ALLOW COUNTIES TO BRINE ROADS UP TO

THREE TIMES PER YEAR WITHOUT A PERMIT

House Bill 4820 (Proposed Substitute H-2)

Sponsor:  Rep. Goeff Hansen

Committee:  Tourism, Outdoor Recreation, and Natural Resources

Complete to 2-13-08

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4820 (PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE H-2)

The bill would amend Part 31 (Water Resources Protection) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA) to allow a county road commission, after notifying the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), to apply oil field brine to a road up to three times per year without obtaining a groundwater discharge permit. Brining a road more than three times during a one-year period would require a permit and the payment of a fee. 

[Note:  The Substitute H-2 is a conflict substitute that reflects the extension of the sunset on groundwater discharge permit fees (from October 1, 2007 to October 1, 2011) already enacted by Public Act 75 of 2007.]

MCL 324.3112 and 324.3122

FISCAL IMPACT:

This bill would have an indeterminate negative fiscal impact on state revenues and reduce spending by affected road commissions.  The amount of actual revenue loss would depend on the number of counties exempted from the $1,500 discharge permit fee, provided for in Section 3122.  A county road commission which spreads brine on its dirt roads would save $1,500 each year if they were exempted from this fee.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Shannan Kane

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Kirk Lindquist

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.