HOUSE BILL No. 5155

 

September 13, 2005, Introduced by Reps. Anderson, Lipsey, Alma Smith, Kehrl, Brandenburg, Clack, Condino, Kolb, Murphy, Farrah, Gillard, Brown, Adamini, Plakas, Gleason, Leland, Meisner, Hood, Donigan and Bieda and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, Great Lakes, Land Use, and Environment.

 

     A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled

 

"Natural resources and environmental protection act,"

 

(MCL 324.101 to 324.90106) by adding section 17207.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 17207. (1) Beginning January 1, 2006, a manufacturer

 

shall not sell a mercury-added novelty in this state. Beginning

 

January 1, 2008, a manufacturer shall not sell any other mercury-

 

added product in this state unless the manufacturer has applied for

 

and received an exemption from this subsection from the director

 

under this section.

 

     (2) The director may grant a manufacturer an exemption from

 

subsection (1) that allows the manufacturer to sell a mercury-added

 


product that is not a mercury-added novelty in this state. The

 

director shall not grant a manufacturer an exemption from

 

subsection (1) that allows the manufacturer to sell a mercury-added

 

novelty.

 

     (3) Before granting an exemption under subsection (2) or a

 

renewal of an exemption under subsection (4), the director shall

 

hold at least 1 public hearing on the proposed exemption or

 

renewal, preceded by a 60-day public comment period. The director

 

may only grant an exemption or renewal if he or she finds that all

 

of the following are met at the time the application for exemption

 

or renewal is submitted:

 

     (a) Use of the product benefits the environment or protects

 

public health or public safety.

 

     (b) There is no technically feasible alternative to the use of

 

mercury or mercury compounds in the product.

 

     (c) There is no comparable product that does not contain

 

mercury or mercury compounds available at a reasonable cost.

 

     (d) The manufacturer or an industry or trade association of

 

manufacturers has in place a take-back program for all mercury-

 

added products sold in this state that is available to all users of

 

mercury-added products on a regular basis. The manufacturer shall

 

submit verifiable documentation of the program with the application

 

for exemption.

 

     (4) The director shall not grant an exemption under subsection

 

(1) for a period of more than 2 years. A manufacturer may apply for

 

and the director may grant 1 or more renewals of an exemption. The

 

director shall not grant a renewal of an exemption for a period of

 


more than 2 years.

 

     (5) The director shall make a list of each mercury-added

 

product that is exempt from subsection (1) available to the public

 

on the department's internet website.

 

     Enacting section 1. This amendatory act does not take effect

 

unless all of the following bills of the 93rd Legislature are

 

enacted into law:

 

     (a) Senate Bill No. 186 or House Bill No. 4058.

 

     (b) Senate Bill No. 557 or House Bill No. 4948.