for a deed shall be on a form provided by the

 

department of environmental quality and shall be accompanied by an

 

application fee of $500.00.

 

     Sec. 33924. As used in this part:

 

     (a) "Department" means the department of natural resources

 

unless expressly indicated otherwise.

 

     (a) (b) "Possession", "occupancy", and "improvement" include

 

dredging or ditching, the throwing up of embankments, sheetpiling,

 

filling in, the erection of fences, a boathouse, land made by

 

dredging and filling, or building structures.

 

     (b) (c) "Person" means an individual, partnership,

 

corporation, association, or other nongovernmental legal entity.

 

     (c) (d) "Well maintained" means that any structure on the land

 

complies with township building codes and current county and state

 

sanitation codes and part 325 and that the land is adequately

 

protected from erosion.

 

     Sec. 33929. (1) Each sale or transfer of a lease shall contain

 

a specific statement of the purpose for which the property leased

 

is to be used by the purchaser or assignee. A sale or transfer of a

 

lease for other than club or residence purposes is not valid unless

 

and until the sale or transfer is approved by the department. of

 

environmental quality.

 

     (2) Before selling or transferring a property that is subject

 

to a lease under this part, the parties involved shall apply to the

 

department of environmental quality for approval of the transfer of

 

the lease to the purchaser. The application shall be made on a form

 


provided by the department of environmental quality and shall be

 

accompanied by a fee of $250.00. Upon approval by the department,

 

of environmental quality, an assignment of lease form shall be

 

recorded with the county register of deeds.

 

     Sec. 35301. As used in this part:

 

     (a) "Contour change" includes any grading, filling, digging,

 

or excavating that significantly alters the physical characteristic

 

of a critical dune area, except that which is involved in sand dune

 

mining as defined in part 637.

 

     (b) "Crest" means the line at which the first lakeward facing

 

slope of a critical dune ridge breaks to a slope of less than 1-

 

foot vertical rise in a 5-1/2-foot horizontal plane for a distance

 

of at least 20 feet, if the areal extent where this break occurs is

 

greater than 1/10 acre in size.

 

     (c) "Critical dune area" means a geographic area designated in

 

the "atlas of critical dune areas" dated February 1989 that was

 

prepared by the department.

 

     (d) "Department" means the department of environmental

 

quality.

 

     (d) (e) "Foredune" means 1 or more low linear dune ridges that

 

are parallel and adjacent to the shoreline of a Great Lake and are

 

rarely greater than 20 feet in height. The lakeward face of a

 

foredune is often gently sloping and may be vegetated with dune

 

grasses and low shrub vegetation or may have an exposed sand face.

 

     (e) (f) "Model zoning plan" means the model zoning plan

 

provided for in sections 35312 to 35324.

 

     (f) (g) "Planning commission" means the body or entity within

 


a local government that is responsible for zoning and land use

 

planning for the local unit of government.

 

     (g) (h) "Restabilization" means restoration of the natural

 

contours of a critical dune to the extent practicable, and the

 

restoration of the protective vegetative cover of a critical dune

 

through the establishment of indigenous vegetation, and the

 

placement of snow fencing or other temporary sand trapping measures

 

for the purpose of preventing erosion, drifting, and slumping of

 

sand.

 

     (h) (i) "Special use project" means any of the following:

 

     (i) A proposed use in a critical dune area for an industrial or

 

commercial purpose regardless of the size of the site.

 

     (ii) A multifamily use of more than 3 acres.

 

     (iii) A multifamily use of 3 acres or less if the density of use

 

is greater than 4 individual residences per acre.

 

     (iv) A proposed use in a critical dune area, regardless of size

 

of the use, that the planning commission, or the department if a

 

local unit of government does not have an approved zoning

 

ordinance, determines would damage or destroy features of

 

archaeological or historical significance.

 

     (i) (j) "Use" means a developmental, silvicultural, or

 

recreational activity done or caused to be done by a person that

 

significantly alters the physical characteristic of a critical dune

 

area or a contour change done or caused to be done by a person. Use

 

does not include sand dune mining as defined in part 637.

 

     (j) (k) "Zoning ordinance" means an ordinance of a local unit

 

of government that regulates the development of critical dune areas

 


within the local unit of government pursuant to the requirements of

 

this part.

