January 29, 2019, Introduced by Reps. Sowerby, Ellison, Wittenberg, Hood, Pohutsky, Robinson, Love, Shannon, Brenda Carter, Chirkun, Pagan, Clemente, Bolden, Hammoud, Peterson, Hoadley, Haadsma, Rabhi and Cynthia Johnson and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation.
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled
"Natural resources and environmental protection act,"
by amending sections 3109 and 3115 (MCL 324.3109 and 324.3115),
section 3109 as amended by 2014 PA 536 and section 3115 as amended
by 2004 PA 143.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 3109. (1) A person shall not directly or indirectly
discharge into the waters of the state a substance that is or may
become injurious to any of the following:
(a) To the public health, safety, or welfare.
(b) To domestic, commercial, industrial, agricultural,
recreational, or other uses that are being made or may be made of
such waters.
(c) To the value or utility of riparian lands.
(d) To livestock, wild animals, birds, fish, aquatic life, or
plants or to their growth or propagation.
(e) To the value of fish and game.
(2) The discharge of any raw sewage of human origin, directly
or indirectly, into any of the waters of the state shall be
considered prima facie evidence of a violation of this part by the
municipality in which the discharge originated unless the discharge
is
permitted authorized by an order or rule of or a valid permit
issued
by the department. If the an unauthorized discharge is not
the subject of a valid permit issued by the department, a
municipality
responsible for the discharge may be is subject to the
remedies provided in section 3115. If the discharge is the subject
of
a valid permit issued by the department pursuant to under
section 3112, and is in violation of that permit, a municipality
responsible for the discharge is subject to the penalties
prescribed in section 3115.
(3) Notwithstanding subsection (2), a municipality is not
responsible or subject to the remedies or penalties provided in
section 3115 under either of the following circumstances:
(a) The discharge is an unauthorized discharge from a sewerage
system as defined in section 4101 that is permitted under this part
and owned by a party other than the municipality, unless the
municipality has accepted responsibility in writing for the
sewerage system and, with respect to the civil fine and penalty
under section 3115, the municipality has been notified in writing
by the department of its responsibility for the sewerage system.
(b) The discharge is from 3 or fewer on-site wastewater
treatment systems.
(4) Unless authorized by a permit, order, or rule of the
department, the discharge into the waters of this state of any
medical waste, as defined in part 138 of the public health code,
1978 PA 368, MCL 333.13801 to 333.13832, is prima facie evidence of
a violation of this part and subjects the responsible person to the
penalties prescribed in section 3115.
(5) Unless a discharge is authorized by a permit, order, or
rule of the department, the discharge into the waters of this state
from an oceangoing vessel of any ballast water is prima facie
evidence of a violation of this part and subjects the responsible
person to the penalties prescribed in section 3115.
(6) The discharge of petroleum into the waters of this state
from a pipeline that crosses over, through, or under the waters of
the state is prima facie evidence of a violation of this part and
subjects the responsible person to the penalties prescribed in
section 3115.
(7) (6)
A violation of this section is
prima facie evidence of
the existence of a public nuisance and in addition to the remedies
provided for in this part may be abated according to law in an
action brought by the attorney general in a court of competent
jurisdiction.
(8) (7)
As used in this section,
"on-site wastewater treatment
system" means a system of components, other than a sewerage system
as defined in section 4101, used to collect and treat sanitary
sewage or domestic equivalent wastewater from 1 or more dwellings,
buildings, or structures and discharge the resulting effluent to a
soil dispersal system on property owned by or under the control of
the same individual or entity that owns or controls the dwellings,
buildings, or structures.
Sec. 3115. (1) The department may request the attorney general
to commence a civil action for appropriate relief, including a
permanent or temporary injunction, for a violation of this part or
a provision of a permit or order issued or rule promulgated under
this part. An action under this subsection may be brought in the
circuit court for the county of Ingham or for the county in which
the defendant is located, resides, or is doing business. If
requested by the defendant within 21 days after service of process,
the court shall grant a change of venue to the circuit court for
the county of Ingham or for the county in which the alleged
violation occurred, is occurring, or, in the event of a threat of
violation, will occur. The court has jurisdiction to restrain the
violation and to require compliance. In addition to any other
relief granted under this subsection, the court, except as
otherwise provided in this subsection, shall impose a civil fine of
not less than $2,500.00 and the court may award reasonable attorney
fees and costs to the prevailing party. However, all of the
following apply:
(a) The maximum civil fine imposed by the court shall be not
more than $25,000.00 per day of violation, except if the violation
involves the discharge of petroleum into the waters of this state,
the court may impose a civil fine of not more than $500,000.00 per
day.
