HOUSE BILL No. 6091

 

May 8, 2008, Introduced by Rep. Bennett and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

 

     A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled

 

"Natural resources and environmental protection act,"

 

by amending sections 3104, 3306, 30104, 30109, 32312, and 32513

 

(MCL 324.3104, 324.3306, 324.30104, 324.30109, 324.32312, and

 

324.32513), section 3104 as amended by 2005 PA 33, section 3306 as

 

added by 2004 PA 246, section 30104 as amended by 2006 PA 531,

 

sections 30109 and 32513 as amended by 2003 PA 163, and section

 

32312 as amended by 2004 PA 325.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 3104. (1) The department is designated the state agency

 

to cooperate and negotiate with other governments, governmental

 

units, and governmental agencies in matters concerning the water

 

resources of the state, including, but not limited to, flood


 

control, beach erosion control, water quality control planning,

 

development, and management, and the control of aquatic nuisance

 

species. The department shall have control over the alterations of

 

natural or present watercourses of all rivers and streams in the

 

state to assure that the channels and the portions of the

 

floodplains that are the floodways are not inhabited and are kept

 

free and clear of interference or obstruction that will cause any

 

undue restriction of the capacity of the floodway. The department

 

may take steps as may be necessary to take advantage of any act of

 

congress that may be of assistance in carrying out the purposes of

 

this part, including the water resources planning act, 42 USC 1962

 

to 1962d-3, and the federal water pollution control act, 33 USC

 

1251 to 1387.

 

     (2) In order to To address discharges of aquatic nuisance

 

species from oceangoing vessels that damage water quality, aquatic

 

habitat, or fish or wildlife, the department shall facilitate the

 

formation of a Great Lakes aquatic nuisance species coalition. The

 

Great Lakes aquatic nuisance species coalition shall be formed

 

through an agreement entered into with other states in the Great

 

Lakes basin to implement on a basin-wide basis water pollution laws

 

that prohibit the discharge of aquatic nuisance species into the

 

Great Lakes from oceangoing vessels. The department shall seek to

 

enter into an agreement that will become effective not later than

 

January 1, 2007. The department shall consult with the department

 

of natural resources prior to entering into this agreement. Upon

 

entering into the agreement, the department shall notify the

 

Canadian Great Lakes provinces of the terms of the agreement. The


 

department shall seek funding from the Great Lakes protection fund

 

authorized under part 331 to implement the Great Lakes aquatic

 

nuisance species coalition.

 

     (3) The department shall report to the governor and to the

 

legislature at least annually on any plans or projects being

 

implemented or considered for implementation. The report shall

 

include requests for any legislation needed to implement any

 

proposed projects or agreements made necessary as a result of a

 

plan or project, together with any requests for appropriations. The

 

department may make recommendations to the governor on the

 

designation of areawide water quality planning regions and

 

organizations relative to the governor's responsibilities under the

 

federal water pollution control act, 33 USC 1251 to 1387.

 

     (4) A person shall not alter a floodplain except as authorized

 

by a floodplain permit issued by the department pursuant to part

 

13. An application for a permit shall include information that may

 

be required by the department to assess the proposed alteration's

 

impact on the floodplain. If an alteration includes activities at

 

multiple locations in a floodplain, 1 application may be filed for

 

combined activities.

 

     (5) Except as provided in subsections (6), (7), and (9), until

 

October 1, 2008 2011, an application for a floodplain permit shall

 

be accompanied by a fee of $500.00. Until October 1, 2008, if the

 

department determines that engineering computations are required to

 

assess the impact of a proposed floodplain alteration on flood

 

stage or discharge characteristics, the department shall assess the

 

applicant an additional $1,500.00 to cover the department's cost of


 

review.

 

     (6) Until October 1, 2008 2011, an application for a

 

floodplain permit for a minor project category shall be accompanied

 

by a fee of $100.00. Minor project categories shall be established

 

by rule and shall include activities and projects that are similar

 

in nature and have minimal potential for causing harmful

 

interference.

 

     (7) If work has been done in violation of a permit requirement

 

under this part and restoration is not ordered by the department,

 

the department may accept an application for a permit for that work

 

if the application is accompanied by a fee equal to 2 times the

 

permit fee required under subsection (5) or (6).

 

     (8) The department shall forward fees collected under this

 

section to the state treasurer for deposit in the land and water

 

management permit fee fund created in section 30113.

 

     (9) A project that requires review and approval under this

 

part and 1 or more of the following is subject to only the single

 

highest permit fee required under this part or the following:

 

     (a) Part 301.

 

     (b) Part 303.

 

     (c) Part 323.

 

     (d) Part 325.

 

     (e) Section 117 of the land division act, 1967 PA 288, MCL

 

560.117.