 

     Sec. 40107c. (1) To reduce cormorant damage, the department

 

shall administer a program to control and manage double-crested

 

cormorants. The department shall administer the program in

 

cooperation with federal agencies and in a manner that complies

 

with the cormorant depredation order.

 

     (2) In consultation with the department of environmental

 

quality, the The department shall participate in a federally

 

recognized organization of states, such as the Mississippi flyway

 

council, to coordinate a regional effort to reduce cormorant damage

 

that includes urging the federal government to do both of the

 

following:

 

     (a) Expand state options for double-crested cormorant control

 

by revising the cormorant depredation order.

 

     (b) Seek to amend the migratory bird convention with Mexico to

 

designate the double-crested cormorant as a game species.

 

     (3) The department shall seek funding from the Great Lakes

 

protection fund authorized under part 331 for deposit in the

 

cormorant control fund created in section 40107d.

 

     Sec. 41303. (1) Subject to subsection (2), a person shall not

 

knowingly possess a live organism if the organism is a prohibited

 

species or restricted species, except under 1 or more of the

 

following circumstances:

 

     (a) The person intends to present a specimen of the prohibited

 

species or restricted species, for identification or similar

 

purposes, to a person who is a certified applicator or registered

 


applicator under part 83, to a public or private institution of

 

higher education, or to the department, of natural resources, the

 

department of agriculture, or any other state, local, or federal

 

agency with responsibility for the environment, natural resources,

 

or agriculture.

 

     (b) The person has been presented with a specimen of a

 

prohibited species or restricted species for identification or

 

similar purposes under subdivision (a).

 

     (c) The person possesses the prohibited species or restricted

 

species in conjunction with otherwise lawful activity to eradicate

 

or control the prohibited species or restricted species.

 

     (d) If the prohibited species or restricted species is not an

 

insect or plant species, the possession is pursuant to a permit

 

issued for education or research purposes by the department of

 

natural resources under section 41306. If the prohibited species or

 

restricted species is an insect or plant species, the possession is

 

pursuant to a permit issued for education or research purposes by

 

the department of agriculture under section 41306 or by the United

 

States department of agriculture.

 

     (2) A person described in subsection (1)(b) or (c) shall

 

notify the department of natural resources, or the department of

 

agriculture , or the department of environmental quality if the

 

prohibited species or restricted species was found at a location

 

where it was not previously known to be present.

 

     Sec. 61501. Unless the context requires a different meaning,

 

the words defined in this section have the following meanings when

 

used in this part:

 


     (a) "Department" means the department of environmental

 

quality.

 

     (a) (b) "Field" means an underground reservoir or reservoirs

 

containing oil or gas, or both. Field also includes the same

 

general surface area that is underlaid or appears to be underlaid

 

by at least 1 pool. Field and pool have the same meaning if only 1

 

underground reservoir is involved. However, field, unlike pool, may

 

relate to 2 or more pools.

 

     (b) (c) "Fund" means the oil and gas regulatory fund created

 

in section 61525b.

 

     (c) (d) "Gas" means a mixture of hydrocarbons and varying

 

quantities of nonhydrocarbons in a gaseous state which may or may

 

not be associated with oil, and includes those liquids resulting

 

from condensation.

 

     (d) (e) "Illegal container" means a receptacle that contains

 

illegal oil or gas or illegal products.

 

     (e) (f) "Illegal conveyance" means a conveyance by or through

 

which illegal oil or gas or illegal products are being transported.

 

     (f) (g) "Illegal oil or gas" means oil or gas that has been

 

produced by an owner or producer in violation of this part, a rule

 

promulgated under this part, or an order of the supervisor issued

 

under this part.

 

     (g) (h) "Illegal product" means a product of oil or gas or any

 

part of a product of oil or gas that was knowingly processed or

 

derived in whole or in part from illegal oil or gas.

 

     (h) (i) "Market demand" means the actual demand for oil or gas

 

from any particular pool or field for current requirements for

 


current consumption and use within or outside the state, together

 

with the demand for such amounts as are necessary for building up

 

or maintaining reasonable storage reserves of oil or gas or the

 

products of oil or gas.

 

     (i) (j) "Oil" means natural crude oil or petroleum and other

 

hydrocarbons, regardless of gravity, that are produced at the well

 

in liquid form by ordinary production methods and that are not the

 

result of condensation of gas after it leaves the underground

 

reservoir.

