July, 2012

SB 1090: Weaken DEQ Oversight for the Cleanup of Contaminated Sites

Senate Bill 1090 weakens clean up procedures for sites where contaminated groundwater is venting to surface water bodies. It lessens DEQ oversight by reducing the government's role in the clean up process, and delegating more responsibility to owners of the contaminated sites.

> View all Hot Lists for the State

SB 1212: Weaken Aquatic Invasive Species Requirements

It is estimated that Michigan and the other Great Lakes states spend hundreds of millions of dollars annually trying to remove and control aquatic invasive species. Michigan was the first Great Lakes state to adapt strict ballast discharge requirements for ocean-going ships entering the Great Lakes, which have helped to manage the spread of aquatic invasive species.

> View all Hot Lists for the State

HB 4913: Remove Penalty for Conservation of Commercial Forestland

Under HB 4913, an entity that is already tax-exempt will no longer be required to pay a fee to remove the commercial forest status from certain parcels of land and move the land into a protected status. By applying only to tax-exempt organizations it will primarily be exercised by land conservancies. Additionally, the increased ease of changing this designation can provide greater encouragement to conservancies to purchase forests presently under commercial status.

> View all Hot Lists for the State

SB 717: Hunters Helping Farmers

SB 717 directs the DNR to create a registry of hunters willing to harvest antlerless deer in areas where excessive herd sizes are causing crop damage. Limiting herd sizes to manageable levels increases their ability to survive harsh winters and reduces car-deer accidents. Expanding hunter access to land increases license purchases and state wildlife conservation revenue. 

> View all Hot Lists for the State

HB 5414: Expand Dark Sky Preserves

 

> View all Hot Lists for the State

SB 248: Limit DNR Land Acquisition

Senate Bill 0248 prohibits the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) from acquiring surface rights to more than 4.6 million acres of land. Land controlled by the DNR is essential to protecting Michigan’s environment and promoting tourism throughout the state. The DNR currently owns 4,472,175 acres of land, so SB 0248 heavily limits the amount of new land that the DNR can acquire.

> View all Hot Lists for the State