SENATE BILL NO. 1052
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled
"Natural resources and environmental protection act,"
by amending sections 11102, 11110, 11125, 11132, 11514b, 62501, and 62502 (MCL 324.11102, 324.11110, 324.11125, 324.11132, 324.11514b, 324.62501, and 324.62502), sections 11102 and 11125 as amended by 2010 PA 357, section 11110 as amended by 1995 PA 61, section 11132 as added by 2018 PA 688, section 11514b as amended by 2022 PA 245, section 62501 as amended by 1998 PA 467, and section 62502 as added by 1995 PA 57, and by adding sections 11122, 62508b, and 62509d; and to repeal acts and parts of acts.
the people of the state of michigan enact:
Sec. 11102. (1) "Class I well" means that term as defined in section 62501.
(2) "Class IV well" means that term as defined in section 62501.
(3) (1) "Contaminant" means any of the following:
(a) Hazardous waste as defined in R 299.9203 of the Michigan administrative code.
(b) Any hazardous waste or hazardous constituent listed in 40 CFR part 261, appendix VIII or 40 CFR part 264, appendix IX.
(4) (2) "Corrective action" means an action determined by the department to be necessary to protect the public health, safety, or welfare, or the environment, and includes, but is not limited to, investigation, evaluation, cleanup, removal, remediation, monitoring, containment, isolation, treatment, storage, management, temporary relocation of people, and provision of alternative water supplies, or any corrective action allowed under the solid waste disposal act or regulations promulgated pursuant to that act.
(5) (3) "Designated facility" means a hazardous waste treatment, storage, or disposal facility that has received a permit or has interim status under the solid waste disposal act or has a permit from a state authorized under section 3006 of subtitle C of the solid waste disposal act, 42 USC 6926, and which, if located in this state, has an operating license issued under this part, has a legally binding agreement with the department that authorizes operation, or is subject to the requirements of section 11123(8).
(6) (4) "Disposal" means the discharge, deposit, injection, dumping, spilling, leaking, or placing of a hazardous waste into or on land or water in a manner that the hazardous waste or a constituent of the hazardous waste may enter the environment, be emitted into the air, or be discharged into water, including groundwater.
(7) (5) "Disposal facility" means a facility or a part of a facility where managed hazardous waste, as defined by rule, is intentionally placed into or on any land or water and at which hazardous waste will remain after closure.
(8) (6) "Failure mode assessment" means an analysis of the potential major methods by which safe handling of hazardous wastes may fail at a treatment, storage, or disposal facility.
Sec. 11110. (1) Not later than January 1, 1990, By 5 years after the effective date of the amendatory act that added section 11122 and every 5 years thereafter, the department shall prepare an updated and adopt a comprehensive, updated state hazardous and radioactive waste management plan.
(2) The updated plan shall meet all of the following requirements:
(a) Update the state hazardous waste management plan adopted by the commission on January 15, 1982.
(a) (b) Be based upon on the location of generators, health and safety, transportation economics, of transporting, type types of waste, and existing treatment, storage, or disposal facilities.
(c) Include information generated by the department of commerce and the department on hazardous waste capacity needs in the state.
(d) Include information provided by the office of waste reduction created in part 143.
(b) (e) Plan for the availability of hazardous waste treatment or disposal facilities that have adequate capacity for the destruction, treatment, or secure disposition of all hazardous wastes that are reasonably Based on information included in the plan under subdivision (e), specify a maximum permitted capacity for hazardous or radioactive waste treatment, storage, or disposal facilities. The maximum capacity shall equal the average amount of hazardous or radioactive waste expected to be generated within the in this state during the 20-year succeeding 5-year period. after October 1, 1988, as is described in section 104(c)(9)(A) of title I of the comprehensive environmental response, compensation, and liability act of 1980, Public Law 96-510, 42 U.S.C. 9604.The maximum capacity shall not be changed until the next 5-year update of the plan is adopted.