 

     (j) (k) "Owner" means the person who has the right to drill a

 

well into a pool, to produce from a pool, and to receive and

 

distribute the value of the production from the pool for himself or

 

herself either individually or in combination with others.

 

     (k) (l) "Pool" means an underground reservoir containing a

 

common accumulation of oil or gas, or both. Pool includes a

 

productive zone of a general structure that is completely separated

 

from any other zone in the structure, or is declared to be a pool

 

by the supervisor of wells.

 

     (l) (m) "Producer" means the operator, whether owner or not, of

 

a well or wells capable of producing oil or gas or both in paying

 

quantities.

 

     (m) (n) "Product" means any commodity or thing made or

 

manufactured from oil or gas, and all derivatives of oil or gas,

 

including refined crude oil, crude tops, topped crude, processed

 

crude petroleum, residue treated crude oil, residuum, gas oil,

 

naphtha, distillate, gasoline, casing-head gasoline, natural gas

 

gasoline, kerosene, benzine, wash oil, waste oil, lubricating oil,

 


and blends or mixtures of oil or gas or any derivatives of oil or

 

gas whether enumerated or not.

 

     (n) (o) "Supervisor" or "supervisor of wells" means the

 

department.

 

     (o) (p) "Tender" means a permit or certificate of clearance,

 

approved and issued or registered under the authority of the

 

supervisor, for the transportation of oil or gas or products.

 

     (p) (q) "Waste" in addition to its ordinary meaning includes

 

all of the following:

 

     (i) "Underground waste", as those words are generally

 

understood in the oil business, and including all of the following:

 

     (A) The inefficient, excessive, or improper use or dissipation

 

of the reservoir energy, including gas energy and water drive, of

 

any pool, and the locating, spacing, drilling, equipping,

 

operating, or producing of a well or wells in a manner to reduce or

 

tend to reduce the total quantity of oil or gas ultimately

 

recoverable from any pool.

 

     (B) Unreasonable damage to underground fresh or mineral

 

waters, natural brines, or other mineral deposits from operations

 

for the discovery, development, and production and handling of oil

 

or gas.

 

     (ii) "Surface waste", as those words are generally understood

 

in the oil business, and including all of the following:

 

     (A) The unnecessary or excessive surface loss or destruction

 

without beneficial use, however caused, of gas, oil, or other

 

product, but including the loss or destruction, without beneficial

 

use, resulting from evaporation, seepage, leakage, or fire,

 


especially a loss or destruction incident to or resulting from the

 

manner of spacing, equipping, operating, or producing a well or

 

wells, or incident to or resulting from inefficient storage or

 

handling of oil.

 

     (B) The unnecessary damage to or destruction of the surface;

 

soils; animal, fish, or aquatic life; property; or other

 

environmental values from or by oil and gas operations.

 

     (C) The unnecessary endangerment of public health, safety, or

 

welfare from or by oil and gas operations.

 

     (D) The drilling of unnecessary wells.

 

     (iii) "Market waste", which includes the production of oil or

 

gas in any field or pool in excess of the market demand as defined

 

in this part.

 

     Sec. 62501. As used in this part:

 

     (a) "Artificial brine" means mineralized water formed by

 

dissolving rock salt or other readily soluble rocks or minerals.

 

     (b) "Brine well" means a well drilled or converted for the

 

purpose of producing natural or artificial brine.

 

     (c) "Department" means the department of environmental

 

quality.

 

     (c) (d) "Disposal well" means a well drilled or converted for

 

subsurface disposal of waste products or processed brine and its

 

related surface facilities.

 

     (d) (e) "Exploratory purposes" means test well drilling for

 

the specific purpose of discovering or outlining an orebody or

 

mineable mineral resource.

 

     (e) (f) "Fund" means the mineral well regulatory fund created

 


in section 62509b.

 

     (f) (g) "Mineral well" means any well subject to this part.

 

     (g) (h) "Natural brine" means naturally occurring mineralized

 

water other than potable or fresh water.

 

     (h) (i) "Operator" means the person, whether owner or not,

 

supervising or responsible for the drilling, operating, repairing,

 

abandoning, or plugging of wells subject to this part.

 

     (i) (j) "Owner" means the person who has the right to drill,

 

convert, or operate any well subject to this part.

 

     (j) (k) "Pollution" means damage or injury from the loss,

 

escape, or unapproved disposal of any substance at any well subject

 

to this part.