 

     Sec. 3306. (1) Until October 1, 2008 2011, an application for

 

a certificate of coverage under this part shall be accompanied by a

 

fee of $75.00. Until October 1, 2008 2011, subject to subsection


 

(2), an application for an individual permit under this part shall

 

be accompanied by the following fee, based on the size of the area

 

of impact:

 

     (a) Less than 1/2 acre, $75.00.

 

     (b) One-half acre or more but less than 5 acres, $200.00.

 

     (c) Five acres or more but less than 20 acres, $400.00.

 

     (d) Twenty acres or more but less than 100 acres, $800.00.

 

     (e) One hundred acres or more, $1,500.00.

 

     (2) The department shall forward fees collected under this

 

section to the state treasurer for deposit in the land and water

 

management permit fee fund created in section 30113.

 

     Sec. 30104. (1) A person shall not undertake a project subject

 

to this part except as authorized by a permit issued by the

 

department pursuant to part 13. An application for a permit shall

 

include any information that may be required by the department. If

 

a project includes activities at multiple locations, 1 application

 

may be filed for the combined activities.

 

     (2) Except as provided in subsections (3) and (4), until

 

October 1, 2008 2011, an application for a permit shall be

 

accompanied by a fee based on an administrative cost in accordance

 

with the following schedule:

 

     (a) For a minor project listed in R 281.816 of the Michigan

 

administrative code, or a seasonal drawdown or the associated

 

reflooding, or both, of a dam or impoundment for the purpose of

 

weed control, a fee of $50.00. However, for a permit for a seasonal

 

drawdown or associated reflooding, or both, of a dam or impoundment

 

for the purpose of weed control that is issued for the first time


 

after October 9, 1995, an initial fee of $500.00 with subsequent

 

permits for the same purpose being assessed a $50.00 fee.

 

     (b) For authorization under a general permit, a $50.00 fee.

 

     (c) For construction or expansion of a marina, a fee of:

 

     (i) $50.00 for an expansion of 1-10 slips to an existing

 

permitted marina.

 

     (ii) $100.00 for a new marina with 1-10 proposed marina slips.

 

     (iii) $250.00 for an expansion of 11-50 slips to an existing

 

permitted marina, plus $10.00 for each slip over 50.

 

     (iv) $500.00 for a new marina with 11-50 proposed marina slips,

 

plus $10.00 for each slip over 50.

 

     (v) $1,500.00 if an existing permitted marina proposes

 

maintenance dredging of 10,000 cubic yards or more or the addition

 

of seawalls, bulkheads, or revetments of 500 feet or more.

 

     (d) For renewal of a marina operating permit, a fee of $50.00.

 

     (e) For major projects other than a project described in

 

subdivision (c)(v), involving any of the following, a fee of

 

$2,000.00:

 

     (i) Dredging of 10,000 cubic yards or more.

 

     (ii) Filling of 10,000 cubic yards or more.

 

     (iii) Seawalls, bulkheads, or revetments of 500 feet or more.

 

     (iv) Filling or draining of 1 acre or more of wetland

 

contiguous to a lake or stream.

 

     (v) New dredging or upland boat basin excavation in areas of

 

suspected contamination.

 

     (vi) Shore projections, such as groins and underwater

 

stabilizers, that extend 150 feet or more into a lake or stream.


 

     (vii) New commercial docks or wharves of 300 feet or more in

 

length.

 

     (viii) Stream enclosures 100 feet or more in length.

 

     (ix) Stream relocations 500 feet or more in length.

 

     (x) New golf courses.

 

     (xi) Subdivisions.

 

     (xii) Condominiums.

 

     (f) For all other projects not listed in subdivisions (a)

 

through (e), a fee of $500.00.

 

     (3) A project that requires review and approval under this

 

part and 1 or more of the following acts or parts of acts is

 

subject to only the single highest permit fee required under this

 

part or the following acts or parts of acts:

 

     (a) Part 303.

 

     (b) Part 323.

 

     (c) Part 325.

 

     (d) Section 3104.

 

     (e) Section 117 of the land division act, 1967 PA 288, MCL

 

560.117.

 

     (4) If work has been done in violation of a permit requirement

 

under this part and restoration is not ordered by the department,

 

the department may accept an application for a permit if the

 

application is accompanied by a fee equal to 2 times the permit fee

 

required under this section.

 

     Sec. 30109. Upon the written request of a riparian owner and

 

upon payment of a service fee, the department may enter into a

 

written agreement with a riparian owner establishing the location


 

of the ordinary high-water mark for his or her property. In the

 

absence of substantially changed conditions, the agreement shall be

 

conclusive proof of the location in all matters between the state

 

and the riparian owner and his or her successors in interest. Until

 

October 1, 2008 2011, the service fee provided for in this section

 

shall be $500.00. The department shall forward all service fees

 

collected under this section to the state treasurer for deposit

 

into the fund.