(c) (f) Plan Provide for a reasonable geographic distribution of treatment, storage, and disposal facilities to meet existing and future needs and to comply with section 11125(9), including proposing criteria for determining acceptable locations for these facilities. The criteria shall include a consideration of a location's geology, geography, demography, and waste generation patterns, along with environmental factors, public health factors, and other relevant characteristics as determined by the department.
(d) (g) Emphasize Provide for a shift away from the practice of landfilling hazardous waste and toward to the in-plant reduction of hazardous waste and the recycling and treatment of hazardous waste.
(e) (h) Include necessary all of the following:
(i) An analysis of all hazardous or radioactive waste streams generated within this state, including waste volumes, classifications, and locations of origin.
(ii) An inventory and assessment of current in-state hazardous or radioactive waste management capacity using information generated by the department of environment, Great Lakes, and energy and the department of labor and economic growth.
(iii) Projections of future in-state waste generation.
(iv) A determination of necessary in-state capacity to manage an amount of hazardous or radioactive waste equal to the amount generated in this state.
(v) Siting criteria for any facilities determined to be necessary, which shall comply with section 11125(9) and prevent the concentration of facilities in communities overburdened by pollution.
(vi) Recommendations for state policies and programs to minimize hazardous or radioactive waste generation.
(vii) An evaluation of hazardous or radioactive waste reduction, recycling, and treatment technologies and best practices.
(viii) A study and recommendation on whether Michigan should seek membership of an Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Compact.
(ix) Necessary legislative, administrative, and economic mechanisms, and a timetable to carry out the updated plan.
(3) The department shall instruct the office of waste reduction created in part 143 to complete conduct studies as considered necessary for the completion of the updated plan. The studies may include:
(a) An inventory and evaluation of the sources of hazardous or radioactive waste generation within this state or from other states, including the types, quantities, and chemical and physical characteristics of the hazardous waste.
(b) An inventory and evaluation of current hazardous or radioactive waste management, minimization, or reduction practices and costs, including treatment, disposal, on-site recycling, reclamation, and other forms of source reduction within this state.
(c) A projection or determination of future hazardous or radioactive waste management needs based on section 11125(8) and an evaluation of existing capacities; , treatment or disposal capabilities; , manufacturing activity, limitations, and constraints; . Projection of needs shall consider the types, and sizes, and general locations of treatment, storage, or disposal facilities , general locations within the this state; , and management control systems. , and an identified need for a state owned treatment, storage, or disposal facility.
(d) An investigation and analysis of methods, incentives, or technologies for source reduction, reuse, recycling, or recovery of potentially hazardous or radioactive waste and a strategy for encouraging the utilization or reduction of hazardous or radioactive waste.
(e) An investigation and analysis of methods and incentives to encourage interstate and international cooperation in the management of hazardous or radioactive waste.
(f) An estimate of the public and private cost of treating, storing, or disposing of hazardous or radioactive waste.
(g) An investigation and analysis of alternate methods for treatment and disposal of hazardous or radioactive waste.
(4) If the department finds in preparing the updated plan that there is a need for additional treatment or disposal facilities in the state, then the department shall identify incentives the state could offer that would encourage the construction and operation of additional treatment or disposal facilities in the state that are consistent with the updated plan. The department shall propose criteria which could be used in evaluating applicants for the incentives.
(4) (5) Upon completion of the updated plan, the department shall post the updated plan on its publicly available website and publish a notice in a number of 2 or more newspapers having major circulation within the this state as determined by the department, and shall issue a statewide news release announcing the availability of the updated plan for inspection or purchase at cost by interested persons. The announcement shall indicate where and how the updated plan may be obtained or reviewed and shall indicate that not less than 6 public hearings shall be conducted at varying locations in the this state before formal adoption. The first public hearing shall not be held until not less than 60 days have elapsed from after the date of the notice announcing the availability of the updated plan. The remaining public hearings shall be held within 120 days after the first public hearing at approximately equal time intervals.
