Sec. 3104.
(1) The department is designated the state agency to cooperate and negotiate with other governments, governmental units, and governmental agencies in matters concerning the water resources of the state, including, but not limited to, flood control, beach erosion control, water quality control planning, development, and management, and the control of aquatic nuisance species. The department shall have control over the alterations of natural or present watercourses of all rivers and streams in this state to assure that the channels and the portions of the floodplains that are the floodways are not inhabited and are kept free and clear of interference or obstruction that will cause any undue restriction of the capacity of the floodway. The department may take steps as may be necessary to take advantage of any act of congress that may be of assistance in carrying out the purposes of this part, including the water resources planning act, 42 USC 1962 to 1962d-3, and the federal water pollution control act, 33 USC 1251 to 1387.
(2) To address discharges of aquatic nuisance species from oceangoing vessels that damage water quality, aquatic habitat, or fish or wildlife, the department shall facilitate the formation of a Great Lakes aquatic nuisance species coalition. The Great Lakes aquatic nuisance species coalition shall be formed through an agreement entered into with other states in the Great Lakes basin to implement on a basin-wide basis water pollution laws that prohibit the discharge of aquatic nuisance species into the Great Lakes from oceangoing vessels. The department shall seek to enter into an agreement that will become effective not later than January 1, 2007. The department shall consult with the department of natural resources prior to entering into this agreement. Upon entering into the agreement, the department shall notify the Canadian Great Lakes provinces of the terms of the agreement. The department shall seek funding from the Great Lakes protection fund authorized under part 331 to implement the Great Lakes aquatic nuisance species coalition.
(3) The department shall report to the governor and to the legislature at least annually on any plans or projects being implemented or considered for implementation. The report shall include requests for any legislation needed to implement any proposed projects or agreements made necessary as a result of a plan or project, together with any requests for appropriations. The department may make recommendations to the governor on the designation of areawide water quality planning regions and organizations relative to the governor's responsibilities under the federal water pollution control act, 33 USC 1251 to 1387.
(4) A person shall not alter a floodplain except as authorized by a floodplain permit issued by the department pursuant to part 13. An application for a permit shall include information that may be required by the department to assess the proposed alteration's impact on the floodplain. If an alteration includes activities at multiple locations in a floodplain, 1 application may be filed for combined activities.
(5) Except as provided in subsections (6), (7), and (9), until October 1, 2019, an application for a floodplain permit shall be accompanied by a fee of $500.00. Until October 1, 2019, if the department determines that engineering computations are required to assess the impact of a proposed floodplain alteration on flood stage or discharge characteristics, the department shall assess the applicant an additional $1,500.00 to cover the department's cost of review.
(6) Until October 1, 2019, an application for a floodplain permit for a minor project category shall be accompanied by a fee of $100.00. Minor project categories shall be established by rule and shall include activities and projects that are similar in nature and have minimal potential for causing harmful interference.
(7) If work has been done in violation of a permit requirement under this part and restoration is not ordered by the department, the department may accept an application for a permit for that work if the application is accompanied by a fee equal to 2 times the permit fee required under subsection (5) or (6).
(8) The department shall forward fees collected under this section to the state treasurer for deposit in the land and water management permit fee fund created in section 30113.
(9) A project that requires review and approval under this part and 1 or more of the following is subject to only the single highest permit fee required under this part or the following:
(a) Part 301.
(b) Part 303.
(c) Part 323.
(d) Part 325.
(e) Section 117 of the land division act, 1967 PA 288, MCL 560.117.
History: 1994, Act 451, Eff. Mar. 30, 1995 ;-- Am. 1995, Act 169, Imd. Eff. Oct. 9, 1995 ;-- Am. 1999, Act 106, Imd. Eff. July 7, 1999 ;-- Am. 2003, Act 163, Imd. Eff. Aug. 12, 2003 ;-- Am. 2004, Act 325, Imd. Eff. Sept. 10, 2004 ;-- Am. 2005, Act 33, Imd. Eff. June 6, 2005 ;-- Am. 2008, Act 276, Imd. Eff. Sept. 29, 2008 ;-- Am. 2011, Act 90, Imd. Eff. July 15, 2011 ;-- Am. 2015, Act 82, Eff. Oct. 1, 2015
Popular Name: Act 451
Popular Name: NREPA
Admin Rule: R 323.1001 et seq. of the Michigan Administrative Code.
Last modified: October 10, 2016