June 12, 2018, Introduced by Reps. Chatfield, Allor, Cole, LaFave, Hughes, Alexander, Hornberger, Kahle and Barrett and referred to the Committee on Michigan Competitiveness.
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled
"Natural resources and environmental protection act,"
(MCL 324.101 to 324.90106) by adding section 80158a.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 80158a. (1) Except in an emergency or with prior written
permission granted by the director, the operator of a vessel shall
not deploy, drag, set, or use any anchor or any other vessel
equipment that may come into contact with the lake bottomlands in
the area bounded on the west by a line beginning at Latitude N 45°
46' 48.883" Longitude W 84° 47' 34.705" and extending north to
point Latitude N 45° 50' 23.169" Longitude W 84° 46' 8.476" and
bounded on the east by a line beginning at Latitude N 45° 47'
18.4812" Longitude W 84° 43' 55.2396" and extending north to point
Latitude N 45° 50' 46.086" Longitude W 84° 43' 24.1392".
(2) A person that wishes to receive permission to use an
anchor or other vessel equipment that may contact the bottomlands
in the area described in subsection (1) may submit a request, in
writing, to the department. The request must contain a precise
description of the area where use of an anchor or other equipment
is requested and the reason for the request.
(3) Subsection (1) does not apply to vessels exercising tribal
usufructuary rights reserved in the March 28, 1836 Treaty of
Washington (7 Stat 491) and as stated in the November 2, 2007
Consent Decree (Dkt. 1799 in W.D. Mich. Case No. 2:73-cv-000026).
(4) Except as provided in subsection (5), a person who
knowingly violates this section is guilty of a felony punishable by
imprisonment for not more than 2 years or a fine of not more than
$10,000.00, or both.
(5) A person who is convicted of a second or subsequent
violation of this section is guilty of a felony punishable by
imprisonment for not more than 5 years or a fine of not more than
$15,000.00, or both.