MEC Capitol
Update
July 18, 2003
The
legislature wrapped up business for the summer. It will return
for one day on August 13th, after that the Senate will then
return on September 16th, and the House on September 23rd.
Budget
bills:
HB
4393 - MDEQ - The legislature adopted a version of the
budget bill that included $56 million in general fund support
(same as Senate passed version), but includes only $3.0 million
water discharge fees (NPDES). The authorized fees is down
from the $3.5 million adopted earlier by the Senate. Specially
removed was $425,000 earmarked for enforcement activities.
The budget does include $1.7 million for local water monitoring
(targeting Lake St. Clair related cleanups).
HB
4400 - MDNR Budget - The most controversial item included
in this budget is 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.
Fees
The House
defeated attempts to discharge all the fee bills required
to implement the MDEQ budget. In the end some of the fees
were passed and others remain in the House Government Operations
Committee.
The following
bills were not passed:
Water
Pollution Discharge Fees - SB
252 - This bill remains in committee. As stated above,
the budget bills authorizes $3.0 million in fees. Business
groups remain in opposition to the bill as passed by the Senate
with $3.4 million, ($400,000 dedicated toward enforcement).
Illinois has recently passed water discharge fee legislation
authorizing approximately $20 million in water discharge fees.
Michigan is now the only Great Lakes state that does not charge
for water pollution discharge permits.
The bill
used the formula designed by the regulated industry (that
generally has small dischargers subsidizing large ones). The
MDEQ budget adds $1.9 million in general fund -- leaving the
state $2.3 million below that identified as necessary to run
an adequate water protection program.
SB
560 - Groundwater Discharge Fees - The Senate bill 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.
SB
510 - Stormwater Discharge Fees - The Senate bill concurs
with the Governor's recommendation for $1.16 million in new
stormwater discharge fees.
The following
bills were passed:
SB
561 - Landfill Inspection Fees - Increased the fees for
landfill operators from $1.3 million to $3.7 million (slightly
lower than the Governor's recommendation of $2.6 million in
additional fees to fund solid waste management activities).
The committee amended the bill to extend operating licenses
from 2 years to 3 years. This will reduce the funding that
comes to the state to cleanup leaking landfills after their
closure.
SB
567 - Extend the authorization to collect fees under the
land and water management program from 2003 to 2008.
SB
569 -Increase fees for the application of herbicides to
aquatic nuisance species.
Other
legislation:
HB
4284 - This bill passed the House and would enable multiple
units of government to create joint planning commissions.
This enabling legislation provides an important tool for local
governments trying to develop cooperative solutions to regional
land use issues.
SB 289
- The House completed work on the legislation which will be
a modest improvement to our water reporting law. Attempts
by the House to have farms comply with the same requirements
and pay the same fees of other users was unsuccessful.
HB
4087 - The legislation is designed to establish a dispute
resolution system for groundwater disputes. Major questions
still exist regarding the funding necessary to run the program.
The bill remains on the Senate calendar.
