2005 House Bill 5371

Require groundwater use permits

Introduced in the House

Oct. 26, 2005

Introduced by Rep. Kathleen Law (D-23)

To require a state groundwater withdrawal permit for industrial or commercial plants or farms that withdraw more than one million gallons per day. The bill would impose extensive permit procedures and give extensive authority to the Department of Environmental Quality over whether to issue the five-year permit, whether to repeal one already issued, and what conditions to place on one. Among many other requirements, affected facilities would be required to have water management, conservation and "resource improvement" plans approved by the DEQ. Violations would be subject to civil penalties of $10,000 per day. This is part of a groundwater regulation package comprised of House Bills 5366 to 5373.

Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, Great Lakes, Land Use, and Environment