Legislation reducing the regulation of CAFOS passed the Senate last week. Overall, the package would have weakened of regulation over these facilities that are placing the water resources of the state at risk. Without tie-bars (requiring that all bills in the package be enacted), some parts of the package would have been a step forward. Hopefully, the House will take the step necessary to protect our water resources.
House Energy Committee is scheduled to take additional testimony and possibly move a bill on renewable energy standards.
More action on the budget is expected this week. The Detroit Free Press on Sunday had an excellent article on taxes and state spending:
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070624/NEWS06/706240646/1001/NEWS
SENATE
Passed:
- SB 501: A bill to require the department of environmental quality to publish a booklet on farm-related environmental regulations and cooperate with the department of agriculture.
- SB 503: A bill to regulate animal waste handlers.
- SB 504: A bill to create a permit process for concentrated animal feeding operations and provide permit exemptions for farms enrolled in the MAEAP program unless they are 5x the size of a large CAFO as defined in the bill.
- SB 447: A bill to provide for water pollution permit requirements for animal feeding operations.
- SB 448: A bill to provide penalties and remedies for water pollution from concentrated animal feeding operations.
On the floor:
- SB 502: A bill to require a complainant to provide his or her name to the department of environmental quality when submitting a complaint concerning a farm.
- HB 4597: A bill to provide for hunting on Department of Natural Resources controlled land.
- SB 530: A bill to provide a standard for noise emission from snowmobiles.
- SB 545: A bill to provide for waiver of storm water permit fees for certain municipalities.
In committee:
Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs will meet Wednesday (6/27) at 1:00 PM for the Michigan Groundwater Conservation Advisory Council report given by co-chairs Kurt Heise, Jon Allan, and Dr. Paul Seelbach. The committee will also take up:
- SB 513: A bill to specify authorized sites composting of yard clippings and require haulers to verify.
- HB 4614: A bill to provide for control fund for double-crested cormorant.
- HB 4471: A bill to define terms for control program of double-crested cormorant.
HOUSE
On the floor:
- HB 4711-13: Bills to amend the brownfield redevelopment act to allow more costs to be covered by captured tax revenues and change the MDEQ approval process for some of those costs.
- HB 4641: A bill to allow a county board of commissioners to change name of office of county drain commissioner to office of the water resources commissioner and authorize and increase amount of bond.
- HB 4642: A bill to provide for a definition of the term "visibly in existence".
- HB 4643: A bill to clarify liability for certain legal expenses of a drainage district.
- HB 4644: A bill to increase the enforcement power for removing obstructions or interferences with drains.
- HB 4688: A bill to double the amount a drain commissioner can spend on maintenance of a drain (from $2,500 to $5,000) – and assess those costs to taxpayers within a special assessment district. The taxpayers in such a district have no right to a vote on the maintenance project.
- SB 350: A bill to create an animal welfare fund.
- HB 4463: A bill to require the issuance of a permit to operate a marina at a public road. The MDEQ is concerned that the “shall issue” nature of the application could result in environmental degradation and possible overcrowding on inland lakes.
- HB 4464: A bill to clarify the intention of a plat donation of a road, street, or alley terminating at a lake or stream contiguous to a shoreline.
In committee:
Subcommittees on appropriations:
Natural Resources will meet Monday (6/25) at 4:00 PM at the St. Ignace Public Library to discuss Hunting/Fishing Fee Proposals.
Standing committees:
Tourism, Outdoor Recreation & Natural Resources will meet Tuesday (6/26) at 10:30 AM to take up:
- SCR 12: A concurrent resolution to urge Michigan's congressional delegation to secure supplemental funding to control the spread of viral hemorrhagic septicemia in fish populations.
- HB 4894: A bill to prohibit placing purple paint marks designating a no trespassing area on the property of another without permission.
- HB 4554: A bill to allow use of smokeless gun powder of in same circumstances as black powder.
Energy and Technology will meet Wednesday (6/27) at 8:30 AM to take up:
- HB 4562: A bill to require certain providers of electric service to comply with portfolio standard for renewable energy. (10% by 2015)
- HB 4539: A bill to require utilities to produce a certain portion of electricity for sale through renewable sources. (20% by 2020)
- HB 4319: A bill to require utilities to produce a certain portion of electricity for sale through renewable sources. (7% by 2015)
Transportation: Public Transit will meet Wednesday (6/27) at 9:00 AM for a presentation by Joe Fivas, Assistant Director of State Affairs, Michigan Municipal League.
Great Lakes & Environment will meet Wednesday (6/27) at 12:00 PM to take up:
- HB 4222: A bill to earmark the surcharge on solid waste entering landfills.
- HB 4484: A bill to revise and require recycling reports in solid waste plan.
- SCR 10: A concurrent resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to provide funding for the Saginaw Bay Coastal Initiative.
