DEQ PERMIT PROCESSING TIME                                                              S.B. 744 (S-1):

                                                                                                      FLOOR SUMMARY

Senate Bill 744 (Substitute S-1 as reported)                                                  (as enacted)

Sponsor:  Senator Mike Kowall

Committee:  Natural Resources, Environment and Great Lakes

CONTENT

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 if requested by an applicant, and revise the length of the extension.

The Act establishes processing periods for required permits, and requires the DEQ to approve or deny a permit application by the specified deadline.  If requested by an applicant, the Department may extend the processing period by not more than 20%. 

Under the bill, the Department would have to extend the processing period upon request by up to 120 days, as specified by the applicant.  The DEQ could extend the processing period beyond the additional 120 days, if requested by the applicant.  The processing period, however, could not be extended to a date later than one year after the end of the application period.

MCL 324.1307                                                              Legislative Analyst:  Julie Cassidy

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

Date Completed:  1-26-12                                                     Fiscal Analyst:  Josh Sefton

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.