Tag: michigan legislature

Septic systems standards legislation introduced in Michigan state senate

Published on January 28th, 2026 by - Blog Posts, Reports & Media Releases

January 28, 2026

Lansing, Mich. – Today in the Michigan Senate, Sen. Sam Singh (D-28) introduced legislation to establish the state’s first-ever comprehensive framework for the oversight and maintenance of onsite wastewater treatment systems, also known as septic systems. The legislation (SB 771) will modernize Michigan’s outdated approach to septic system oversight, and protect the health of communities and the state’s lakes, rivers, and groundwater.

Michigan is the only state in the nation without a statewide sanitary code for septic systems, despite widespread evidence that failing and aging systems contribute to bacterial and nutrient contamination in drinking water wells and surface waters. The legislation recognizes that while properly functioning septic systems are an effective and affordable wastewater solution, septic system failures pose serious risks to public health, safety, and the environment.

Michigan has attempted to pass a statewide septic code over a dozen times and counting over the past decades, but previous efforts have repeatedly stalled in the legislature. The new bill requires the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to develop a Statewide Sewage Code within three years, creating uniform performance-based standards for both conventional and alternative septic systems. If the legislation is passed and signed into law, Michigan will have consistent, enforceable protections to prevent failing systems from contaminating groundwater and surface waters — a critical step forward for public health and water quality.

Key provisions of the bill include:

  • Homeowners with high-risk or older systems (20+ years and within 500 feet from any surface water or within a high-risk erosion area, critical dune, or 100-year floodplain) are evaluated first, followed by routine 10-year inspections and checks before any change or increase in use.
  • The bill defines a septic system “failure” and authorizes local health departments to inspect, evaluate, and enforce compliance.
  • The law establishes a Technical Advisory Committee: a group of highly qualified experts — including local health officials, engineers, soil scientists, and environmental organizations — that will guide EGLE in developing rules and performance standards.
  • A new Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Administration Fund, which will provide grants to local health departments, support digitization of septic records, fund public education campaigns, and assist low-income homeowners with inspection and repair costs.
  • The legislation allows the use of approved alternative and innovative treatment technologies to meet state standards, ensuring flexibility for communities and property owners.

To ensure compliance, the bill includes civil fines, liens for chronic noncompliance, and criminal penalties for falsifying reports or conducting unregistered evaluations.

“It is high time for Michigan to adopt a uniform septic code,” said Liz Kirkwood, Flow Water Advocates executive director. “Failing and aging systems threaten drinking water and our lakes and rivers. This legislation establishes common-sense protections that every Michigander can support — because clean water is not optional, it’s essential for our health and communities.”

Flow applauds Sen. Singh for his leadership in addressing one of Michigan’s most persistent and under-regulated sources of water pollution. The legislation builds on years of collaboration among environmental organizations, local health departments, and clean water advocates to create a fair, science-based approach to septic management that works for both rural and urban communities.

“Clean water begins at home,” Kirkwood added. “With this legislation, Michigan finally recognizes that protecting our water means maintaining the systems that return it to the ground.”

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Flow Water Advocates is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Traverse City, Michigan. Our mission is to ensure the waters of the Great Lakes Basin are healthy, public, and protected for all. With a staff of legal and policy experts, communicators, and community builders, Flow is a trusted resource for Great Lakes advocates. We help communities, businesses, agencies, and governments make informed policy decisions and protect public trust rights to water. Learn more at www.FlowWaterAdvocates.org.

Polluter accountability bills Introduced in Michigan Legislature

Published on June 10th, 2025 by - Blog Posts

New bills would help clean up, prevent environmental contamination

June 11, 2025

Polluter accountability legislation, including Senate Bills 385, 368, 387, 391, 392, and 393, was introduced this week by State Senators. Several of the bills have already been introduced in the House as HB 4636-4640, and the remaining bills will be introduced this week. The package would save taxpayers millions of dollars and result in a cleaner, healthier environment. Flow submitted written testimony in favor of the legislation. Flow has worked on this issue for several years, and collaborated with lawmakers and coalition partners to draft the legislation.

