MEC Capitol
Update
June 6, 2003
Senate
HB
4087 - The Senate started action on this bill to regulate
disputes where conflicts occur between groundwater users.
Although many groups, including MEC support the concept, the
legislation does not include any funding for the MDEQ to take
on this substantial new commitment. The MDEQ is working with
proponents on the perimeters of a program which they will
have the staff resources to administer.
Committee
activity:
Budget
Hearings -
Appropriations
Subcommittee - Department of Environmental Quality - HB
4393
The subcommittee
reported a substitute bill to the full Appropriation Committee
that restored many of the cuts made in the House version of
the bill. The bill does so by include a portion of the fees
recommended by Governor Granholm and exceeding the general
fund allotted to this budget in the Executive recommendation
by $3.2 million. The Budget both still contain substantial
cuts that will significant impact department programs. Major
changes include
NPDES
Permit Fees - The subcommittee included $3,098,000 in NPDES
(water discharge) permit fees. The Governor's budget had recommended
$7.2 million to restore funding to the levels included in
the FY 2002 budget. The budget also includes $1.6 million
in general fund (for a total of $4.6 million - approximately
the same level of funding last year after all budget reductions).
Landfill
Inspection Fees - Concurs with the Governor recommendation
of @.6 million in additional new fees to fund solid waste
management activities.
Groundwater
Discharge Fees - Included $1.38 million in new groundwater
discharge fees. The Governor had proposed $3.58 million in
fees. These new fees will keep this program under funded with
chronic non-compliance remaining a problem.
Stormwater
Discharge Fees - Concurs with the Governor's recommendation
for $1.16 million in new stormwater discharge fees.
Concurred
with House recommendations to reinsert programs on septage
waste, manufactured housing septage, swimming pools and campground
inspections.
Adds some
money for aquifer protection ($500,000), but may be insufficient
to cover the costs of new programs required in HB 4087 and
SB 289.
Appropriations
Subcommittee - Department of Natural Resources - HB
4400
The subcommittee
on Natural Resources reported its proposed budget. The most
controversial item was the use of restricted funds (Game and
Fish funds) to make up in a shortfall in payments in lieu
of taxes payments (PILT) to local units of government. Senator
McManus has introduced SB 521 to change how these payments
are handled in the future.
Senate
Appropriations is expected to take up both of these bills
next week.
Appropriation
Subcommittee - Transportation
Tuesday,
June 10, at 1:00 pm
SB
399 - Currently 27.9% of the first 4% sales tax levied
on fuels goes toward the the Comprehensive Transportation
Fund. This bill reduces that percentage to 24%. Opponents
of the bill point out that this reduces the amount available
for public transportation.
Senate
Natural Resources & Environmental Affairs Committee
Tuesday,
June 10 at 3:00 pm in Room 110 of the Farnum Building
HB
4408 - Law enforcement; local police; expands the definition
of peace officer for enforcement of snowmobile violations
SB
46 - Environmental protection; water pollution; doubles
the penalties for polluting Michigan waters
SB
47 - Criminal procedure; sentencing guidelines; increasing
penalties for polluting waters include in Michigan sentencing
guidelines.
SB
535 - Watercraft; registration; Great Lakes specialty
watercraft decals; earmark
revenue to the Michigan Great Lakes protection fund.
SB
536 - Watercraft; registration; provide for Great Lakes
protection specialty watercraft decals.
In addition,
the following four bills that make up the NPDES fee package:
SB
250 - Environmental protection; water pollution; fund
for water quality monitoring and administration and enforcement
of the water pollution discharge permit program; provide for.
SB
251 - Environmental protection; water pollution; pollution
prevention; require permit applicants to demonstrate steps
taken.
SB
252 - Environmental protection; water pollution; provide
for annual wastewater discharge environmental fee.
SB
253 - Environmental protection; water pollution; provide
for discharge permit application fee.
House
of Representatives
HB
4257 – Emergent Coastal Wetland - The House concurred
with the Senate changes, the bill was presented to the Governor
and has been signed. It is PA 14 of 2003. Attention regarding
this issue will now focus on the Army Corp of Engineers that
has joint jurisdiction in this area.
Committee
action:
Land
Use & Environment
Wednesday,
June 11 at 2:00 pm or after House session
SB
289 - Water Use Regulation - As introduced, this bill
would have regulated water use in Michigan.. As passed by
the Senate, it is a modest improvement to our water use reporting
statute (mainly through additional reporting requirements
by the agricultural community). In addition, it requires the
MDEQ to do some additional mapping (without enough money or
consistent information being provided), and establishes a
groundwater conservation advisory council to study the issue
more and decide if Michigan should ever actually regulate
water use.
SB
372 - The bill establishes an Adopt-A-Watershed program
in Michigan.
House
Appropriation Subcommittee - Agriculture - SB 288 -
Tuesday,
June 11 at 8:00 am
The committee
is expected to report the House version of the Agriculture
budget.
House
Agriculture and Resource Management
Tuesday,
June 10 at 10:30 am
HB
4790 - Eliminates the pump labeling requirement for fuels
containing ethanol.
