SB 987 Summary

• Establishes that natural resources in Michigan are held in public trust and must be managed and protected for current and future generations, prioritizing health, safety, and general welfare.

• Declares the legislature has express duty to manage natural resources in the public interest under the state constitution and cannot cede this obligation to other entities.

• Requires the departments of natural resources and environment, Great Lakes, and energy to review existing rules within 180 days and promulgate new or revised rules within 1 year if necessary to protect the public trust in water quantity and quality.

• Expands legal standing for citizen suits by allowing "any person" (not just the attorney general) to bring civil actions in circuit court for declaratory and equitable relief to protect natural resources and the public trust from pollution, impairment, or destruction.

• Removes the December 31, 2006 restriction on the department's authority to promulgate water pollution control rules, allowing ongoing rulemaking authority to comply with federal water pollution control laws.