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Senate Bill 392 would dramatically reduce the creation of “dead zones,” or areas where groundwater contamination is pervasive, by requiring that it be cleaned up to residential standards (except where that is technically infeasible). Current law has facilitated the frequent use of institutional controls, like deed restrictions and local ordinances, to prohibit the use of contaminated areas rather than clean them up. SB 392 would promote active cleanup of contaminated sites to better protect public health and the environment. As of June 2025, there were 4760 institutional controls in Michigan.

Senate Bill 391 would provide more information to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and the public about sites and cleanups by requiring reports on past pollutant releases, reporting on self-managed cleanups of releases, post-cleanup monitoring to detect migration of contaminants in groundwater, and that owner/operators file due care plans detailing how they will fulfill their duty to protect the public. Other bills in the new package would streamline the process EGLE follows to revise and strengthen cleanup criteria; increase transparency in the cleanup program; and provide a cause of action in court for funding medical monitoring needed by people exposed to contamination.

The legislation introduced this week is similar to bills that passed the Senate last fall, but did not receive consideration in the House. The need for reform is especially urgent as Michigan grapples with over 300 confirmed PFAS contamination sites, and thousands more suspected locations – many without a responsible party identified. Polluter accountability laws would create a legal pathway to hold manufacturers and industrial polluters liable for cleanups and long-term health impacts.

Michigan had a “polluter pay” law in place between 1990 and 1995, which held owners and operators of contaminated sites strictly liable for their cleanup. The law generated approximately $100 million in polluter payments, but it was repealed in 1995 by the Legislature and then-Governor John Engler. The repeal has cost Michigan taxpayers over $1.5 billion in cleanup funding over the past 25 years.  There are more than 24,000 contaminated sites in Michigan, with groundwater and soil too polluted to use. Approximately 11,000 of those sites are considered to be “orphaned” without a legally responsible owner. They comprise an area that is cumulatively twice the size of the City of Grand Rapids. Many of the orphaned and unremediated sites are located in or near low-income communities and communities of color, exacerbating environmental injustice and putting already vulnerable populations at heightened health risks.

EGLE estimates that approximately $13 billion in public funds will be needed to clean up all orphan sites, where those responsible for the pollution are now bankrupt or defunct. Billions more will be needed from private parties that caused contamination of other sites. Polluter accountability laws can help ensure these funds are available for cleanup.

“The rollback has compromised the health and safety of Michigan residents, and put an unfair financial burden on taxpayers who are forced to bear the cost of cleaning up messes created by corporate polluters,” said Liz Kirkwood, executive director of FLOW. “Common sense reforms to bring back polluter accountability will enable Michigan to chart a cleaner, healthier future and help communities and businesses thrive.”

The so-called “institutional controls” – deed restrictions and local ordinances that substitute in many locations for cleanup – were studied by FLOW and the Institute for Water Research at Michigan State University. The study found that the true economic, ecological, and social costs of relying on land and water use restrictions to address contamination are likely significantly higher than estimated.

In several locations around the state where contamination has not been cleaned up, toxic chemicals have volatilized into homes, businesses, and even a day care center, necessitating evacuations to protect the occupants.

Michigan can no longer afford to let polluters off the hook. For too long, families, small businesses, and communities have borne the health and financial costs of toxic contamination they didn’t cause. Restoring polluter accountability is not only common sense–it’s a moral and fiscal imperative. These reforms will ensure that those who profit from pollution pay to clean it up. The Legislature has a clear opportunity to correct decades of environmental injustice and protect Michigan’s water, land, and public health for generations to come. FLOW and its partners urge the Michigan Legislature to act swiftly on this bill package to restore polluter accountability. With mounting cleanup costs, growing public health threats, and an increasingly contaminated groundwater system, delay is not an option. The time to act is now.