 

     (k) (l) "Storage well" means a well drilled into a subsurface

 

formation to develop an underground storage cavity for subsequent

 

use in storage operations. Storage well does not include a storage

 

well drilled pursuant to part 615.

 

     (l) (m) "Supervisor of mineral wells" means the state

 

geologist.

 

     (m) (n) "Surface waste" means damage to, injury to, or

 

destruction of surface waters, soils, animal, fish, and aquatic

 

life, or surface property from unnecessary seepage or loss

 

incidental to or resulting from drilling, equipping, or operating a

 

well or wells subject to this part.

 

     (n) (o) "Test well" means a well, core hole, core test,

 

observation well, or other well drilled from the surface to

 

determine the presence of a mineral, mineral resource, ore, or rock

 

unit, or to obtain geological or geophysical information or other

 


subsurface data related to mineral exploration and extraction. Test

 

well does not include holes drilled in the operation of a quarry,

 

open pit, or underground mine, or any wells not related to mineral

 

exploration or extraction.

 

     (o) (p) "Underground storage cavity" means a cavity formed by

 

dissolving rock salt or other readily soluble rock or mineral, by

 

nuclear explosion, or by any other method for the purpose of

 

storage or disposal.

 

     (p) (q) "Underground waste" means damage or injury to potable

 

water, mineralized water, or other subsurface resources.

 

     (q) (r) "Waste product" means waste or by-product resulting

 

from municipal or industrial operations or waste from any trade,

 

manufacture, business, or private pursuit that could cause

 

pollution and for which underground disposal may be feasible or

 

practical.

 

     Sec. 63101. As used in this part:

 

     (a) "Administratively complete" means an application for a

 

mining permit under this part that is determined by the department

 

to satisfy all of the conditions of this part and rules promulgated

 

under this part.

 

     (b) "Department" means the department of environmental

 

quality.

 

     (b) (c) "Life of the mine" means the period of time from

 

issuance of a permit under this part through the completion of

 

reclamation as required by this part.

 

     (c) (d) "Metallic mineral" means ferrous ore or material mined

 

for its ferrous content.

 


     (d) (e) "Metallic mineral operator" means a person who owns or

 

leases the plant and equipment utilized in a metallic mineral

 

mining area and is engaged in the business of mining metallic

 

minerals or preparing to engage in mining operations for metallic

 

minerals.

 

     (e) (f) "Metallic product" means a commercially salable

 

metallic mineral in its final marketable form or state.

 

     (f) (g) "Mineral" means any substance to be excavated from the

 

natural deposits on or in the earth for commercial, industrial, or

 

construction purposes, including gypsum, limestone, dolostone,

 

sandstone, shale, metallic mineral, or other solid materials.

 

However, mineral does not include clay, gravel, marl, peat, inland

 

sand or sand mined for commercial or industrial purposes, from sand

 

dune areas regulated under part 637, coal regulated under part 635,

 

or nonferrous metallic mineral regulated under part 632.

 

     (g) (h) "Mining area" or "area subjected to mining" means an

 

area of land from which material is removed in connection with the

 

production or extraction of minerals by surface or open pit mining

 

methods, the lands on which material from that mining is deposited,

 

the lands on which beneficiating or treatment plants and auxiliary

 

facilities are located, the lands on which the water reservoirs

 

used in the mining process are located, and auxiliary lands which

 

are used.

 

     (h) (i) "Operator" means a metallic mineral operator or other

 

persons engaged in or preparing to engage in mining operations for

 

the production of mineral products.

 

     (i) (j) "Stockpile" means material, including, but not limited

 


to, surface overburden, rock, or lean ore, which in the process of

 

mineral mining and beneficiation or treatment has been removed from

 

the earth and stored on the surface, but excluding materials that

 

are being treated in the production of mineral products and the

 

mineral product that has been produced by that operation.

 

     (j) (k) "Supervisor of reclamation" means the state geologist.

 

     (k) (l) "Surface or open pit mining" means the mining of more

 

than 10,000 tons of a mineral or disturbing more than 1 acre of

 

land a year in the regular operation of a business by removing the

 

overburden lying above a natural deposit of a mineral and mining

 

directly from the natural deposit exposed or by mining directly

 

from a deposit lying exposed in the mineral's natural state.

 

Surface or open pit mining includes all mineral mining below the

 

water table or which will upon cessation of mining result in

 

creating a body of water of any size. Surface or open pit mining

 

does not include excavation or grading preliminary to a

 

construction project.

