2005 Senate Bill 7: Require groundwater use permits

Legislation watch

Comments on this legislation Post new comment Text and Analysis Add to Watch List
Previous Next

Introduced by Sen. Liz Brater (D) on January 12, 2005, to require a state groundwater withdrawal permit for industrial plants or farms that withdraw more than 2 million gallons a day or 100 million gallons a year. Beginning in 2009, permits would be authorized for existing facilities that withdraw 100,000 gallons a day or more, and existing facilities withdrawing at this level or greater would be required to submit five-year plans for water management and conservation. Beginning in 2010, permits would be required for new plants or farms that withdraw 100,000 gallons a day or more. This is Gov. Jennifer Granholm's "Water Legacy Act".
- Referred to the Senate Natural Resources & Environmental Affairs Committee on January 12, 2005.

Most Recent Comments

Add Comment

1) Sen. Brater's "journal statement" by Admin003 on June 1, 2005
Senator Brater's statement is as follows:

Friday afternoon the Governor issued a moratorium on new and increased bottled water operations that export water out of the Great Lakes Basin. As we wait for an opportunity to discuss the Water Legacy Act, Senate Bill No.7, I applaud the Governor for taking decisive action. The directive issued by the Governor demonstrates the urgent nature of this problem.

It is imperative that we move forward with legislation relating to water use in the state of Michigan--the state that is completely surrounded by the Great Lakes; the only state that is entirely within the Great Lakes Basin. Right now, billions of gallons of water a day are not naturally replaced. We must mitigate this loss. The deficit will only increase without regulation.

We, here in the Great Lakes region, have been given or entrusted with the stewardship of these Great Lakes. The other states in the Great Lakes Basin have all adopted water withdrawal statutes. Here in Michigan, we are surrounded by one-fifth of the world's fresh water supply. One could argue that we are the state most affected by water diversion out of the basin. Yet, somehow, we are the last state in the Great Lakes watershed to make any rules pertaining to fair use of our water. It is our job to act as stewards of this resource.

The amount of water used by these bottled water plants may seem small--less than 1 percent of total use--but it is the precedent that raises concern. The easier it becomes to ship water away in these smaller quantities, the easier it will be to ship tanks of water out of the basin later.

So, again, I applaud the Governor for her decisive action issuing this moratorium, and I ask my colleagues for speedy legislative action on this matter.

Reply

Line

2) Clean water? by Anonymous Citizen on March 3, 2005
Would groundwater clean up projects be exemped?
Reply

Line

3) 2005 Senate Bill 7 (Require groundwater use permits ) by admin on January 1, 2001
Introduced in the Senate on January 12, 2005

Click here to view bill details.
Reply

Line

View Full Conversation