Michigan’s big fail: Other Great Lakes states stronger on septic

Published on May 1st, 2025 by - Blog Posts

A septic system is an underground wastewater treatment system for homes that are not connected to a city sewer system. When regularly pumped and maintained, a septic system efficiently manages the wastewater produced in a house.

These systems generally work very well, and are “out of sight, out of mind.” But when a septic system isn’t maintained, big problems can arise. Untreated wastewater can back up into your house, or can leach out through the drain field — and into our groundwater, lakes, and streams.

Michigan is the only state in the nation without statewide standards for septic system construction, maintenance, and inspection. Some counties and townships have enacted their own codes, but sewage and wastewater moves underground without regard for border lines.

For over the past two decades, efforts to address this issue in Michigan have been unsuccessful. As lawmakers grapple with finding a resolution, Michigan’s waters and public health are threatened.

Here is a summary of how our neighbors in the Great Lakes region are protecting our shared waters from septic contamination:

Minnesota’s statewide onsite wastewater treatment law sets uniform standards for the design, installation, maintenance, and inspection of septic systems across the state. While the state provided the framework, local governments are responsible for implementing and enforcing the regulations.​

Pennsylvania’s statewide onsite wastewater treatment law requires municipalities to develop comprehensive plans for septic systems. The law also established permitting requirements, grant authorizations, and uniform standards for system design and installation. The law is administered primarily at the local level, with oversight and technical assistance provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. ​

Ohio’s statewide law governing onsite wastewater treatment systems establishes standards for the siting, design, installation, operation, monitoring, maintenance, and abandonment of such systems. Local boards of health are authorized to implement these rules and may adopt more stringent standards if desired.​

New York’s statewide law governing onsite wastewater treatment systems provides detailed guidelines on system design, installation, and maintenance to ensure the protection of public health and the environment.​

Indiana’s statewide law governing residential sewage disposal systems authorized the adoption of rules for onsite waste management districts and septage holding tanks, expanding the scope of wastewater management in the state.

Wisconsin’s statewide regulation of onsite wastewater treatment systems includes requirements to inventory of all private onsite wastewater treatment systems and the implementation of a maintenance tracking program to enhance the oversight and management of POWTS across the state. ​Wisconsin law also establishes a maintenance program to be administered by governmental units and mandates inspections or pumping of systems at least once every three years.

​Illinois’s statewide regulation of onsite wastewater treatment systems​ established the framework for licensing private sewage disposal contractors and setting minimum standards for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of private sewage disposal systems. It aimed to protect public health by ensuring that these systems were properly managed.

It’s time for a Water Trust Fund in Michigan

Published on December 11th, 2024 by - Blog Posts

Rep. Rachel Hood (D-81) and Rep. Donavan McKinney (D-14)

This month, Michigan House Rep. Rachel Hood (D-81) and Rep. Donavan McKinney (D-14) introduced important bills (HB 6273, 6274), based on FLOW’s model legislation, that would impose a $0.25 per gallon royalty on bottled drinking water extracted from Michigan’s publicly-held water resources (including groundwater), and create a Water Trust Fund. The Fund would use the royalties to address a number of water infrastructure and accessibility needs, including:

  • Help for low-income families struggling to pay water bills
  • Grants to local governments for lead service line replacement, contamination remediation, and emergency water supplies
  • Local public health department funding for water testing and implementation of septic system regulations

By recouping twenty-five cents per gallon from water bottling companies, the trust fund could generate between $250-300 million annually, and help address Michigan’s $1 billion in annual water infrastructure needs. This mechanism for funding water infrastructure and accessibility is a bold, forward-thinking solution, and affirms public protection of Michigan’s waters. But it is also not without precedent.

Forty years ago, in November 1984, Michigan voters overwhelmingly approved constitutional protection for the state Natural Resources Trust Fund (NRTF.) This fund has become a model for other states.

Bankrolled by revenue from oil and gas drilling on state lands, the NRTF funds the purchase and development of recreational and environmentally significant lands for state and local governments. Because constitutional protection assures that these funds cannot be diverted by legislators to other purposes, Michigan voters can be confident that the NRTF will for decades continue to assure an increase in the amount of public land devoted to recreation and environmental protection.

