DEQ PERMIT PROCESSING TIME EXTENSIONS

Senate Bill 744 (S-1)

Sponsor:  Sen. Mike Kowall

House Committee:  Regulatory Reform

Senate Committee:  Natural Resources, Environment, and Great Lakes

Complete to 4-23-12

A  REVISED SUMMARY OF SENATE BILL 744 AS PASSED BY THE SENATE 2-15-12

The bill would amend Part 13 (Permits) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to require, rather than allow, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to extend the permit processing period at the request of an applicant and change the length of the extension for all permits issued under Part 13.

NREPA establishes processing periods for required permits and requires the DEQ to make a determination on a permit application by the specified deadline.  Currently, the DEQ may extend the processing period by not more than 20% if a request is made by the applicant.

Specifically, the bill would require the DEQ to extend the processing period for a permit by up to 120 days, as specified by the applicant.  Additionally, the DEQ could extend the processing period by an additional 120 days at the request of the applicant, but could not extend the processing period to a date later than one year after the application period ends.

MCL 324.1307

FISCAL IMPACT:

A fiscal analysis is in process.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Jeff Stoutenburg

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Viola Bay Wild

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.