Rep. Nesbitt offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 466.  

            A resolution in support of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality - Office of Oil, Gas, and Minerals' application seeking primacy for Class II Underground Injection Control.

            Whereas, The federal Safe Drinking Water Act requires the regulation of injection wells to ensure that underground injections will not endanger drinking water sources. States may apply to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assume primary enforcement authority but must maintain state regulations at least as stringent as federal regulations to receive that authority. Michigan has not received primacy, and the EPA currently regulates injection wells in Michigan; and

            Whereas, The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Office of Oil, Gas, and Minerals is seeking primacy for Class II injection wells associated with the oil and gas industry. Under authority granted by the Legislature, the DEQ already regulates the approximately 1,400 Class II wells in Michigan to protect the environment and, more importantly, our citizens' drinking water; and

            Whereas, The state of Michigan is well-equipped to meet the responsibilities associated with assuming primacy and has an excellent record of accomplishment in protecting our state's environment and natural resources. DEQ's professional geologists and engineers throughout the state have extensive experience in well permitting, construction, operation, plugging, and abandonment and familiarity with our state's geography and geology as well as cultural, climatic, social, and economic issues; and

            Whereas, Receiving primacy over the underground injection control program for Class II wells will eliminate an unnecessary and duplicative level of regulation for the oil and gas industry. Michigan will be able to join the thirty-three other states that have already received primacy and be able to provide more responsive service and a more efficient regulatory structure while not sacrificing any protections of drinking water; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we support the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality - Office of Oil, Gas, and Minerals' application seeking primacy for Class II Underground Injection Control and encourage the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to approve the application expeditiously; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Region 5 and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.