House Bill 4489 Summary

• Removes the January 1, 2007 effective date requirement for oceangoing vessels engaging in port operations to obtain permits from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

• Requires oceangoing vessels to demonstrate one or more of three conditions to receive permits: complete flushing of ballast tanks with seawater at least 200 nautical miles from shore in waters deeper than 2,000 meters, commitment not to discharge aquatic nuisance species, or use of environmentally sound technology to prevent discharge of aquatic nuisance species.

• Establishes that the Department must determine permit application completeness within 30 days for new or increased use applications and 90 days for permit reissuance applications, with applications deemed complete if the Department fails to respond within the applicable timeframe.

• Directs the Department to cooperate with Great Lakes basin states, Canadian provinces, and various Great Lakes commissions to develop standards for controlling aquatic nuisance species.

• Specifies that oceangoing vessel permit fees shall be assessed under existing fee provisions in section 3120 for both individual and general permits.