Public Act 37 of 2006

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• Introduced by Sen. Liz Brater (D) on November 1, 2005, to require the Department of Environmental Quality to consider impacts on ground and surface water movements before granting a water withdrawal permit to a public water supply system.
  • Referred to the Senate Natural Resources & Environmental Affairs Committee on November 1, 2005.
    • Reported in the Senate on December 7, 2005, with the recommendation that the substitute (S-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
  • Substitute offered in the Senate on December 7, 2005, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that gives the DEQ more discretion in reviewing municipal water systems. The substitute passed by voice vote in the Senate on December 7, 2005.
• Passed 36 to 0 in the Senate on December 8, 2005, to require the Department of Environmental Quality to consider impacts on ground and surface water movements before granting a water withdrawal permit to a public water supply system that uses more than 2 million gallons per day, or 5 million if from the Great Lakes and connected waterways. The department would have to reject proposals if the system would not meet standards proposed by Senate Bill 850, unless there was no feasible and prudent alternative, and the environmental impact of the withdrawal would be balanced by its public benefit.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the House on December 8, 2005.
  • Referred to the House Natural Resources, Great Lakes, Land Use, and Environment Committee on December 8, 2005.
    • Reported in the House on February 9, 2006, with the recommendation that the substitute (H-3) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
  • Substitute offered in the House on February 9, 2006, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that also requires a new water bottling facility with a capacity of more than 250,000 gallons per day to get a permit. A permit applicant would have to demonstrate that the use will not have an adverse resource impact; is reasonable under common law water use principals; will not impact the riparian rights of other landowners; that the applicant will address any hydrologic impacts caused by the withdrawal; and the applicant will provide public notice and consult with local officials and "interested community members". The substitute passed by voice vote in the House on February 9, 2006.
• Passed 101 to 3 in the House on February 9, 2006, to require the Department of Environmental Quality to consider impacts on ground and surface water movements before granting a water withdrawal permit to a public water supply system that uses more than 2 million gallons per day, or 5 million if from the Great Lakes and connected waterways. The department would have to reject proposals if the system would not meet standards proposed by Senate Bill 850, unless there was no feasible and prudent alternative, and the environmental impact of the withdrawal would be balanced by its public benefit. The bill also requires a new water bottling facility with a capacity of more than 250,000 gallons per day to get a permit, see House substitute description for details.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the Senate on February 9, 2006. Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on February 9, 2006.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm on February 22, 2006.