(5) (6) After the public hearings, the department shall prepare a written summary of the comments received, provide comments on responses to the major concerns raised, make amendments to the updated plan that the department considers advisable, and determine whether the updated plan should be adopted.adopt the updated plan.
Sec. 11122. Until 5 years after the effective date of the amendatory act that added this section, or until the first updated state hazardous and radioactive waste management plan required under section 11110 after the effective date of the amendatory act that added this section is adopted and implemented, whichever is later, the department shall not do any of the following:
(a) Issue an operating license for a new hazardous waste treatment, storage, or disposal facility under section 11125.
(b) Amend an operating license for an existing hazardous waste treatment, storage, or disposal facility to authorize the expansion of operations, overall capacity, or the facility.
(c) Issue a permit for a new radioactive waste management facility.
(d) Amend a permit for an existing radioactive waste management facility to authorize the expansion of operations, overall capacity, or the facility.
Sec. 11125. (1) Upon receipt of an operating license application that complies with the requirements of section 11123(2), the department shall do all of the following:
(a) Notify the municipality and county in which the treatment, storage, or disposal facility is located or proposed to be located; a local soil erosion and sedimentation control agency appointed pursuant to part 91; each division within the department that has responsibility in land, air, or water management; a regional planning agency established by executive directive of the governor; and other appropriate agencies. The notice shall describe the procedure by which the license may be approved or denied.
(b) Review the plans of the proposed treatment, storage, or disposal facility to determine if the proposed operation complies with this part and the rules promulgated under this part. The review shall be made within the department. The review shall include, but need not be limited to, a review of air quality, water quality, waste management, hydrogeology, and the applicant's disclosure statement. A written and signed review by each person within the department reviewing the application and plans shall must be received and filed in the department's license application records before an operating license is issued or denied by the department.
(c) Integrate the relevant provisions of all permits that the applicant is required to obtain from the department to construct the proposed treatment, storage, or disposal facility into the operating license required by this part.
(d) Consider the mitigation measures proposed to be implemented as identified in section 11123(2)(m).
(e) Hold a public hearing not more than 60 days after receipt of the application.
(2) The department may establish operating license conditions specifically applicable to the treatment, storage, or disposal facility and operation at that site to mitigate adverse impacts.
(3) The department shall provide notice and an opportunity for a public hearing before making a final decision on an operating license application.
(4) The department shall make a final decision on an operating license application within 140 days after the department receives a complete application. However, if the this state's hazardous waste management program is authorized by the United States environmental protection agency under section 3006 of subtitle C of the solid waste disposal act, 42 USC 6926, the department may extend the deadline beyond the limitation provided in this section in order to fulfill the public participation requirements of the solid waste disposal act, 42 USC 6901 to 6922k. The operating license may contain stipulations specifically applicable to the site and operation.
(5) A local ordinance, permit, or other requirement shall not prohibit the operation of a licensed treatment, storage, or disposal facility.
(6) If any information required to be included in the disclosure statement required under section 11123 changes or is supplemented after the filing of the statement, the applicant or licensee shall provide that information to the department in writing within 30 days after the change or addition.
(7) The department may deny an operating license application submitted pursuant to section 11123 if any information described in section 11123(2)(k)(ii) to (iv) was not disclosed as required in section 11123(2) or this section.
(8) After the moratorium under section 11122 ends, the department shall not issue an operating license or permit for a new hazardous waste treatment, storage, or disposal facility or hazardous waste management facility or the expansion of an existing facility if doing so would cause the total permitted capacity to exceed the limit established in the current state hazardous and radioactive waste management plan under section 11110(2)(b). For the purposes of this subsection, "total permitted capacity" means the maximum amount of waste that all permitted facilities in this state are authorized to manage annually under their current permits.
