The bill amends the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to enhance the authority of the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) in managing environmental contamination and remedial actions. Key changes include the removal of specific compliance requirements for response activities, granting the department greater discretion in approving actions that protect public health and the environment. The bill emphasizes the importance of remedial actions that meet cleanup criteria established by the department, rather than relying solely on previously promulgated rules. It also introduces provisions for establishing cleanup criteria based on human health risk assessments and allows for site-specific criteria when categorical criteria are technically infeasible.

Additionally, the bill modifies existing regulations regarding groundwater contamination and hazardous substances, particularly focusing on the groundwater-surface water interface (GSI). It requires the establishment of alternative monitoring points for venting groundwater and mandates sentinel monitoring points to promptly identify any exceedance of surface water quality standards. The bill clarifies that compliance with GSI criteria can be demonstrated through ecological or modeling demonstrations, and it introduces a technical infeasibility waiver process for those who have controlled the source of contamination. Overall, the amendments aim to streamline the regulatory framework for hazardous substance management while ensuring public safety and environmental protection.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 324.20118