 

     (l) (m) "Tailings basin" means land on which is deposited, by

 

hydraulic or other means, the material that is separated from the

 

mineral product in the beneficiation or treatment of minerals

 

including any surrounding dikes constructed to contain the

 

material.

 

     Sec. 63201. As used in this part:

 

     (a) "Administratively complete" means an application for a

 

mining permit under this part that is determined by the department

 

to contain all of the documents and information required under this

 

part and any rules promulgated under this part.

 


     (b) "Affected area" means an area outside of the mining area

 

where the land surface, surface water, groundwater, or air

 

resources are determined through an environmental impact assessment

 

to be potentially affected by mining operations within the proposed

 

mining area.

 

     (c) "Department" means the department of environmental

 

quality.

 

     (c) (d) "Emergency management coordinator" means that term as

 

defined in section 2 of the emergency management act, 1976 PA 390,

 

MCL 30.402.

 

     (d) (e) "Fund" means the nonferrous metallic mineral

 

surveillance fund created in section 63217.

 

     (e) (f) "Metallic product" means a commercially salable

 

mineral produced primarily for its nonferrous metallic mineral

 

content in its final marketable form or state.

 

     (f) (g) "Mining" means the excavation or removal of more than

 

10,000 tons of earth material a year or disturbing more than 1 acre

 

of land a year in the regular operation of a business for the

 

purpose of extracting a nonferrous metallic mineral or minerals by

 

1 or both of the following:

 

     (i) Removing the overburden lying above natural deposits of a

 

mineral and excavating directly from the natural deposits thus

 

exposed or by excavating directly from deposits lying exposed in

 

their natural state.

 

     (ii) Excavating from below the surface of the ground by means

 

of shafts, tunnels, or other subsurface openings.

 

     (g) (h) "Mining area" means an area of land from which earth

 


material is removed in connection with nonferrous metallic mineral

 

mining, the lands on which material from that mining is stored or

 

deposited, the lands on which beneficiating or treatment plants and

 

auxiliary facilities are located, the lands on which the water

 

reservoirs used in the nonferrous metallic mineral mining process

 

are located, and auxiliary lands that are used in connection with

 

the mining.

 

     (h) (i) "Mining permit" means a permit issued under this part

 

for conducting nonferrous metallic mineral mining and reclamation

 

operations.

 

     (i) (j) "Nonferrous metallic mineral" means any ore or

 

material to be excavated from the natural deposits on or in the

 

earth for its metallic content, but not primarily for its iron or

 

iron mineral content, to be used for commercial or industrial

 

purposes.

 

     (j) (k) "Nonferrous metallic mineral operator" or "operator"

 

means a permittee or other person who is engaged in, or who is

 

preparing to engage in, mining operations for nonferrous metallic

 

minerals, whether individually or jointly, or through agents,

 

employees, or contractors.

 

     (k) (l) "Permittee" means a person who holds a mining permit.

 

     (l) (m) "Postclosure monitoring period" means a period

 

following closure of a nonferrous metallic mineral mine during

 

which the permittee is required to conduct monitoring of

 

groundwater and surface water.

 

     (m) (n) "Stockpile" means material, including, but not limited

 

to, surface overburden, rock, or lean ore, that in the process of

 


mining and beneficiation or treatment has been removed from the

 

earth and stored on the surface. Stockpile does not include

 

materials that are being treated in the production of metallic

 

products and the metallic product that has been produced by that

 

operation.

 

     (n) (o) "Tailings basin" means land on which is deposited, by

 

hydraulic or other means, the material that is separated from the

 

metallic product in the beneficiation or treatment of minerals

 

including any surrounding dikes constructed to contain the

 

material.

 

     Sec. 63502. (1) "Agricultural land" includes any of the

 

following as determined by the department of natural resources

 

under part 609:

 

     (a) Prime farmland is land that has the best combination of

 

physical and chemical characteristics for producing food, feed,

 

forage, and fiber crops and is also available for these uses,

 

including cropland, pastureland, rangeland, forestland, or other

 

land, but not urban built-up land or water. Prime farmland has the

 

soil quality, growing season, and moisture supply needed to

 

economically produce sustained high yields of crops when treated

 

and managed, including water management, according to acceptable

 

farming methods. In general, prime farmland has an adequate and

 

dependable water supply from precipitation or irrigation, a

 

favorable temperature and growing season, acceptable acidity or

 

alkalinity, acceptable salt and sodium content, and few or no

 

rocks. Prime farmland is permeable to water and air. Prime farmland

 

is not excessively erodible or saturated with water for a long

 


period of time, and it either does not flood frequently or is

 

protected from flooding.