(click to enlarge)

NRTF and its predecessor have enabled hundreds of projects worth more than $1.3 billion. There is an NRTF-supported project in every county of the state.

A tradition has developed that further strengthens the NRTF. When the five-member NRTF Board recommends projects to the Legislature for funding approval, lawmakers typically accept and approve the list without political gamesmanship.
Public lands will become increasingly important as the population grows and the climate changes. The need for clean, abundant public waters will also increase.

FLOW has been working with Rep. Hood, Rep. McKinney, and other lawmakers to address Michigan’s water infrastructure and accessibility needs with a 21st-century analog to the Natural Resources Trust Fund. FLOW authored this legislation to bring the colliding crises of water extraction, failing infrastructure, and water affordability under a comprehensive legal framework, and to recalibrate Michigan’s priorities on protecting its water and its people.

By establishing the Water Trust Fund, Michigan can lead the way and assure that our water remains public, safe, and affordable for all.

FLOW’s “lame duck” session priorities for water

Published on November 20th, 2024 by - Blog Posts

What is the “lame duck” session in Lansing?

Lame duck is a legislative session that begins after a November election but before new members take the oath of office in January. ‘Lame duck’ refers to the fact that many legislators voting in November and December are retiring or were defeated and are considered lame ducks. Both Congress and the Michigan Legislature often hold lame-duck sessions to resolve thorny issues where lame ducks are free to vote without consequences to their re-election.

This year’s lame-duck dates are tentatively planned for November 6 – December 19 for the Senate and November 7 – December 19 for the House. During this unique time, we have the power to urge the Michigan legislature to make the right decision and protect our precious environment. We encourage you to reach out to your legislators to represent our collective voice on the following Great Lakes priorities:

Statewide Septic Code

Michigan has spent over two decades attempting to implement a statewide septic code. We can finally accomplish this with HB 4479–4480 and SB 299–300. More than 1.3 million homes and businesses in Michigan use septic systems to treat household sewage and wastewater. If not maintained, failing septic systems can contaminate drinking and groundwater and release bacteria, viruses, and household chemicals into lakes and rivers. Proper septic system maintenance protects public health and the environment. Only 11 of Michigan’s 83 counties require inspections. And Michigan is the only state in the nation without a statewide code. FLOW has been working with a diverse coalition of stakeholders for almost 2 years to ensure environmental considerations are included in each draft of the bills, an incredibly vital part of establishing a sustainable statewide septic code. Tell your legislators that you SUPPORT a statewide septic code for Michigan!

Polluter Accountability

EGLE estimates there are 26,000 contamination sites in Michigan, about 13,000 where no potentially responsible party (PRP) can be identified. Michigan’s current contamination cleanup laws fail to hold many potentially responsible parties accountable, forcing the public taxpayers to pay for cleanup or leaving sites contaminated, with an estimated price tag of up to 13 billion dollars. This is not an abstract concern. Sites where contamination is left in place have resulted in evacuations of nearby residences, offices, and a daycare center to protect public health. Many sites with institutional controls may become hazards in the future.

Polluter Pay legislation, SB 605-611 and HB 5241-5247 restores the common-sense principle that polluters should pay to clean up their contamination by ensuring that both past and present owners and operators are defined as legally responsible parties. Equally important, it will deter future pollution by clarifying that the state will have the legal tools necessary to enforce the law and strengthen the cleanup criteria based on the best available scientific data. In sum, the legislation places the responsibility and allocates the risk of future releases on those who control the use of hazardous materials. SUPPORT for this legislation is critical to the health and well-being of our communities.

