May 1, 2007, Introduced by Reps. Palmer, Dean, Acciavatti, Nitz, Hoogendyk, Brown and Sheltrown and referred to the Committee on Agriculture.
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled
"Natural resources and environmental protection act,"
by amending sections 8803 and 8807 (MCL 324.8803 and 324.8807), as
added by 1998 PA 287.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec.
8803. In Subject to
subsection (2), in selecting projects
for a grant award, the department shall consider the following as
they relate to a project:
(a) The expectation for long-term water quality improvement.
(b) The expectation for long-term protection of high quality
waters.
(c) The consistency of the project with remedial action plans
and other regional water quality or watershed management plans
approved by the department.
(d) The placement of the watershed on the list of impaired
waters
pursuant to section 303(d) of title III of the federal water
pollution
control act, chapter 758, 86 Stat. 846, 33 U.S.C. USC
1313.
(e) Commitments for financial and technical assistance from
the partners in the project.
(f) Financial and other resource contributions, including in-
kind services, by project participants in excess of that required
in section 8802(4).
(g) The length of time the applicant has committed to maintain
the physical improvements.
(h) The commitment to provide monitoring to document
improvement in water quality or the reduction of pollutant loads.
(i) Whether the project provides benefits to sources of
drinking water.
(j) Other information the department considers relevant.
(2) In selecting projects for a grant award, the department
shall give priority to water quality monitoring projects in
watersheds with a high concentration of livestock production
facilities.
Sec. 8807. (1) The clean water fund is created within the
state treasury.
(2) The state treasurer may receive money or other assets from
any source for deposit into the fund. The state treasurer shall
direct the investment of the fund. The state treasurer shall credit
to the fund interest and earnings from fund investments.
(3) Money in the fund at the close of the fiscal year shall
remain in the fund and shall not lapse to the general fund.
(4) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the
department shall expend money in the fund, upon appropriation, for
any of the following:
(a) To implement the programs described in the department's
document entitled "A strategic environmental quality monitoring
program for Michigan's surface waters", dated January 1997. In
implementing these programs, the department may contract with any
person.
(b) Water pollution control activities.
(c) Wellhead protection activities.
(d) Storm water treatment projects and activities.
(5) Money in the fund shall not be expended for combined sewer
overflow corrections.
(6) The first priority for expenditure of money in the fund
shall be for the programs described in subsection (4)(a). In
selecting projects to be funded under subsection (4)(a), the
department shall give priority to water quality monitoring projects
in watersheds with a high concentration of livestock production
facilities.
(7) Money in the fund shall not be expended until rules are
promulgated under section 8808.