Public Act 32 of 2005

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• Introduced by Rep. David Palsrok (R) on April 13, 2005, to expand the scope of the state water pollution law by defining ballast water discharged from ocean-going ships that contains harmful invasive or nuisance species as “pollution” subject to regulation by the state. Also, to authorize the establishment of a multi-state Great Lakes Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Coalition. The bill would require ocean ships stopping in Michigan ports to get a permit and treat ballast water to kill invasive species. (Michigan has no authority if a ship does not enter a port here.) SB 332 is the same bill.
  • Referred to the House Natural Resources, Great Lakes, Land Use, and Environment Committee on April 13, 2005.
    • Reported in the House on April 28, 2005, with the recommendation that the substitute (H-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
  • Substitute offered in the House on May 3, 2005, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that divides up its provisions with Senate Bill 332. HB 4603 would specify that the discharge of ballast water without a permit would be prima facie evidence of a violation of the law proposed by SB 332. Note: See important reductions in originally proposed Department of Environmental Quality powers in SB 332, April 26 Senate substitute. The substitute passed in the House by voice vote on May 3, 2005.
• Passed in the House (109 to 1) on May 4, 2005, to specify that the discharge of ballast water by an ocean-going ship without a permit would be prima facie evidence of a violation of the law proposed by SB 332. Together, this bill and that one define ballast water discharges that contain harmful invasive or nuisance species as “pollution” subject to regulation; require ocean ships stopping in Michigan ports to get a permit; and require ships to demonstrate that they use environmentally sound methods to prevent these discharges. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Received in the Senate on May 5, 2005.
  • Referred to the Senate Natural Resources & Environmental Affairs Committee on May 5, 2005.
    • Reported in the Senate on May 12, 2005, with the recommendation that the bill pass.
  • Amendment offered by Sen. Patricia Birkholz (R) on May 18, 2005, to move back the date the bill goes into effect to January 1, 2007. The amendment passed in the Senate by voice vote on May 18, 2005.
• Passed in the Senate (38 to 0) on May 18, 2005, to specify that the discharge of ballast water by an ocean-going ship without a permit would be prima facie evidence of a violation of the law proposed by SB 332. Together, this bill and that one define ballast water discharges that contain harmful invasive or nuisance species as “pollution” subject to regulation; require ocean ships stopping in Michigan ports to get a permit; and require ships to demonstrate that they use environmentally sound methods to prevent these discharges. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Received in the House on May 18, 2005.
• Passed in the House (105 to 1) on May 19, 2005, to concur with the Senate-passed version of the bill. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm on June 2, 2005.