REGULATION OF BALLAST WATER - S.B. 152 (S-3): FLOOR ANALYSIS


Senate Bill 152 (Substitute S-3 as reported by the Committee of the Whole)

Sponsor: Senator Ken Sikkema

Committee: Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs


CONTENT


The bill would amend Part 31 (Water Resources Protection) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to require the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to do the following:


-- Determine whether vessels operating on the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Waterway were complying with ballast water management practices proposed by the Shipping Federation of Canada (for oceangoing vessels) and by the Lake Carriers' Association and the Canadian Shipowners' Association (for nonoceangoing vessels).

-- Determine whether either or both of the management practices had been made a condition of passage on the St. Lawrence Seaway.

-- Make certain determinations regarding ballast water treatment methods.

-- Determine whether oceangoing vessels operating on the Great Lakes were using a ballast water treatment method to prevent the introduction of aquatic nuisance species into the Great Lakes.

-- Compile and maintain lists of vessels that had complied with the management practices or ballast water treatment methods within the previous 12 months; update the lists on the DEQ website; and provide the lists to the Governor, certain legislative committees, and people who use vessels for shipping.

-- Specify that owners of vessels that were not on the compliance list would not be eligible for a grant, loan, or award administered by the Department.


("Ballast water" would mean water and associated solids taken on board a vessel to control or maintain trim, draft, stability, or stresses on the vessel, without regard to the manner in which it was carried.)


MCL 324.3101 et al. - Legislative Analyst: N. Nagata


FISCAL IMPACT


The bill would result in an indeterminate increase in Department of Environmental Quality administrative costs related to data management, website maintenance, and printing and postage.


Date Completed: 5-22-01 - Fiscal Analyst: P. Graham



floor\sb152 (S-3) - Analysis available @ http://www.michiganlegislature.org

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.