 

     Sec. 32312. (1) The department, in order to regulate the uses

 

and development of high-risk areas, flood risk areas, and

 

environmental areas and to implement the purposes of this part,

 

shall promulgate rules. If permits are required under rules

 

promulgated under this part, the permits shall be issued pursuant

 

to the rules and part 13. Except as provided under subsection (2),

 

until October 1, 2008 2011, if permits are required pursuant to

 

rules promulgated under this part, an application for a permit

 

shall be accompanied by a fee as follows:

 

     (a) For a commercial or multi-family residential project,

 

$500.00.

 

     (b) For a single-family home construction, $100.00.

 

     (c) For an addition to an existing single-family home or for a

 

project that has a minor impact on fish and wildlife resources in

 

environmental areas as determined by the department, $50.00.

 

     (2) A project that requires review and approval under this

 

part and under 1 or more of the following is subject to only the

 

single highest permit fee required under this part or the

 

following:


 

     (a) Part 301.

 

     (b) Part 303.

 

     (c) Part 325.

 

     (d) Section 3104.

 

     (e) Section 117 of the land division act, 1967 PA 288, MCL

 

560.117.

 

     (3) The department shall forward fees collected under this

 

section to the state treasurer for deposit in the land and water

 

management permit fee fund created in section 30113.

 

     (4) A circuit court, upon petition and a showing by the

 

department that a violation of a rule promulgated under subsection

 

(1) exists has been violated, shall issue any necessary order to

 

the defendant to correct the violation or to restrain the defendant

 

from further violation of the rule.

 

     Sec. 32513. (1) Before any work or connection specified in

 

section 32512 or 32512a is undertaken, a person shall file an

 

application with the department of environmental quality setting

 

forth the following:

 

     (a) The name and address of the applicant.

 

     (b) The legal description of the lands included in the

 

project.

 

     (c) A summary statement of the purpose of the project.

 

     (d) A map or diagram showing the proposal on an adequate scale

 

with contours and cross-section profiles of the waterway to be

 

constructed.

 

     (e) Other information required by the department of

 

environmental quality.


 

     (2) Except as provided in subsections (3) and (4), until

 

October 1, 2008 2011, an application for a permit under this

 

section shall be accompanied by a fee according to the following

 

schedule:

 

     (a) For a project in a category of activities for which a

 

general permit is issued under section 32512a, a fee of $100.00.

 

     (b) For activities included in the minor project category as

 

described in rules promulgated under this part and for a permit for

 

the removal of vegetation in an area that is not more than 100 feet

 

wide or the width of the property, whichever is less, or the mowing

 

of vegetation in excess of what is allowed in section

 

32512(2)(a)(ii), in the area between the ordinary high-water mark

 

and the water's edge, a fee of $50.00.

 

     (c) For construction or expansion of a marina, a fee of:

 

     (i) $50.00 for an expansion of 1-10 slips to an existing

 

permitted marina.

 

     (ii) $100.00 for a new marina with 1-10 proposed marina slips.

 

     (iii) $250.00 for an expansion of 11-50 slips to an existing

 

permitted marina, plus $10.00 for each slip over 50.

 

     (iv) $500.00 for a new marina with 11-50 proposed marina slips,

 

plus $10.00 for each slip over 50.

 

     (v) $1,500.00 if an existing permitted marina proposes

 

maintenance dredging of 10,000 cubic yards or more or the addition

 

of seawalls, bulkheads, or revetments of 500 feet or more.

 

     (d) For major projects other than a project described in

 

subdivision (c)(v), involving any of the following, a fee of

 

$2,000.00:


 

     (i) Dredging of 10,000 cubic yards or more.

 

     (ii) Filling of 10,000 cubic yards or more.

 

     (iii) Seawalls, bulkheads, or revetment of 500 feet or more.

 

     (iv) Filling or draining of 1 acre or more of coastal wetland.

 

     (v) New dredging or upland boat basin excavation in areas of

 

suspected contamination.

 

     (vi) New breakwater or channel jetty.

 

     (vii) Shore protection, such as groins and underwater

 

stabilizers, that extend 150 feet or more on Great Lakes

 

bottomlands.

 

     (viii) New commercial dock or wharf of 300 feet or more in

 

length.

 

     (e) For all other projects not listed in subdivisions (a)

 

through (d), $500.00.

 

     (3) A project that requires review and approval under this

 

part and 1 or more of the following is subject to only the single

 

highest permit fee required under this part or the following:

 

     (a) Part 301.

 

     (b) Part 303.

 

     (c) Part 323.

 

     (d) Section 3104.

 

     (e) Section 117 of the land division act, 1967 PA 288, MCL

 

560.117.

 

     (4) If work has been done in violation of a permit requirement

 

under this part and restoration is not ordered by the department of

 

environmental quality, the department of environmental quality may

 

accept an application for a permit if the application is


 

accompanied by a fee equal to 2 times the permit fee required under

 

this section.

 

     (5) The department of environmental quality shall forward all

 

fees collected under this section to the state treasurer for

 

deposit into the land and water management permit fee fund created

 

in section 30113.