Part 31 – Environmental Agency Rulemaking Authority

Two decades ago, the legislature made amendments to Part 31 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA) that have created ongoing and increasingly severe legal jeopardy for the state, with a growing likelihood of litigation and administrative actions as Michigan falls out of compliance with a variety of legal obligations due to regulatory neglect. If unremedied, this situation will continue to cause unlawful pollution of water and natural resources and become more costly, with consequences including the potential loss of authority to implement federal environmental regulatory programs. Failure to update water quality regulations in line with federal standards could result in Michigan losing its delegated authority to manage its Clean Water Act discharge permitting program, similar to the situation that occurred in Wisconsin. We urge you to ask your legislators to SUPPORT HB 5205 to safeguard Michigan’s waters and avoid legal complications.

Data Centers

Data centers have significant impacts on our environment and public health – including water use, energy use, land use, and noise – especially if backup diesel generators are employed. Data centers, without necessary environmental safeguards, are an imminent threat to climate progress and freshwater resources. Our commitment to renewable energy and abundant water resources makes our state attractive to these companies, but we must prioritize protecting our water, air, and ratepayers while encouraging economic development. We can do both with well-crafted legislation.

However, HB 4906 and SB 237, data center use and tax bills, fail to incorporate any meaningful environmental protections. Michigan has the leverage now to maximize the benefit statement for local governments and residents, and that leverage is lost after tax incentives become law. The impact of these policies will resonate for decades, so we must get the policy correct now to ensure that we are meeting our clean energy and clean water goals. Ask your legislator to OPPOSE HB 4906 and SB 237 as written.

Stormwater Utilities

Over the past few decades, Michigan has faced an increase in unpredictable storm events. Unfortunately, our existing stormwater infrastructure is not built to handle the frequency and intensity of these storms, creating problems with water runoff and flooding.

This, in turn, has led to problems such as water pollution, algal blooms, beach closures, threats to public health, and increased infrastructure costs to taxpayers. Polluted runoff also contaminates the environment and endangers aquatic life. Stormwater utilities can be a part of the solution, by enabling communities to fund modern, green stormwater infrastructure and protect the environment and public health.

FLOW is working to develop a legislative solution to enable small and mid-sized communities in Michigan to legally establish stormwater utilities and secure a reliable source of funding for this crucial infrastructure. Stormwater utilities are an essential tool for managing and mitigating the negative impacts of stormwater runoff, including flood damage, erosion, and pollution.

Michigan Legislature: Important environmental bills we’re tracking this fall

Published on August 2nd, 2024 by - Blog Posts

With the Michigan Legislature’s summer break almost over, and less than 100 days until the election, the focus of legislators on both sides of the aisle will shift to their hometown districts. The outcome of the November polls – where Democrats will strive to maintain their majority in the House and Senate, and Republicans will seek control of the House – will significantly shape the legislative landscape. In September, the legislature will hold several sessions to pass important bills and a possible supplemental budget – all of which will be influenced by the upcoming elections. Following the election is the so-called “lame-duck” session, which is an opportunity to pass legislation less unencumbered by electoral considerations.

As lawmakers gear up for the November lame-duck session, we at FLOW are keeping strategic focus on the following legislative efforts:

Polluter Pay Accountability

“Polluter Pay” is the common-sense idea that companies that contaminate our environment and water should be responsible for cleaning up their messes. Michigan had Polluter Pay laws on the books in the early 1990s, which were subsequently gutted by the business-coddling Republican Engler and Snyder administrations. Today, there are over 24,000 polluted sites in Michigan (11,000 of which are considered “orphan sites” without a responsible paying party), and 66,332 acres have land-use restrictions due to contamination.

A package of bills to bring back polluter accountability has been introduced in both the Senate and the House; however, none of the package bills have been scheduled for a hearing in either chamber. The House has referred House Bills (HBs) 5241-5247 to the Committee on Natural Resources, Environment, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation, while the Senate has referred Senate Bills (SBs) 605-611 to the Committee on Energy and Environment. Due to the complexity of this package, concerns have been raised about the likelihood of passage in the fall.

There is widespread support among voters who no longer wish to foot the bill for the contamination created by corporations, but it has faced significant opposition from DOW, automotive, utility, and chemical industries, all of which will be impacted by these bills if they are to pass in the lame-duck session. Despite the questionable future of this package, we remain optimistically hopeful that we can clean up Michigan’s industrial legacy, and to promote lasting water stewardship and land management.

