The bill amends the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act by introducing a new subpart titled "Permit Processing Generally," which establishes definitions and procedures for the permit application process. It updates the term "department" to refer to the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, replacing the previous designation of the Department of Environmental Quality. The bill sets specific processing deadlines for various permit types and mandates that if the department fails to meet these deadlines, it must compensate the applicant with a percentage of the application fee. Additionally, it requires the director to submit an annual report on permit applications, emphasizing transparency and efficiency, particularly for overburdened communities.

Furthermore, the bill creates a new subpart focused on "Overburdened Communities," defining key terms and mandating that the department publish a list of these communities. Permit applicants in these areas must conduct an environmental justice impact assessment and hold a public hearing to gather community input before their applications are deemed complete. The bill also stipulates that discriminatory permit applications must be denied unless they serve a compelling public interest and outlines the department's responsibilities to impose conditions on permits to protect public health in overburdened communities. It includes provisions for establishing implementation rules within a year and assessing fees to cover the costs of these new requirements, while also repealing certain sections of the existing act.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 324.1301, 324.1313, 324.1317