SB 0247 Summary

• Amends the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act of 1994 to modify permit application procedures, processing deadlines, and fee structures for various environmental permits in Michigan.

• Establishes processing deadlines ranging from 20 days to 150 days depending on permit type, with additional time allowed if public hearings are held.

• Sets permit application fees of $100 to $2,000 for wetland activities and $50 to $2,000 for Great Lakes bottomland projects, with reduced fees for minor projects and general permit categories.

• Allows the Department of Environmental Quality to establish minor project categories and general permits for activities with minimal environmental effects, streamlining review processes without requiring public hearings.

• Adds a new section requiring the council to review and recommend Phragmites australis (invasive plant) control measures to the Department and legislative committees.