WASTEWATER, DRINKING WATER, HAZARDOUS H.B. 4540 (H-1):
MATERIALS FEE SUNSETS SUMMARY OF HOUSE-PASSED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
House Bill 4540 (Substitute H-1 as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Mary Whiteford
House Committee: Appropriations
Senate Committee: Appropriations
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA) to delay the sunset on a number of fees collected by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The bill would delay the sunset of the following fees for four years, from October 1, 2017, to October 1, 2021:
· Wastewater, storm water, or sewerage system operator certification and training fees. These fees range from $30 to $95 and are paid by individuals seeking certification to operate wastewater, storm water, and sewerage systems.
· Hazardous waste manifest. Generators of hazardous waste pay the DEQ a fee of $8 for each manifest provided to hazardous waste transporters.
· Hazardous waste site ID number fee. Hazardous waste generators and transporters, as well as storage, treatment, and disposal facilities, pay a fee of $50 to obtain a site identification number.
· Hazardous waste handler user charge. Generators of hazardous waste are required to pay an annual charge based on the amount of waste generated. This charge can range from $100 to $1,000. Additionally, treatment, storage, or disposal facilities must pay a charge of $2,000 annually, and those handling used oil must pay $100.
· Liquid industrial waste facility or transporter site ID number fee. Transporters of liquid industrial waste and facilities that accept liquid industrial waste must pay a $50 one-time fee to obtain a site identification number.
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have a positive fiscal impact on the Department of Environmental Quality as it would maintain the DEQ's ability to charge fees that generate a total of about $1.3 million each year. The bill would have no fiscal impact on local units of government.
Revenue generated by the fees maintained under the bill is directed by statute into two funds: the Operator Certification and Training Fund ($242,000), and the Environmental Pollution Prevention Fund ($1.1 million). These funds are used throughout the DEQ budget to support the programs that generate this fee revenue. Further details on the revenue and disposition of revenue from those fees are provided in Table 1 below.
Table 1
|
Annual Revenue from Fees Maintained Under House Bill 4540 (H-1) |
||
|
Fee |
Annual Revenue |
Restricted Fund |
|
Liquid industrial waste transporter/facility site ID |
$3,900 |
Environmental Pollution Prevention Fund |
|
Hazardous waste management fees & handler user charges |
$1,052,300 |
Environmental Pollution Prevention Fund |
|
Hazardous waste generator, transporter, treatment, storage, or disposal facility user charges |
$43,800 |
Environmental Pollution Prevention Fund |
|
Wastewater/storm water and sewage system certification and training fees |
$242,000 |
Operator Certification and Training Fund |
|
TOTAL |
$1,342,000 |
N/A |
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.