FLOW’s report, “Making Polluters Pay: How to Fix State Law and Policy to Protect Groundwater and Michigan Taxpayers,” offers a comprehensive overview of the background and evolution of “Polluter Pay” laws in Michigan.

Statewide Septic Code

House Bills (HBs) 4479 and 4480, along with Senate Bills (SBs) 299 and 300, have been introduced in both the Senate and House. HBs 4479 and 4480 have been referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, Environment, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation. SBs 299 and 300 have been referred to the Committee on Energy and Environment. None of the bills have been scheduled for a hearing in either chamber. 

The purpose of this legislation is to initiate regular inspections and necessary maintenance for all 1.3 million septic systems in the state of Michigan. Additionally, the proposed legislation would establish an inspection registry, an accreditation process for inspectors, and a technical advisory group to provide guidance on septic system maintenance. Michigan – which lies at the heart of the Great Lakes – is the only state in the country without statewide septic standards.

FLOW has been working with a coalition of groups, including SEMCOG, the Michigan Municipal League, local government organizations, and the environmental community to propose solutions that reconcile conflicting opinions on the bill, create a path for its implementation, and address the urgent threat posed by failing septic systems to our lakes, rivers, and groundwater.  

Opposition to these bills comes mainly from local and regional Health Departments, which are concerned about insufficient resources and capacity to conduct inspections; and Realtors, who are worried about a time-of-sale inspection approach. To ensure the passage of these bills during the lame-duck session, it is crucial for every Democratic legislator to vote in favor, given the absence of support from Republican legislators.For more details, check out FLOW’s Policy Brief, “The Case for a Statewide Septic Code in Michigan.”

Stormwater Utilities

Senate Bill 660 was introduced in the fall of 2023 and subsequently referred to the Committee on Local Government. A hearing was held on June 4, 2024, but no vote was taken. This legislation would enable small and mid-sized communities in Michigan to legally establish stormwater utilities and secure a reliable funding source for this crucial infrastructure. The legislation, however, does not mandate any community to establish such stormwater utilities. 

A stormwater utility is a mechanism through which localities provide stormwater management infrastructure, funded by fees paid by property owners. Fees are based on the amount of impervious surfaces, such as parking lots and driveways, rather than property taxes. This allows all properties, including tax-exempt properties, to contribute to the fund.

By granting legal authority and allocating funding mechanisms to utilities, communities can effectively enhance their ability to construct more resilient stormwater management systems. FLOW and many other environmental advocates, such as the MI Water Environment Association, Great Lakes Water Authority, and the Michigan Municipal League, supported this legislation during the hearing. Although this bill is less controversial and local governments could choose whether and how to run a stormwater utility, it still has tough opposition from groups such as various Chamber of Commerce and Realtor Associations.  For more information, see FLOW’s policy brief, “Revolutionizing Stormwater Management through Stormwater Utilities and Green Infrastructure.”

Other items in the works: 

Trichloroethylene (TCE) – A forthcoming bill set to be introduced this fall aims to prohibit the manufacturing, usage, and distribution of trichloroethylene (TCE) in the state of Michigan. This legislation is designed after a federal initiative seeking to outlaw TCE, a hazardous chemical known to cause cancer and have serious non-cancer health effects.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Plastics – Michigan currently has legislation on EPR for products including desktops, laptops, monitors, printers, tablets, and televisions. 

EPR is an environmental policy that holds producers responsible for a product’s entire lifecycle, from design to end of life. EPR policies encourage producers to consider environmental factors when designing products and packaging, and to make them more sustainable and recyclable. As of June 2024, five states in the U.S. have adopted EPR legislation, and other states are contemplating joining this movement to address plastics pollution and recycling. 

Lawmakers are now considering EPR legislation to assign financial responsibility to producers of product packaging. It is imperative for producers to actively engage and be part of the solution in addressing the plastic crisis. The primary objective will be to encourage manufacturers to adopt standardized packaging for improved recyclability, and to foster comprehensive improvements in the recycling industry. 

