HOUSE BILL 4898 Summary

• Requires the Department of Environmental Quality and other state departments administering programs under the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to conduct benchmark analyses or independent peer reviews of their programs, with at least 2 reviews completed annually starting February 1, 2010 until all programs are reviewed.

• Mandates the Department of Environmental Quality specifically complete reviews of the Part 201 remediation program and Part 31 NPDES program by February 1, 2010, with reviewers selected by June 1, 2009, including analysis of per-permit costs, application processing timeliness, customer service, environmental impacts, and comparison to other Great Lakes states' performance.

• Creates the NREPA Program Review Panel within the Department of Environmental Quality, consisting of 7 members appointed by the Speaker of the House (2), Senate Majority Leader (2), and Governor (3), serving 4-year terms with meetings held at least quarterly.

• Panel members serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for actual expenses, and the panel dissolves on July 1, 2014.

• Requires reviewers to have proven ability to evaluate regulatory activities and make improvement recommendations, with panel assistance in developing review frameworks.