 

     (b) Unique farmland is land other than prime farmland that is

 

used for the production of specific high-value food and fiber

 

crops. Unique farmland has the special combination of soil quality,

 

location, growing season, and moisture supply needed to

 

economically produce sustained high quality or high yields or both

 

high quality and high yields of a specific crop when treated and

 

managed according to acceptable farming methods. Areas that can be

 

classified as unique farmland include organic soils producing

 

vegetables and specialty crops; high-lying and relatively frost-

 

free fruit sites; and areas of high water table acid soils

 

especially suited to highbush blueberry culture as well as the

 

small areas in the Upper Peninsula copper country that are

 

producing strawberries.

 

     (c) Other farmland is land in addition to prime farmland and

 

unique farmland that has a combination of soils, location, and

 

management characteristics which is producing or can produce in or

 

for a region food, feed, forage, and fiber crops and is land on

 

which agriculture represents the greatest current economic return

 

from the land. Other farmland includes beef cow-calf operations

 

that occur on generally fine-textured, somewhat poorly drained

 

soils well-suited to forage production and grazing. Cropland areas

 

that by their location are especially suited for the production of

 

disease-free seed crops or that offer special opportunities for

 

integrated best management programs could also be considered other

 

farmland. The determination of whether agricultural land is prime

 


farmland, unique farmland, or other farmland shall be made by the

 

department of natural resources under part 609 or this part, with

 

the concurrence of the department of agriculture and the United

 

States department of agriculture.

 

     (2) "Applicant" means a person applying for a permit from the

 

department to conduct surface coal mining activities or underground

 

coal mining activities pursuant to this part.

 

     (3) "Approximate original contour" means that surface

 

configuration achieved by the backfilling and grading of the mined

 

area so that the reclaimed area, including any terracing or access

 

roads, closely resembles the general surface configuration of the

 

land prior to mining and blends into and complements the drainage

 

pattern of the surrounding terrain, with all highwalls and spoil

 

piles eliminated.

 

     (4) "Coal" means all forms of coal including lignite. Coal

 

does not include clay, stone, sand, gravel, metalliferous and

 

nonmetalliferous ores, and any other solid material or substance of

 

commercial value excavated in solid form from natural deposits on

 

or in the earth, exclusive of coal, and those minerals that occur

 

naturally in liquid or gaseous form.

 

     (5) "Coal exploration operation" means the substantial

 

disturbance of the surface or subsurface for the purpose of or

 

related to determining the location, quantity, or quality of a coal

 

deposit.

 

     (6) "Department" means the department of environmental

 

quality.

 

     (6) (7) "Eligible land and water" means all land that was

 


mined for coal or was affected by that mining, wastebanks, coal

 

processing, or other coal mining processing, and abandoned or left

 

in an inadequate reclamation status under the standards provided in

 

subparts 3 and 4 prior to August 3, 1977, and for which there is

 

not a continuing reclamation responsibility under state or federal

 

law.

 

     (7) (8) "Historic resource" means a district, site, building,

 

structure, or object of historical, architectural, archeological,

 

or cultural significance that meets any of the following

 

requirements:

 

     (a) Is designated as a national historic landmark pursuant to

 

the historic sites, buildings, and antiquities act, chapter 593, 49

 

Stat. 666, 16 U.S.C. USC 461 to 467.

 

     (b) Is listed on the national register of historic places

 

pursuant to the national historic preservation act, Public Law 89-

 

665, 16 U.S.C. USC 470 to 470a, 470b, and 470c to 470x-6; or the

 

state register of historic sites Michigan historical marker's act

 

pursuant to 1955 PA 10, MCL 399.151 to 399.152 399.160.

 

     (c) Is recognized under a locally established historic

 

district created pursuant to the local historic districts act, 1970

 

PA 169, MCL 399.201 to 399.215.

 

     (d) Is eligible for listing, designation, or recognition under

 

subdivisions (a) to (c).