(9) The department shall not issue a permit or approval to establish or expand a hazardous waste treatment, storage, or disposal facility or radioactive waste management facility if any of the following apply:
(a) The facility is proposed to be located in any city, village, township, or county where a hazardous waste treatment, storage, or disposal facility, radioactive waste management facility, class I well, or class IV well is currently operating or has operated within the past 50 years.
(b) The facility is proposed to be located within 100 miles of a currently operating hazardous waste treatment, storage, or disposal facility, radioactive waste management facility, class I well, or class IV well.
(c) Any of the following apply to a census tract within a 3-mile radius of the facility's proposed location:
(i) The population density exceeds the state average population density by 50% or more, based on the most recent census data.
(ii) The percentage of population in households where the household income is less than or equal to twice the federal poverty level equals or exceeds the eightieth percentile for census tracts in this state.
(iii) The overall score, as measured by MiEJScreen or its equivalent, for any census tract within a 3-mile radius meets or exceeds the eightieth percentile of census tracts in this state.
(10) (8) The department shall provide notice of the final decision on an operating license application to persons on the organized mailing list for the facility.
(11) (9) Following the construction of a new, expanded, enlarged, or altered treatment, storage, or disposal facility, the department shall review all information required to be submitted by the operating license. If the department finds that the owner or operator has deviated from the specific conditions established in the operating license, the department shall determine if cause exists for modification or revocation of the operating license, in accordance with provisions established by rule. At a minimum, the postconstruction documentation shall include all of the following:
(a) Updated disclosure information or a certification as described in section 11123(2)(n)(i).
(b) A certification of construction as described in section 11123(2)(n)(ii). The department shall require additional certification periodically during the operation or in order to verify proper closure of the site.
(c) A certification of capability signed and sealed by a licensed professional engineer as described in section 11123(2)(n)(iii).
(d) Information regarding any deviations from the specific conditions in the operating license.
(e) Proof of financial responsibility.
Sec. 11132. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a A person shall not deliver to a landfill in this state for disposal and the owner or operator of a landfill shall not permit disposal in the landfill of TENORM. with any of the following:
(a) A concentration of radium-226 more than 50 picocuries per gram.
(b) A concentration of radium-228 more than 50 picocuries per gram.
(c) A concentration of lead-210 more than 260 picocuries per gram.
(2) Except as otherwise specified in the landfill operating license, the owner or operator of a landfill shall not permit a delivery of TENORM for disposal at the landfill unless the generator has provided the following information in writing to the owner or operator of the landfill:
(a) The concentrations of radium-226, radium-228, lead-210, and any other radionuclide identified using gamma spectroscopy, or an equivalent analytical method, in the TENORM based on techniques for representative sampling and waste characterization approved by the department.
(b) An estimate of the total mass of the TENORM.
(c) An estimate of the total radium-226 activity, the total radium-228 activity, and the total lead-210 activity of the TENORM.
(d) The proposed date of delivery.
(3) The department may test TENORM proposed to be delivered to a landfill.
(2) (4) If requested by the owner or operator of a landfill in an application for the renewal of or a major modification to an operating license, If the department may authorize with conditions and limits authorized in the an operating license the disposal of TENORM with concentrations of radium-226 more than 50 picocuries per gram, radium-228 more than 50 picocuries per gram, or lead-210 more than 260 picocuries per gram, or any combination thereof, but not more than 500 picocuries per gram for each radionuclide, . An the operating license under this part with such an authorization constitutes a license from the this state's radiation control authority under part 135 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.13501 to 333.13537, to possess the TENORM, but not to acquire additional TENORM after the effective date of the amendatory act that added section 11122. This subsection applies only if the conditions and procedures for issuance of the operating license under this part are were sufficient to satisfy the licensing requirements of part 135 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.13501 to 333.13537.
(5) A request under subsection (4) shall include all of the following:
(a) A radiation safety program that addresses all of the following:
(i) Personnel radiation protection.
(ii) Worker training.
(iii) Radiation surveys.
(iv) Radiation instrument calibration.
(v) Receipt and disposal of radioactive material.