MI Public Water Trust Fund – FLOW developed this model legislation, the Michigan Public Water Trust Act (PDF), to bring the colliding crises of water extraction, failing infrastructure, and water affordability under a comprehensive legal framework, and to recalibrate Michigan’s priorities on protecting its water and its people. Michigan and the seven other Great Lakes states should pass this model legislation drafted by FLOW in order to:

  • Affirm public ownership over water,
  • Protect sensitive water resources,
  • Prohibit the sale of water, except for the sale of bottled water authorized by a royalty licensing system, and
  • Recoup for public purposes royalties derived from these bottled water sales.

This model law places royalties into a public water, health and justice trust fund to serve people and communities for specific dedicated public purposes, such as replacing lead service lines or creating water affordability plans for disadvantaged people or cities and rural communities.

Policy Brief: Polluter Accountability in Michigan

Published on April 16th, 2024 by - Blog Posts, Reports & Media Releases

Download the policy brief: Polluter Accountability (PDF)

The repeal of the Polluter Pay law has cost Michigan taxpayers over $1.5 billion over the past 25 years1. Polluters have walked away from more than 3,000 contaminated sites with groundwater and soil too polluted to use, leaving taxpayers on the hook for billions more.

The rollback has compromised the health and safety of Michigan residents, and put an unjustifiable financial burden on taxpayers who are forced to bear the cost of cleaning up the messes created by corporate polluters. Common sense reforms to bring back polluter accountability will enable Michigan to chart a sustainable future and help communities and businesses thrive. The people of Michigan deserve accountability and justice for the harm caused by blatant polluters, and an end to this flagrant disregard for groundwater and human health. Download our policy brief above, and also see FLOW’s report, Making Polluters Pay, for a more detailed history.

1Fiscal Year 2020 State Environmental Cleanup Programs Report, EGLE (2021), https://www.michigan.gov/egle/-/media/Project/Websites/egle/Documents/Reports/Boilerplate/Report-FY2020-Consolidated.pdf

 

 

Gov. Whitmer signs “No Stricter Than Federal” roll-back: Why it matters

Published on July 31st, 2023 by - Blog Posts, News

Michigan is once again free to enact environmental protections critical to the health of our environment and residents.

Updated July 31, 2023

On July 27, 2023, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Senate Bill 14, which passed the State House of Representatives on June 28 by a 56-52 vote. With her signature, the 2018 state statute that barred the state from adopting environmental standards stronger than those in federal law is now undone.

For more than five decades, Michigan has been a leader among the states in shutting down toxic chemicals, protecting sensitive habitats, and safeguarding children’s environmental health. The 2018 “no stricter than federal” law is inconsistent with Michigan’s 1969 ban on DDT, 1977 phosphorus detergent standard, and 1980 wetlands protection act.

The 2018 law was enacted during the last hours of that year’s lame-duck legislative session and the last days of Governor Rick Snyder’s administration, giving the public no chance to weigh in with comments on the bill.

Ironically, if the law had passed earlier in the session, it would have prevented one of Snyder’s own initiatives. After mishandling the contamination of the Flint water supply due to lead pipes, the former Governor supported a new, strict state action level of 12 parts per billion of lead, compared to the-then federal standard of 15 parts per billion, and boasted that it was the toughest in the nation.

Had the law remained in effect, it could also have prevented the state from setting stricter-than-federal drinking water standards for seven toxic chemicals from the PFAS class. Exposure to the so-called “forever “chemicals has been linked to numerous human health effects. Governor Whitmer directed EGLE to promulgate PFAS drinking water standards in 2019. The agency did so, but PFAS manufacturers sued to stop them from taking effect. Meanwhile, U.S. EPA has proposed PFAS drinking water standards that are in some cases less strict than the Michigan standards.

The sponsor of Senate Bill 14, State Senator Sean McCann of Kalamazoo, said “federal standards across the board are usually set to the lowest common denominator. Michigan, because of its unique place nestled in the heart of the Great Lakes, needs the authority to set higher standards for the protection of our natural resources, especially water.”

