Two bills designed to boost investment in community waste water infrastructure projects and brownfield site clean-up activities were reported from the Senate Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs committee earlier this week. Senate Bills 1442 and 1443 were both reported from the committee by votes of 4-0, following testimony from the League and Allegan City Manager Rob Hillard in support of the proposal. As detailed in earlier articles, these two bills attempt to shake loose revenue from the Great Lakes Water Quality bond that Michigan voters approved in 2002. Eight years after its passage, the State has spent only about $150 million of the $1 billion that was authorized for waste water, storm water and non-point source pollution prevention projects.
Mr. Hillard spoke to the committee about Allegan's experiences with the state's sewer financing tools and the critical need that communities have for consistent, easily accessible financing for these important projects. Reforms that are provided within these bills will allows more cities, throughout Michigan, to proceed with important infrastructure upgrades.
There were a series of changes to the bills that the committee adopted prior to passage, the most important of which was the to lower the amount of money that could be used for non-point source activites at brownfield sites. Originally, the bill provided for $200 million to be made available for brownfield sites, in the version the committee approved, $140 million would be available for non-point source clean-up and $10 million for communities to use through the brownfield grant and loan program.
These bills are now before the full Senate for consideration in early Septemeber. Please let me know if you have any questions about this legislation or the League's support for these bills.
Chris Hackbarth handles environmental issues for the Michigan Municipal League. Chris can be reached at 517-908-0303, or by email at chackbarth@mml.org.
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