 

     (8) (9) "Imminent danger to the health and safety of the

 

public" means the existence of any condition or practice, or any

 

violation of a permit or other requirement of this part in a

 

surface coal mining and reclamation operation, which condition,

 


practice, or violation could reasonably be expected to cause

 

substantial physical harm to persons outside the permit area before

 

the condition, practice, or violation can be abated. A reasonable

 

expectation of death or serious injury before abatement exists if a

 

reasonable person, subjected to the same conditions or practices

 

giving rise to the peril, would not expose himself or herself to

 

the danger during the time necessary for abatement.

 

     (9) (10) "Local unit of government" means a county, city,

 

township, or village; a board, commission, or authority of a

 

county, city, township, or village; or a soil conservation

 

district.

 

     (10) (11) "Operator" means a person engaged in coal mining who

 

removes or intends to remove more than 250 tons of coal from the

 

earth by coal mining within 12 consecutive calendar months in any 1

 

location.

 

     Sec. 76111. (1) Subject to subsection (7), the department of

 

environmental quality shall establish Great Lakes bottomlands

 

preserves by rule. A Great Lakes bottomlands preserve shall be

 

established by emergency rule if it is determined by the department

 

that this action is necessary to immediately protect an object or

 

area of historical or recreational value.

 

     (2) A Great Lakes bottomlands preserve may be established

 

whenever a bottomlands area includes a single watercraft of

 

significant historical value, includes 2 or more abandoned

 

watercraft, or contains other features of archaeological,

 

historical, recreational, geological, or environmental

 

significance. Bottomlands areas containing few or no watercraft or

 


other features directly related to the character of a preserve may

 

be excluded from preserves.

 

     (3) In establishing a Great Lakes bottomlands preserve, the

 

department of environmental quality shall consider all of the

 

following factors:

 

     (a) Whether creating the preserve is necessary to protect

 

either abandoned property possessing historical or recreational

 

value, or significant underwater geological or environmental

 

features.

 

     (b) The extent of local public and private support for

 

creation of the preserve.

 

     (c) Whether a preserve development plan has been prepared by a

 

state or local agency.

 

     (d) The extent to which preserve support facilities such as

 

roads, marinas, charter services, hotels, medical hyperbaric

 

facilities, and rescue agencies have been developed in or are

 

planned for the area.

 

     (4) The department of environmental quality and the department

 

of history, arts, and libraries or any other state agency shall not

 

grant a permit to recover abandoned artifacts within a Great Lakes

 

bottomlands preserve except for historical or scientific purposes

 

or when the recovery will not adversely affect the historical,

 

cultural, or recreational integrity of the preserve area as a

 

whole.

 

     (5) An individual Great Lakes bottomlands preserve shall not

 

exceed 400 square miles in area. Great Lakes bottomlands preserves

 

shall be limited in total area to not more than 10% of the Great

 


Lakes bottomlands within this state. However, the limitations

 

provided in this subsection do not apply to the Thunder Bay Great

 

Lakes bottomland preserve established in subsection (7).

 

     (6) Upon the approval of the committee, not more than 1 vessel

 

associated with Great Lakes maritime history may be sunk

 

intentionally within a Great Lakes bottomlands preserve. However,

 

state money shall not be expended to purchase, transport, or sink

 

the vessel.

 

     (7) The Thunder Bay Great Lakes state bottomland preserve

 

established under R 299.6001 of the Michigan administrative code

 

shall have boundaries identical with those described in 15 C.F.R.

 

CFR 922.190 for the Thunder Bay national marine sanctuary and

 

underwater preserve. As long as the Thunder Bay national marine

 

sanctuary and underwater preserve remains a designated national

 

marine sanctuary, the right and privilege to explore, survey,

 

excavate, and regulate abandoned property of historical or

 

recreational value found upon or within the lands owned by or under

 

control of the state within those boundaries shall be jointly

 

managed and regulated by the department of environmental quality

 

and the national oceanic and atmospheric administration. However,

 

this subsection shall not be construed to convey any ownership

 

right or interest from the state to the federal government of

 

abandoned property of historical or recreational value found upon

 

or within the lands owned by or under control of the state.

 

     Sec. 79501. As used in this part:

 

     (a) "Commission" means the Michigan jobs commission.

 

     (b) "Department" means the department of environmental

 


quality.

 

     (a) (c) "Gaming facility" means a gaming facility regulated

 

under the Michigan gaming control and revenue act, the initiated

 

law of 1996 IL 1, MCL 432.201 to 432.226.

