ENVIRONMENTAL RELEASE: GAAMPS S.B. 351:
COMMITTEE SUMMARY
Senate Bill 351 (as introduced 5-7-13) (as enacted)
Sponsor: Senator Arlan Meekhof
CONTENT
The bill would amend Part 201 (Environmental Remediation) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to revise exceptions to the definitions of "release" and "hazardous substance" for substances applied according to or consistent with generally accepted agricultural and management practices, by specifying "at the time of the application".
Under Part 201, "release" generally refers to the escape or disposal of a hazardous substance into the environment. The term does not include the application of a fertilizer, soil conditioner, agronomically applied manure, or pesticide, or fruit, vegetable, or field crop residuals or processing by-products, aquatic plants, or a combination of these substances if applied according to label directions and according to generally accepted agricultural and management practices (GAAMPS) developed pursuant to the Michigan Right to Farm Act.
In addition, "release" does not include fruits, vegetables, field crop processing by-products, or aquatic plants, that are applied to the land for an agricultural use or for use as an animal feed, if the use is consistent with GAAMPS developed pursuant to the Michigan Right to Farm Act.
"Hazardous substance" means one or more of specified substances or waste but does not include fruit, vegetable, or field crop residuals or processing by-products, or aquatic plants, that are applied to the land for an agricultural use or for use as an animal feed, if the use is consistent with GAAMPS developed pursuant to the Michigan Right to Farm Act.
In each of these provisions, the bill would refer to generally accepted agricultural and management practices at the time of the application, and would delete references to the Michigan Right to Farm Act.
MCL 324.20101 Legislative Analyst: Patrick Affholter
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
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.