Bill > SB0711

This bill amends the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act by modifying the Department of Natural Resources' authority and responsibilities regarding water resources protection. The bill makes several key changes, including updating language to clarify the department's role in protecting surface and underground waters of the state and the Great Lakes, removing a previous restriction on rule-making after December 31, 2006, and updating references to federal water pollution control laws. Specifically, the bill expands the department's ability to make surveys, studies, and investigations of water resources, maintain advisory roles in flood control districts, and promulgate rules necessary to comply with federal water pollution control regulations. The changes also update statutory language to be more precise, such as replacing "the" with "this" in several instances and expanding the referenced federal law citation from 33 USC 1251 to 1387 to 33 USC 1251 to 1389. The bill maintains the department's existing mandate to protect water resources while providing more flexibility in rule-making and compliance with federal environmental regulations.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-SB-0711