MIXING ZONES H.B. 4597 (H-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS
House Bill 4597 (Substitute H-1 as reported with amendment) Sponsor: Representative Tom Alley
House Committee: Conservation, Environment, and Great Lakes Senate Committee: Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
The bill would amend Part 31 of Article II of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, pertaining to water resources protection, to require the Department of Natural Resources to permit a mixing zone for discharges of venting groundwater in the same manner as the Department provided for a mixing zone for point source discharges. Mixing zones for discharges of venting groundwater could not be less protective of public health or the environment than the level of protection provided for mixing zones from point source discharges. A permit would not be required for a discharge of venting groundwater that complied with the water quality standards provided for under the Act, and the rules promulgated under the Act, and that was provided for in a remedial action plan that had been approved according to the provisions of House Bill 4596. The bill specifies further that a remedial action plan that met the environmental response requirements of Part 201 of the Act would satisfy any remedial obligations required under the bill. “Mixing zone” would mean that portion of a water body where a point source discharge or venting groundwater was mixed with receiving water. “Venting groundwater” would mean groundwater that was entering a surface water of the State from a facility.
Proposed MCL 324.3109a & 324.3109b Legislative Analyst: L. Burghardt
Please see FISCAL IMPACT for House Bill 4596 (H-2).
Date Completed: 5-3-95 Fiscal Analyst: G. Cutler
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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.