MI AG. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSURANCE PROG. H.B. 4212 (H-2):
FLOOR SUMMARY
[Please see the PDF version of this analysis, if available, to view this image.]
House Bill 4212 (Substitute H-2 as reported without amendment)
Sponsor: Representative Kevin Daley
House Committee: Agriculture
Senate Committee: Agriculture
CONTENT
The bill would amend Part 87 (Groundwater and Freshwater Protection) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to do the following:
-- Require the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDA) Director, in consultation with an advisory council, to implement a Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP).
-- Establish requirements for the verification of farms under MAEAP.
-- Require the MDA to establish a MAEAP grants program.
-- Replace the groundwater advisory council with an environmental assurance advisory council, and specify council membership and activities.
-- Allow the MDA Director to establish environmental assurance teams, rather than regional groundwater stewardship teams, for the implementation of programs under Part 87.
-- Revise requirements related to groundwater stewardship, and refer instead to conservation.
-- Allow the MDA Director, in consultation with the advisory council, to establish priorities, procedures, and protocols for a surface water quality monitoring program.
-- Allow the Freshwater Protection Fund to be used for verification and other MAEAP-related activities.
-- Require the MDA and the Department of Environmental Quality to enter into a memorandum of understanding to formalize a commitment to promote MAEAP and to clarify the application of State and Federal environmental laws to farms.
-- Delay the sunset date for fees collected under Part 87.
The bill is tie-barred to Senate Bill 122. (Senate Bill 122 (S-1), as passed by the Senate, would amend the Act to excuse MAEAP-verified farms from civil fines for water discharges, and specify that discharges would be nonpoint source pollution, under certain circumstances; allow nonpoint source pollution prevention and control grants for projects that promoted MAEAP verification; and allow the expenditure of money from the Clean Water Fund for MAEAP-related activities. The bill is tie-barred to House Bill 4212.)
MCL 324.8702 et al. Legislative Analyst: Patrick Affholter
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have a minimal fiscal impact on the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development as its provisions would largely codify activities already in practice. The bill also would establish a MAEAP grants program, to be paid for from funds generated under Section 8715 of the Act. The revenue produced under the section is approximately $3.8 million annually. These funds are allocated fully in the FY 2010-11 budget for various environmental programs within the department and none of these funds have yet to be appropriated for what has been titled "MAEAP Grants".
Date Completed: 2-24-11 Fiscal Analyst: Bruce Baker
floor\hb4212 Bill Analysis @ www.senate.michigan.gov/sfa
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.
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. hb4212/1112