(b) For a failure to report a release to the department or to
the primary public safety answering point under section 3111b(1),
the court shall impose a civil fine of not more than
$2,500.00.$50,000.00.
(c) For a failure to report a release to the local health
department under section 3111b(2), the court shall impose a civil
fine of not more than $500.00.
(2) A person who at the time of the violation knew or should
have known that he or she discharged a substance contrary to this
part, or contrary to a permit or order issued or rule promulgated
under this part, or who intentionally makes a false statement,
representation, or certification in an application for or form
pertaining to a permit or in a notice or report required by the
terms and conditions of an issued permit, or who intentionally
renders inaccurate a monitoring device or record required to be
maintained by the department, is guilty of a felony and shall be
fined not less than $2,500.00 or more than $25,000.00 for each
violation. The court may impose an additional fine of not more than
$25,000.00 for each day during which the unlawful discharge
occurred. If the conviction is for a violation committed after a
first conviction of the person under this subsection, the court
shall impose a fine of not less than $25,000.00 per day and not
more than $50,000.00 per day of violation. Upon conviction, in
addition to a fine, the court in its discretion may sentence the
defendant to imprisonment for not more than 2 years or impose
probation
upon a person for a violation of this part. the
defendant. With the exception of the issuance of criminal
complaints, issuance of warrants, and the holding of an
arraignment, the circuit court for the county in which the
violation occurred has exclusive jurisdiction. However, the person
shall
is not be subject to the penalties of this
subsection if the
discharge of the effluent is in conformance with and obedient to a
rule, order, or permit of the department. In addition to a fine,
the attorney general may file a civil suit in a court of competent
jurisdiction to recover the full value of the injuries done to the
natural resources of the state and the costs of surveillance and
enforcement by the state resulting from the violation.
(3) Upon a finding by the court that the actions of a civil
defendant pose or posed a substantial endangerment to the public
health, safety, or welfare, the court shall impose, in addition to
the sanctions set forth in subsection (1), a fine of not less than
$500,000.00 and not more than $5,000,000.00.
(4) Upon a finding by the court that the actions of a criminal
defendant pose or posed a substantial endangerment to the public
health, safety, or welfare, the court shall impose, in addition to
the penalties set forth in subsection (2), a fine of not less than
$1,000,000.00 and, in addition to a fine, a sentence of 5 years'
imprisonment.
(5) To find a defendant civilly or criminally liable for
substantial endangerment under subsection (3) or (4), the court
shall determine that the defendant knowingly or recklessly acted in
such a manner as to cause a danger of death or serious bodily
injury and that either of the following occurred:
(a) The defendant had an actual awareness, belief, or
understanding that his or her conduct would cause a substantial
danger of death or serious bodily injury.
(b) The defendant acted in gross disregard of the standard of
care that any reasonable person should observe in similar
circumstances.
(6) Knowledge possessed by a person other than the defendant
under subsection (5) may be attributable to the defendant if the
defendant took affirmative steps to shield himself or herself from
the relevant information.
(7)
A civil fine or other award ordered paid pursuant
according to this section shall do both of the following:
(a) Be payable to the state of Michigan and credited to the
general fund.
(b) Constitute a lien on any property, of any nature or kind,
owned by the defendant.
(8) A lien under subsection (7)(b) shall take effect and have
priority over all other liens and encumbrances except those filed
or
recorded prior to before the date of judgment only if notice of
the lien is filed or recorded as required by state or federal law.
(9)
A lien filed or recorded pursuant to under subsection (8)
shall be terminated according to the procedures required by state
or federal law within 14 days after the fine or other award ordered
to be paid is paid.
(10) In addition to any other method of collection, any fine
or other award ordered paid may be recovered by right of setoff to
any
debt owed to the defendant by the this state, of
Michigan,
including the right to a refund of income taxes paid.
Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days
after the date it is enacted into law.