FARMING OF WETLANDS - S.B. 397: COMMITTEE SUMMARY
Senate Bill 397 (as introduced 3-2-99)
Sponsor: Senator George A. McManus, Jr.
Committee: Farming, Agribusiness and Food Systems
Date Completed: 3-10-99
CONTENT
The bill would amend Part 303 (Wetland Protection) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA) to provide that activities reasonably necessary to begin and continue farming or to bring land into agricultural production, would be allowed in a wetland without a permit subject to other State laws and the owner's regulation.
(Under NREPA, among the uses allowed in a wetland without a permit are farming, horticulture, silviculture, lumbering, and ranching activities, including plowing, irrigation, irrigation ditching, seeding, cultivating, minor drainage, harvesting for the production of food, fiber, and forest products, or upland soil and water conservation practices. The Act prohibits wetland altered under this provision from being used for a purpose other than a described purpose without a permit from the Department of Natural Resources.)
MCL 324.30305 - Legislative Analyst: L. Arasim
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
- Fiscal Analyst: G. CutlerS9900\s397sa
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.