(vi) Emergency procedures.
(vii) Record keeping.
(b) A report evaluating the risks of exposure to residual radioactivity through all relevant pathways using a generally accepted industry model such as the Argonne National Laboratory RESRAD family of codes or, if approved by the department, another model. The report shall evaluate potential radiation doses to site workers and members of the public during site operation and after site closure. The report shall use reasonable scenarios to evaluate the dose to members of the public.
(c) A description of any steps necessary to ensure the annual dose to members of the public during landfill operation and after site closure will be less than 25 millirem.
(d) A description of an environmental monitoring program under subsection (6).
(3) (6) If TENORM is was disposed at a landfill before the effective date of the amendatory act that added section 11122, the operator of the landfill shall conduct a monitoring program that complies with all of the following:
(a) Radiological monitoring of site workers and at the landfill property boundary are conducted as specified in the license.
(b) Radium-226, radium-228, and lead-210 are included among the parameters analyzed in leachate and groundwater at the frequency specified in the license.
(c) Penetrating radiation, radioactivity in air, and radon in air are measured as specified in the operating license if the landfill is was used to dispose of TENORM with a concentration of radium-226 more than 50 picocuries per gram, radium-228 more than 50 picocuries per gram, or lead-210 more than 260 picocuries per gram.
(d) Results of all monitoring required under this subsection are included in the environmental monitoring reports required under rules promulgated under this part and the facility operating license.
(4) (7) The owner or operator of a landfill shall submit to the department by March 15, each of the year following the year in which the amendatory act that added subdivisions (a) to (d) to this subsection took effect, a report that summarizes the following information obtained under subsection (2) for all TENORM disposed at the landfill during the previous calendar year in which that amendatory act took effect:
(a) The concentrations of radium-226, radium-228, lead-210, and any other radionuclide identified using gamma spectroscopy, or an equivalent analytical method, in the TENORM based on techniques for representative sampling and waste characterization approved by the department.
(b) An estimate of the total mass of the TENORM.
(c) An estimate of the total radium-226 activity, the total radium-228 activity, and the total lead-210 activity of the TENORM.
(d) The dates of delivery.
(5) (8) The owner or operator of a landfill shall do both of the following:
(a) Ensure that all TENORM is deposited at least 10 feet below the bottom of the future landfill cap.
(b) Maintain maintain records of the location and elevation of TENORM disposed of at the landfill before the effective date of the amendatory act that added section 11122.
Sec. 11514b. (1) A person shall not deliver to a type II landfill in this state for disposal and the owner or operator of a type II landfill shall not permit disposal in the landfill of technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive material. with any of the following:
(a) A concentration of radium-226 more than 50 picocuries per gram.
(b) A concentration of radium-228 more than 50 picocuries per gram.
(c) A concentration of lead-210 more than 260 picocuries per gram.
(2) The owner or operator of a type II landfill shall not permit a delivery of TENORM for disposal at the landfill unless the generator has provided the following information in writing to the owner or operator of the landfill:
(a) The concentrations of radium-226, radium-228, lead-210, and any other radionuclide identified using gamma spectroscopy, or an equivalent analytical method, in the TENORM based on techniques for representative sampling and waste characterization approved by the department.
(b) An estimate of the total mass of the TENORM.
(c) An estimate of the total radium-226 activity, the total radium-228 activity, and the total lead-210 activity of the TENORM.
(d) The proposed date of delivery.
(3) The department may test TENORM proposed to be delivered to a landfill.
(2) (4) Within 45 days after the end of each state fiscal year, through the state fiscal year in which the amendatory act that added subdivisions (a) to (d) to this subsection took effect, the owner or operator of a type II landfill shall submit to the department an annual a report that summarizes the information obtained under subsection (2) following for all TENORM disposed at the landfill during the previous state fiscal year:
(a) The concentrations of radium-226, radium-228, lead-210, and any other radionuclide identified using gamma spectroscopy, or an equivalent analytical method, in the TENORM based on techniques for representative sampling and waste characterization approved by the department.
