HOUSE BILL No. 5064

 

September 24, 2003, Introduced by Rep. Whitmer and referred to the Committee on Land Use and Environment.

        

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                 A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled                                             

                                                                                

    "Natural resources and environmental protection act,"                       

                                                                                

    by amending sections 3112 and 5510 (MCL 324.3112 and 324.5510).             

                                                                                

                THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:                      

                                                                                

1       Sec. 3112.  (1) A person shall not discharge any waste or                   

                                                                                

2   waste effluent into the waters of this state unless the person is           

                                                                                

3   in possession of a valid permit from the department.   Compliance           

                                                                                

4   with the terms of an outstanding order of determination or final            

                                                                                

5   order of determination or stipulation with the former water                 

                                                                                

6   resources commission that is in effect on April 15, 1973, shall             

                                                                                

7   be considered to meet the requirements of this section until the            

                                                                                

8   department issues its permit.                                               

                                                                                

9       (2) In determining whether to issue a permit under this part,               

                                                                                

10  the department shall consider and make written findings on the              

                                                                                

11  increased health risk to children in the area posed by the                  

                                                                                


                                                                                

1   proposed discharge and the cumulative health risk to children in            

                                                                                

2   the area posed by all discharges, including the proposed                    

                                                                                

3   discharge.                                                                  

                                                                                

4       (3) The department shall condition the continued validity of                

                                                                                

5   a permit upon the permittee's meeting the effluent requirements             

                                                                                

6   that the department considers necessary to prevent unlawful                 

                                                                                

7   pollution by the dates that the department considers to be                  

                                                                                

8   reasonable and necessary and to assure compliance with applicable           

                                                                                

9   federal law and regulations.  If the department finds that the              

                                                                                

10  terms of a permit have been, are being, or may be violated, it              

                                                                                

11  may modify, suspend, or revoke the permit or grant the permittee            

                                                                                

12  a reasonable period of time in which to comply with the permit.             

                                                                                

13  The department may reissue a revoked permit upon a showing                  

                                                                                

14  satisfactory to the department that the permittee has corrected             

                                                                                

15  the violation.  A person who has had a permit revoked may apply             

                                                                                

16  for a new permit.                                                           

                                                                                

17      (4)  (2)  If the department determines that a person is                     

                                                                                

18  causing or is about to cause unlawful pollution of the waters of            

                                                                                

19  this state, the department may notify the alleged offender of its           

                                                                                

20  determination and enter an order requiring the person to abate              

                                                                                

21  the pollution or refer the matter to the attorney general for               

                                                                                

22  legal action, or both.                                                      

                                                                                

23      (5)  (3)  A person who is aggrieved by an order of abatement                

                                                                                

24  of the department or by the reissuance, modification, suspension,           

                                                                                

25  or revocation of an existing permit of the department executed              

                                                                                

26  pursuant to this section may file a sworn petition with the                 

                                                                                

27  commission  director of the department setting forth the grounds           


                                                                                

1   and reasons for the complaint and asking for a contested case               

                                                                                

2   hearing on the matter pursuant to the administrative procedures             

                                                                                

3   act of 1969,  Act No. 306 of the Public Acts of 1969, being                 

                                                                                

4   sections 24.201 to 24.328 of the Michigan Compiled Laws  1969 PA            

                                                                                

5   306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328.  A petition filed more than 60 days              

                                                                                

6   after action on the order or permit may be rejected by the                  

                                                                                

7   commission  director of the department as being untimely.                  

                                                                                

8       Sec. 5510.  (1) In accordance with this part and rules                      

                                                                                

9   promulgated under this part, the department may, after notice and           

                                                                                

10  opportunity for public hearing, deny or revoke a permit issued              

                                                                                

11  under this part if any of the following circumstances exist:                

                                                                                

12      (a) Installation, modification, or operation of the source                  

                                                                                

13  will violate this part, rules promulgated under this part, or the           

                                                                                

14  clean air act, unless the source is in compliance with a legally            

                                                                                

15  enforceable schedule of compliance contained in a permit or                 

                                                                                

16  order.                                                                      

                                                                                

17      (b) Installation, construction, reconstruction, relocation,                 

                                                                                

18  alteration, or operation of the source presents or may present an           

                                                                                

19  imminent and substantial endangerment to human health, safety, or           

                                                                                

20  welfare, or the environment.                                                

                                                                                

21      (c) The person applying for the permit makes a false                        

                                                                                

22  representation or provides false information during the permit              

                                                                                

23  review process.                                                             

                                                                                

24      (d) The source has not been installed, constructed,                         

                                                                                

25  reconstructed, relocated, altered, or operated in a manner                  

                                                                                

26  consistent with the application for a permit or as specified in a           

                                                                                

27  permit.                                                                     


                                                                                

1       (e) The person owning or operating the source fails to pay an               

                                                                                

2   air quality fee assessed under this part.                                   

                                                                                

3       (f) The person proposes a major offset source or  the owner                 

                                                                                

4   or operator of a proposed  a major offset modification  that  and           

                                                                                

5   the person owns or operates another source in the state that has            

                                                                                

6   the potential to emit 100 tons or more per year of any air                  

                                                                                

7   contaminant regulated under the clean air act and that  source              

                                                                                

8   is in violation of this part, rules promulgated under this part,            

                                                                                

9   the clean air act, or a permit or order issued under this part,             

                                                                                

10  unless the other source is in compliance with a legally                     

                                                                                

11  enforceable schedule of compliance contained in a permit or                 

                                                                                

12  order.                                                                      

                                                                                

13      (2) In determining whether to issue a permit under this part,               

                                                                                

14  the department shall consider and make written findings on the              

                                                                                

15  increased health risk to children in the area posed by the                  

                                                                                

16  proposed emissions and the cumulative health risk to children in            

                                                                                

17  the area posed by all emissions, including the proposed emission.