The bill would amend Part 121 (Liquid Industrial Waste) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to replace existing provisions that govern the licensure of persons who transport liquid industrial waste and vehicles used in that transport. Under the bill, these persons and vehicles would have to comply with the "Hazardous Materials Transportation Act" (proposed by Senate Bill 554), which would impose registration and permitting requirements on motor carriers that transport hazardous materials by highway. The bill would permit the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to conduct an investigation to verify that a transporter's equipment, location, and methods were adequate to effectuate service under Part 121. The DEQ or a peace officer could inspect a facility or other place where liquid industrial wastes were generated, stored, treated, disposed of, or transported from, for purposes of enforcing or administering Part 121.

In addition, the bill provides that a liquid industrial waste generator, if transporting by highway, would have to employ or engage a transporter registered and permitted under the proposed Act. The bill also states that the manifest requirements of Part 121 would not apply to a generator transporting its own waste in quantities of 55 gallons or less if certain conditions were met.

The bill would take effect on July 1, 1998. The bill is tie-barred to Senate Bill 554 and Senate Bill 731, which would allow the seizure and forfeiture of property involved in violations of Part 111 (Hazardous Waste Management) or Part 121.

MCL 324.12104 et al. - Legislative Analyst: S. Lowe

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