(b) An estimate of the total mass of the TENORM.
(c) An estimate of the total radium-226 activity, the total radium-228 activity, and the total lead-210 activity of the TENORM.
(d) The proposed date of delivery.
(3) (5) The owner or operator of a type II landfill that disposes of TENORM with a concentration of radium-226 more than 25 picocuries per gram, a concentration of radium-228 more than 25 picocuries per gram, or a concentration of lead-210 more than 25 picocuries per gram shall do all of the following:
(a) Ensure that all TENORM is deposited at least 10 feet below the bottom of the future landfill cap.
(b) Maintain records of the location and elevation of TENORM disposed of at the landfill.
(c) Conduct a monitoring program that complies with all of the following:
(i) Radiological monitoring of site workers and at the landfill property boundary are conducted as specified in the license.
(ii) Radium-226, radium-228, and lead-210 are included among the parameters analyzed in leachate and groundwater at the frequency specified in the license.
(iii) Results of all monitoring required under this subsection are included in the environmental monitoring reports required under rules promulgated under this part and the facility operating license.
(4) (6) As used in this section, "technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive material" or "TENORM" means naturally occurring radioactive material whose radionuclide concentrations have been increased as a result of human practices. TENORM does not include any of the following:
(a) Source material, as defined in section 11 of the atomic energy act of 1954, 42 USC 2014, and its progeny in equilibrium.
(b) Material with concentrations of radium-226, radium-228, and lead-210 each less than 5 picocuries per gram.
Sec. 62501. As used in this part:
(a) "Artificial brine" means mineralized water formed by dissolving rock salt or other readily soluble rocks or minerals.
(b) "Brine well" means a well drilled or converted for the purpose of producing natural or artificial brine.
(c) "Class I well" means any of the following:
(i) A well used by a generator of hazardous waste or the owner or operator of a hazardous waste management facility to inject hazardous waste beneath the lowermost formation that contains all or part of an underground source of drinking water within 1/4 mile of the well bore.
(ii) An industrial and municipal disposal well that injects fluids beneath the lowermost formation that contains all or part of an underground source of drinking water within 1/4 mile of the well bore.
(iii) A radioactive waste disposal well that injects fluids below the lowermost formation that contains all or part of an underground source of drinking water within 1/4 mile of the well bore.
(d) "Class III well" means a well used for the extraction of minerals including, but not limited to, the following:
(i) Mining of sulfur by the Frasch process.
(ii) In situ production of uranium or other metals, not including solution mining of conventional mines.
(iii) Solution mining of salts or potash.
(e) "Class IV well" means any of the following:
(i) A well used by a generator of hazardous waste or radioactive waste, by the owner or operator of a hazardous waste management facility, or by the owner or operator of a radioactive waste disposal site to dispose of hazardous waste or radioactive waste into a formation that contains all or part of an underground source of drinking water within 1/4 mile of the well bore.
(ii) A well used by a generator of hazardous waste or radioactive waste, by the owner or operator of a hazardous waste management facility, or by the owner or operator of a radioactive waste disposal site to dispose of hazardous waste or radioactive waste above a formation that contains all or part of an underground source of drinking water within 1/4 mile of the well bore.
(iii) A well that is used by a generator of hazardous waste or the owner or operators of a hazardous waste management facility to dispose of hazardous waste and that is not described by 40 CFR 146.5(a)(1) or 146.5(d)(1).
(f) (c) "Department" means the department of environmental quality.environment, Great Lakes, and energy.
(g) (d) "Disposal well" means a well drilled or converted for subsurface disposal of waste products or processed brine and its related surface facilities.
(h) (e) "Exploratory purposes" means test well drilling for the specific purpose of discovering or outlining an orebody or mineable mineral resource.
(i) (f) "Fund" means the mineral well regulatory fund created in section 62509b.