Congress passed federal environmental laws in the 1960s and 970s to set a national floor of protection below which no state law could fall, while leaving room for individual states to go farther in protecting their environment. But, says FLOW executive director Liz Kirkwood, the 2018 law made the national floor the state’s ceiling.

“Michigan must be free to protect our rivers and air, wetlands and drinking water, to meet Michigan’s needs,” she said.

Read our previous analysis of “no stricter than federal” >>

 

Gov. Whitmer, Michigan Legislature Agree on Funding for Clean Water

Published on September 25th, 2019 by - Blog Posts, News

By Dave Dempsey

Although budget talks between Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the state Legislature are strained at best — as the two sides appear deadlocked over road funding — it does appear her request for significant one-time funding for clean water for the fiscal year 2020 starting October 1 will survive the process, with some changes made to fit legislative priorities. On Tuesday, Sept. 24, the Legislature approved the water money and will send the bill to Whitmer’s desk for signature within a few days.

The action comes after a long delay in consideration of the Governor’s proposal. “Communities across Michigan are grappling with drinking water contamination, like toxic PFAS chemicals and lead from old pipes, yet discussion about it has been noticeably absent in Lansing as they work to pass a budget. Clean, safe drinking water is not a partisan issue and should be a top priority, not an afterthought,” said Lisa Wozniak, executive director of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters (LCV), earlier this month.

A House-Senate conference committee had sent a proposed appropriation for the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) to the full State House and Senate. FLOW’s allies in Lansing at the Michigan Environmental Council and Michigan League of Conservation voters say the conference bill contains $120 million in one-time money for drinking water protection, including:

  • $40 million for PFAS and emerging contaminants
  • $35 million for drinking water revolving loan fund community debt forgiveness
  • $30 million for lead and copper rule implementation
  • $7.5 million for water affordability planning
  • $7.5 million for private water well testing

UPDATE:  Governor Whitmer vetoed $15 million intended for dealing with PFAS at municipal airports on the grounds that a broader use of the funding for PFAS us needed.

    Also included:
    • $1.9 million and the equivalent of 10 staff positions for a drinking water compliance unit to provide technical assistance to communities on the lead and copper rule. 
    • $5 million as a state match for federal drinking water revolving loan fund dollars.
    • $307,000 additional funding for contaminated site investigations.
    An item of concern, added by legislators, is an earmark of $150,000 for the Environmental Rules Review Committee to contract with consultants. This committee was created by the Legislature and signed into law by former Governor Snyder to impede environmental rulemaking.
    UPDATE:  Governor Whitmer vetoed the $150,000 in funding for this committee.
    The Governor also requested $60 million for school hydration stations to protect children from drinking lead-contaminated water, but so far the Legislature has not included the money in the fiscal year 2020 budget.
    Dave Dempsey is the Senior Policy Advisor at FLOW.

    FLOW Submits a Nonpartisan Comment on Proposed Senate Bill 409

    Published on December 5th, 2017 by - Blog Posts

    FLOW has contacted key Michigan lawmakers to ask them to defend the public's Great Lakes waters and submerged lands from intrusion.

    Legislation before the House Committee on Natural Resources exceeds the Legislature's powers and puts publicly owned waters and submerged lands at risk. S.B. 409 allows private riparian landowners to occupy Great Lakes submerged lands (which belong to the public) and construct private noncommercial harbors adjacent to their upland riparian property.

    FLOW said this sets a terrible precedent that could lead to other private interests seeking to make private ownership claims on the Great Lakes and their submerged lands. In an 1892 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states cannot cede these submerged lands and waters to private parties because the title to them is "held in trust for the people of the state, that they may enjoy the navigation of waters, carry on commerce over them, and have liberty of fishing therein free from the obstruction or interference of private parties.”

    S.B. 409 runs afoul of Supreme Court precedent and sound stewardship of our waters, and should be rejected.