Public Act 189 of 2008

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• Introduced by Sen. Liz Brater (D) on September 5, 2007, to give the Department of Environmental Quality the duty to determine that a commercial or industrial groundwater withdrawal does not “impair the waters of the state,” and with the other bills in this package, give the department broad regulatory authority to impose new regulations on commercial and industrial groundwater users, and broad discretion in how and when to exercise that authority over commercial and industrial groundwater users. The bill would also authorize “interested parties” and county prosecutors to sue businesses when they believe a violation has occurred, and civil fines of $5,000 per day for a person who knowingly violates certain water withdrawal regulations. The bill is part of a legislative package consisting of Senate Bills 721 to 729 and House Bills 5065 to 5073 that would restrict and subject to extensive regulation the use of groundwater by industrial and commercial businesses.
  • Referred to the Senate Natural Resources & Environmental Affairs Committee on September 5, 2007.
    • Reported in the Senate on March 6, 2008, with the recommendation that the substitute (S-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
  • Substitute offered in the Senate on May 14, 2008, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that would establish a government "Water Resources Conservation Advisory Council" to make recommendations on what (additonal) regulations and enforcement provisions to adopt to comply the reuirements of the "Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact". The substitute passed by voice vote in the Senate on May 14, 2008.
• Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on May 14, 2008, to establish a government "Water Resources Conservation Advisory Council" that would replace a similar council and make recommendations on what (additonal) regulations and enforcement provisions to adopt to comply the requirements of the "Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact" (see Senate Bill 212), including how to refine an computer program "assessment tool" for estimating the effect of particular water withdrawals on streams, lakes and water tables.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the House on May 14, 2008.
  • Referred to the House Great Lakes and Environment Committee on May 14, 2008.
    • Reported in the House on June 24, 2008, with the recommendation that the substitute (H-1)* be adopted and that the bill then pass.
  • Substitute offered in the House on June 24, 2008, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details and divides the bill's provisions between this and House Bill 5073. The substitute passed by voice vote in the House on June 24, 2008.
• Passed 102 to 6 in the House on June 24, 2008, to establish a government "Water Resources Conservation Advisory Council" that would replace a similar council and make recommendations on what (additonal) regulations and enforcement provisions to adopt to comply the requirements of the "Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact" (see Senate Bill 212), including how to refine an computer program "assessment tool" for estimating the effect of particular water withdrawals on streams, lakes and water tables.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the Senate on June 25, 2008.
• Passed 36 to 0 in the Senate on June 25, 2008, to concur with the House-passed version of the bill.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm on July 9, 2008.