(j) (g) "Mineral well" means any well subject to this part.
(k) (h) "Natural brine" means naturally occurring mineralized water other than potable or fresh water.
(l) (i) "Operator" means the person , whether owner or not, supervising or responsible for the drilling, operating, repairing, abandoning, or plugging of wells a well subject to this part, whether or not that person is the owner.
(m) (j) "Owner" means the person who has the right to drill, convert, or operate any well subject to this part.
(n) (k) "Pollution" means damage or injury from the loss, escape, or unapproved disposal of any substance at any well subject to this part.
(o) (l) "Storage well" means a well drilled into a subsurface formation to develop an underground storage cavity for subsequent use in storage operations. Storage well does not include a storage well drilled pursuant to part 615.
(p) (m) "Supervisor of mineral wells" means the state geologist.
(q) (n) "Surface waste" means damage to, injury to, or destruction of surface waters, soils, water, of soil, of animal, fish, and or aquatic life, or of surface property from unnecessary seepage or loss incidental to or resulting from drilling, equipping, or operating a well or wells subject to this part.
(r) (o) "Test well" means a well, core hole, core test, observation well, or other well drilled from the surface to determine the presence of a mineral, mineral resource, ore, or rock unit, or to obtain geological or geophysical information or other subsurface data related to mineral exploration and extraction. Test well does not include holes drilled in the operation of a quarry, open pit, or underground mine, or any wells not related to mineral exploration or extraction.
(s) (p) "Underground storage cavity" means a cavity formed by dissolving rock salt or other readily soluble rock or mineral, by nuclear explosion, or by any other method for the purpose of storage or disposal.
(t) (q) "Underground waste" means damage or injury to potable water, mineralized water, or other subsurface resources incidental to or resulting from drilling, equipping, or operating a well subject to this part.
(u) (r) "Waste product" means waste or by-product resulting from municipal or industrial operations or waste from any trade, manufacture, business, or private pursuit that could cause pollution and for which underground disposal may be feasible or practical.
Sec. 62502. (1) A person shall not cause surface or underground waste in the drilling, development, production, operation, or plugging of wells subject to this part.
(2) A person shall not deliver TENORM to a class I well or class IV well in this state for disposal. The owner or operator of a class I well or class IV well shall not permit disposal of TENORM in the well.
(3) As used in this section, "TENORM" means that term as defined in section 11104.
Sec. 62508b. (1) Subject to subsection (2), the construction, expansion, or installation of a new or converted class I or class IV well is prohibited.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a class IV well that either 40 CFR 144.13(c) provides is not prohibited by 40 CFR 144.13 or that 40 CFR 144.23(c) provides is authorized by rule.
(3) Subsection (1) does not prohibit any of the following:
(a) Maintenance, repair, or like-for-like replacement of equipment necessary for the safe operation of an existing well.
(b) Subject to subsections (4) and (5), an equipment change at an existing well that demonstrably reduces the amount of hazardous or radioactive materials stored or emitted due to improved treatment methods or technologies, if the change does not increase the well's overall capacity or extend its operational lifespan.
(c) Subject to subsections (4) and (5), an expansion of an existing well's footprint that does not increase its overall capacity but is solely for the purpose of creating or enlarging a buffer zone between well operations and the public or a sensitive environmental area.
(4) A proposed change under subsection (3)(b) or (c) must be approved by the department. The well operator shall submit to the department documentation demonstrating how the proposed change will meet the requirements of subsection (3)(b) or (c). The department shall make the documentation publicly available and provide for a public comment period of not less than 60 days before deciding to approve or reject the proposed change.
(5) In reviewing proposals under subsection (4), the department shall prioritize changes that provide the greatest reduction in risk to public health and the environment. The department shall not approve any changes that could result in increased exposure or risk to overburdened communities.
