Reps. Huizenga, Sheen, Stahl, Steil, Kooiman, Vander Veen, Sak, Farhat, Accavitti, Bieda, Brandenburg, Caswell, Ehardt, Hoogendyk, Jamnick, Julian, Law, Lipsey, Meyer, Mortimer, Newell, Nitz, Pappageorge, Robertson, Shackleton, Shaffer, Shulman, Stallworth, Stewart, Taub, Voorhees, Dennis, Caul, Howell, Ruth Johnson, LaSata, Middaugh, Richardville, Gleason, Koetje and Phillips offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 175.

            A resolution to urge the Department of Environmental Quality to work closely with the Environmental Protection Agency to articulate Michigan's vulnerability to transported pollution from other states as the rule to implement the 8-hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard is finalized.

            Whereas, The effort to determine appropriate levels for the National Ambient Air Quality Standard is complicated significantly in Michigan by the impact of pollutants transported across the Great Lakes.  The impact of the transported pollution is felt most acutely in the West Michigan region.  This problem is so severe, that it has been reported that certain areas would fail to meet the new standards with very little pollution actually produced in West Michigan; and

            Whereas, The EPA and the states have long been wrestling with the issue of ozone standards, specifically the 8-hour standard that was proposed in 1997.  Litigation and concerns over the overall impact of sanctions have also been part of the process.  Most recently, the EPA has announced a new comment period and put forth new possible approaches to air quality; and

            Whereas, As the EPA continues to work on the proposed rule to implement the 8-hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard, it is imperative that Michigan's situation be articulated strongly and persistently.  The Department of Environmental Quality has a responsibility to lead these efforts to ensure that our state, especially the western portions that are directly affected by pollution transported from Chicago and elsewhere, is not treated unfairly in the final decision making; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the Department of Environmental Quality to work closely with the Environmental Protection Agency to articulate Michigan's vulnerability to transported pollution from other states as the rule to implement the 8-hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard is finalized; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Department of Environmental Quality and to the Environmental Protection Agency.