 

     (b) (d) "Grant" means a waterfront redevelopment grant under

 

this part.

 

     (c) (e) "Response activity" means that term as it is defined

 

in part 201.

 

     (d) (f) "Waterfront" means land that is contiguous to the

 

Great Lakes or their connecting waterways, a river, or a lake or

 

impoundment that has a surface area of not less than 50 acres.

 

     (e) (g) "Waterfront planning area" means the geographic area

 

included within a waterfront redevelopment plan.

 

     (f) (h) "Waterfront redevelopment plan" means a waterfront

 

redevelopment plan prepared by a local unit of government under

 

section 79503 or a state approved recreation plan that includes

 

waterfront improvements.

 

     Sec. 79504. A local unit of government that wishes to be

 

considered for a grant shall submit a written grant application to

 

the department in a manner prescribed by the department and

 

containing the information required by the department. The grant

 

application shall also include all of the following:

 

     (a) A detailed description of the project and how the grant

 

would be used, including any private sector participation.

 

     (b) A copy of the waterfront redevelopment plan for the area

 

in which the project is to be located.

 

     (c) An explanation of how the project will contribute

 


significantly to the local unit of government's economic and

 

community redevelopment or the revitalization of adjacent

 

neighborhoods.

 

     (d) An explanation of how the project will provide for public

 

access to the waterfront or will provide recreational opportunities

 

for the public.

 

     (e) If the project includes the purchase of property, an

 

identification of the intended use of the property, and a timeline

 

for redevelopment of the property.

 

     (f) The total cost of the project and the source of the local

 

unit of government's contribution to the project.

 

     (g) A detailed description of the practices the local unit of

 

government will implement and maintain to control nonpoint source

 

pollution from the project site both during construction activities

 

and throughout the period of time in which the state is paying off

 

the bonds that were issued pursuant to the clean Michigan

 

initiative act, 1998 PA 284, MCL 324.95101 to 324.95108.

 

     (h) Other information that the department and the commission

 

Michigan economic development corporation consider relevant.

 

     Sec. 79505. Upon receipt of a grant application under section

 

79504, the department shall forward a copy of the application to

 

the commission Michigan economic development corporation. The

 

department and the commission Michigan economic development

 

corporation shall jointly review the grant applications. In

 

reviewing grant applications, the department and the commission

 

Michigan economic development corporation shall consider all of the

 

following:

 


     (a) Whether the project proposed to be funded is authorized by

 

this part.

 

     (b) Whether the grant application submitted complies with this

 

part.

 

     (c) Whether the project is consistent with the waterfront

 

redevelopment plan for the area in which the project is located.

 

     (d) Whether the project provides significant public access to

 

the waterfront or provides recreational opportunities for the

 

public.

 

     (e) Whether the project will significantly contribute to the

 

local unit of government's economic and community redevelopment or

 

the revitalization of adjacent neighborhoods.

 

     (f) Whether there is evidence of adverse economic and

 

socioeconomic conditions within the waterfront planning area.

 

     (g) The viability of the waterfront redevelopment plan.

 

     (h) Whether the project is innovative in comparison to other

 

grant applications.

 

     (i) The level of public and private commitment and other

 

resources available for the project.

 

     (j) The level of public and private commitment to other

 

aspects of the waterfront redevelopment plan.

 

     (k) How the project relates to a broader economic and

 

community development plan for the local unit of government as a

 

whole.

 

     (l) The level of demonstrated commitment from other

 

governmental agencies.

 

     (m) The level of public and private commitment to improving

 


abandoned real property within the waterfront planning area in

 

which the project is located.

 

     (n) Other criteria that the department and the commission

 

Michigan economic development corporation consider relevant.

 

     Sec. 79506. The department, with the approval of the

 

commission Michigan economic development corporation, shall issue

 

grants under this part for projects that the department determines

 

meet the requirements of this part and will contribute to the

 

revitalization of waterfronts throughout the state that are not

 

being used in a manner that maximizes economic and public value.

 

     Enacting section 1. The following acts and parts of acts are

 

repealed:

 

     (a) Part 23 of the natural resources and environmental

 

protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.2301 to 324.2305.

 

     (b) Sections 20517 and 20519 of the natural resources and

 

environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.20517 and

 

324.20519.

 

     (c) Section 21562 of the natural resources and environmental

 

protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.21562.