Sec. 62509d. (1) Within 180 days after the effective date of the amendatory act that added this section and annually thereafter, an operator of a class I well or a class III well shall, for each well, file proof of financial responsibility, as described in subsections (2) and (4), for which this state is the sole beneficiary.
(2) The financial responsibility under subsection (1) shall include a surety bond issued by an authorized insurer whose certificate of authority is in good standing, a cash account, or an automatically annually renewing certificate of deposit. The surety bond shall comply, and shall be interpreted to comply, with all of the following, as applicable:
(a) The amount meets both of the following requirements:
(i) Is at least $1,000,000.00 for a class I well or $250,000.00 for a class III well.
(ii) Is sufficient to cover the costs of well plugging and reclamation, as determined by the department based on engineering, geotechnical, environmental, or location conditions.
(b) The terms of the instrument shall not be altered without the approval of the department.
(c) A cash account is managed by an independent financial institution.
(d) Cancellation of a bond or letter of credit requires at least 120 days' advance notice.
(e) The instrument remains in effect until the department determines that all of the following apply:
(i) The operator's class I well or class III well has been permanently plugged and abandoned in compliance with law and in a manner that protects underground sources of drinking water.
(ii) All contamination has been remediated.
(iii) The soil at the site has been stabilized and rehabilitated.
(iv) The ecosystem has been restored.
(3) Payment under an instrument required by subsection (2) does not relieve the operator from any other legal requirements. Assets under the instrument revert to the operator's control, at the operator's request, only after the operator has adequately plugged the wells, reclaimed the well site, and complied with all orders of the supervisor or department under this act.
(4) The financial responsibility under subsection (1) shall also include environmental pollution insurance coverage that complies with all of the following:
(a) The amount of coverage meets both of the following requirements:
(i) Is at least $5,000,000.00 per occurrence for a class I well or $2,500,000.00 per occurrence for a class III well.
(ii) Is sufficient to cover the worst-case costs of damage to private property, health, and natural resources, of replacing drinking water supplies in case of water contamination, and of injuries, damages, or loss related to pollution or diminution of a water supply, as determined by the department based on engineering, geotechnical, environmental, or location conditions.
(b) After the well is plugged, the insurance remains in effect for 30 years for a class I well or 5 years for a class III well.
(c) The insurance is provided by an insurance carrier authorized, licensed, or permitted to conduct such insurance business in this state and that holds at least an A- rating by AM Best or any comparable rating service.
(d) The insurance is not issued by a captive insurer, surplus line insurer, or risk retention group.
(5) Within 180 days after the effective date of the amendatory act that added this section and annually thereafter, an operator of a test well shall, for each well, file proof of financial responsibility for which this state is the sole beneficiary. The financial responsibility shall be a surety bond issued by an authorized insurer whose certificate of authority is in good standing, a cash account, or an automatically annually renewing certificate of deposit. The financial responsibility shall comply, and shall be interpreted to comply, with the following, as applicable:
(a) The amount meets both of the following requirements:
(i) Is at least $2,500.00.
(ii) Is sufficient to cover the costs of well plugging and reclamation, as determined by the department based on engineering, geotechnical, environmental, or location conditions.
(b) The terms of the instrument shall not be altered without the approval of the department.
(c) A cash account is managed by an independent financial institution.
(d) Cancellation of a bond or letter of credit requires at least 120 days' advance notice.
(e) The instrument remains in effect until the department determines that all of the following apply:
(i) The test well has been permanently plugged and abandoned in compliance with law and in a manner that protects underground sources of drinking water.
(ii) All contamination has been remediated.
(iii) The soil at the site has been stabilized and rehabilitated.
(iv) The ecosystem has been restored.
(6) Payment under an instrument required by subsection (5) does not relieve the operator from any other legal requirements. Assets under the instrument revert to the operator's control, at the operators request, only after the operator has adequately plugged the wells, reclaimed the well site, and complied with all orders of the supervisor or department under this act.
Enacting section 1. Sections 11111 and 11112 of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.11111 and 324.11112, are repealed.