ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY FEE SUNSETS H.B. 5242: FLOOR ANALYSIS
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House Bill 5242 (as reported without amendment)
Sponsor: Representative Doug Bennett
House Committee: Appropriations
Senate Committee: Appropriations
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to postpone the sunset on four types of fees assessed by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
Currently, groundwater discharge fees are scheduled to sunset on October 1, 2007, air emissions fees will sunset on September 30, 2007, solid waste program fees will sunset on October 1, 2007, and hazardous waste user charges will sunset on March 31, 2008. The bill would extend all four of these types of fees until October 1, 2011.
MCL 324.3122 et al.
FISCAL IMPACT
If the fees sunset as scheduled, the DEQ will lose a total of $17.9 million in fee revenue that currently is used to support the four named programs. The sunset of the air emissions fee and the hazardous waste user charges also would result in the loss of $8.2 million in Federal funding and the State could be de-certified for administering Federal regulations in these two programs. Delaying the sunsets would allow the DEQ to continue operating all four programs by assessing permit fees and spending revenue. The groundwater discharge permit fee generates about $1.3 million annually. The air emissions fee brings in about $11.1 million annually. Solid waste program fees provide $4.2 million annually. Hazardous waste user charges bring in $1.3 million each year.
Date Completed: 9-25-07 Fiscal Analyst: Jessica Runnels
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. hb5242/0708