ARSENIC TESTING SUNSET - H.B. 5758: COMMITTEE SUMMARY
House Bill 5758 (as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Ruth Johnson
House Committee: Land Use and Environment
Senate Committee: Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
Date Completed: 5-21-02
CONTENT
The bill would amend Part 54 (Safe Drinking Water Assistance) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to postpone the December 31, 2002, sunset date for the arsenic testing program to September 30, 2003.
Under the Act, the arsenic testing program must provide free testing of private drinking water wells for the presence of arsenic in geographic areas of the State where the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) knows or suspects that there are "high levels of arsenic". The bill would refer, instead, to levels of arsenic above the Federal drinking water standard of 10 parts per billion.
After the DEQ tests the arsenic level from a drinking water well, the DEQ must notify the resident or residents of the household of the level of arsenic and whether that level exceeds the Federal drinking water standard for arsenic. The DEQ also must establish an arsenic education program that produces materials for local health departments in geographic areas of the State that contain levels of arsenic above the Federal drinking water standard. (The bill would refer to the Federal drinking water standard of 10 parts per billion.) The DEQ must make this information available on its website.
By October 1, 2002, the DEQ must produce maps on a county-by-county basis to denote geographic area that contain arsenic, nitrates, or volatile organic compounds. By March 15, 2002, and September 30, 2002, the DEQ must submit a report to the Legislature on the status of the arsenic testing program.
Currently, all of these provisions will be repealed on December 31, 2002. The bill would postpone the repeal to September 30, 2003.
MCL 324.5419 - Legislative Analyst: Nobuko Nagata
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact because the program that would refer to the Federal arsenic standard was created in Public Act 165 of 2001.
- Fiscal Analyst: Pam GrahamS0102\s5758sa
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.